I agree, I have his book, it's a wonderful read, amazing diagrams and still so relevant to fencing! I also acquired an Italian grip foil that was made by his equipment manufacturing company :D
Electric fencing really killed proper fencing. Modern fencing has become too sloppy with "attacks" being considered valid without threatening the target area. Modern fencing has degraded to a point where the clumsy attempt of just charging each other is considered a correct move.
in modern fencing we train all this shit +simultaneous movement. Any 'clumsy attempt of just charging' made by sportsman against not sportsman would end by hit to not sportsman. Also in modern foil and sabre only hitting target area can bring you the point. And if you fenced for real with epee fencer you would end up without hand/leg first, and then 'target area'
And with it, much more skill is involved.... Now footwork and timing become a much bigger part of the equation, adding more to the mind games, intellectual, and physical difficulty. No comparison, fencing has evolved for the better.
It is like so many combat sports they spiral ever narrower to a speciality that the original art can't be recognized. Not necessarily a bad thing really, but the answer is to preserve the traditional like small sword and saber with Hema, and even turn of the century fencing. Should be room for all.
In practice all fencers will train these sequences but they will also train to hit any available target including back and shoulder and side. Coupes are subsequently used a lot more, but you will still see counter six and four parries used a lot, as well as octave and septime and deceptions like 1-2 and doublés
Some people consider fencing as an art. They really appreciate these kind of excercises.
You don’t consider fencing to be an art?
Maître Julio Martínez Castello's book is still very readable. Quite clear. It's great to learn he produced film(s) to accompany the book.
I agree, I have his book, it's a wonderful read, amazing diagrams and still so relevant to fencing! I also acquired an Italian grip foil that was made by his equipment manufacturing company :D
Electric fencing really killed proper fencing. Modern fencing has become too sloppy with "attacks" being considered valid without threatening the target area. Modern fencing has degraded to a point where the clumsy attempt of just charging each other is considered a correct move.
in modern fencing we train all this shit +simultaneous movement. Any 'clumsy attempt of just charging' made by sportsman against not sportsman would end by hit to not sportsman. Also in modern foil and sabre only hitting target area can bring you the point. And if you fenced for real with epee fencer you would end up without hand/leg first, and then 'target area'
And with it, much more skill is involved.... Now footwork and timing become a much bigger part of the equation, adding more to the mind games, intellectual, and physical difficulty. No comparison, fencing has evolved for the better.
yep, modern fencing is gay
It is like so many combat sports they spiral ever narrower to a speciality that the original art can't be recognized. Not necessarily a bad thing really, but the answer is to preserve the traditional like small sword and saber with Hema, and even turn of the century fencing. Should be room for all.
In practice all fencers will train these sequences but they will also train to hit any available target including back and shoulder and side. Coupes are subsequently used a lot more, but you will still see counter six and four parries used a lot, as well as octave and septime and deceptions like 1-2 and doublés