Jeff,
>>I have to disagree. We've all seen fencers with lovely form, who have
>>trained for years in lessons, but were not particularly capable on the
>>strip defending themselves or attacking.
Yes I have seen Sport fencers like this.
However, I have yet to observe a classical fencer with many years of regular
private lessons including the full progression of technical, tactical, and
bout lessons, under a competent classical fencing master be totally
ineffective in offense and defense on the strip.
>>Effectiveness requires much
>>more than good form; it demands tactical sense, aggression, grit, speed,
>>reflexes, hand-eye coordination, guile, and so on. To elevate form above
>>function is to confuse ends with means. Good form helps create good
>>results, but is only part of what it takes, and furthermore can be
>>subjective.
Yes it does, and in my opinion the fencer who has not developed proficiency
in form, technique, AND tactics should not be competing much less free
bouting. The instructor should still be giving him tactical lessons and
training him through restricted tactical bouts.
>>If we use "if it were sharp" as our criterion for success and failure,
>>then we should be elevating effectiveness over form - yet not discard
>>form.
That is my point (no pun intended), since during the classical era the foil
was NOT a sharp dueling weapon, nor training for the duel, I don't elevate
effectiveness over form. However you can not separate the two. One is
learned first then the other.
Now, in classical epee, I elevate effectiveness over form.
Rez
--------------------------------------
Rez Johnson, M d'E
Headmaster: Mississippi Academy of Arms
Certified Moniteur d'Escrime (Fleuret, Epee, Sabre): Academie d'Armes
Internationale (AAI)
Certified Fencing Instructor (Foil, Epee, Saber): United States Fencing
Coaches Association (USFCA)
Fencing Master Apprentice of Past USFCA President, Robert F. Scranton,
Maitre d'Armes
Mississippi Academy of Arms
Virtute et Armis - By Valor and Arms
Teaching Fencing Since 1980
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