Brian,

-----Original Message-----
From: Brian D. Schenck [mailto:bdschenck@yahoo.com]

>Thank you for further explaining your system Rez. I do agree that it would
>produce the results you desire -- and that if those results aren't the one
>someone wants, then this approach is not the one that person wants (for
>example, 5 touches better emulates the USFA's approach as well -- and I use
>a hybrid approach to this when working with those fencers interested in
>competition).

Yes, you are absolutely right. Competitive sport fencing requires a much
different approach since the goals are different. It requires plenty of
practice bouting to five touches using the current 3 minute time limit and
using the weapons you will be competing with and wired to a machine so that
you can get the kind of feedback you will be getting in a tournament. It
also requires plenty of practice bouting to 15 touches to build up
endurance, because in sport fencing the direct elimination bouts are fought
to 15 touches and that greatly changes things.

>Of course, most of the people I work with are primarily
>interested in recreational fencing, and not high-end competition or perfect
>form. Those who do want to fence competition I try to gear up the same as
>you (though, the goal being different, the techniques are ultimately
>different as well -- however much similarities may exist).

When I coached sport fencing I use to spell out those three categories
(recreational, competitive, classical) to my students and give them a
choice.

Are you a member of the United States Fencing Coaches Association?
If you are a sport fencing coach you should consider joining it.

>Anyhow, to what extent is your assessment of faults systematic? I noted
>that you said that you tried to warn a fencer who commits a fault first,
>then apply the one touch penalty. Is this approach similar to the Yellow
>Card-Red Card approach? And therefore that one mistake is "accidental" and
>the second one is "problematic"? Are there any particular faults that are
>more serious -- so that rather than give the warning, it's an immediate
>touch against?

Actually when I was tweaking my rules I tried both ways, at first adopting
the yellow card, red card, black card system. I didn't actually flash cards
or call the faults yellow, red, black. I just gave one warning for faults I
considered "Red Card" faults and two for faults I considered "Yellow Card"
faults before awarding a touch against the offender. However I couldn't fond
a classical era basis for differentiating between yellow and red card
warnings.

So in the last classical foil tournament I hosted I changed the rules so
that NO warnings were given at all during the scoring round. I felt that the
qualification round with it's set of warnings should be sufficient warning
to fencer to fence clean. With fencers who have internalized the classical
form this isn't a problem, especially considering they were able to pass
through the qualifying round. By the way, this "form fault" system results
in some of the most beautiful fencing I have ever seen, where a nice
conversation with blades takes place and even non-fencers can keep up with
the phrasing. And of course, that is my goal with foil. A highly strategical
game which must be played with correct form.

By the way, I don't give warnings when one is approaching the rear of the
strip either, as was once done in sport fencing. A step off the rear of the
end of the strip is a touch against the fencer who should be aware of where
he is on the strip at all times. A step off the side costs the offending
fencer a meter of ground. And if that penalty of ground sends them off the
end of the strip it counts as a touch against them.

What USFA division are you in Brian?

Take care,
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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