Kim and fellow subscribers--
To develop community-based traditional or classical fencing as an alternative
to sport competition in Germany, the Volkshochschule Soest is hoping to offer
a class in beginners' foil starting in September 2005. I'll be teaching the
class as coach of Klassisches Fechten Soest, the salle which I'm organizing in
order to provide focus for local traditional activity and link up with other
groups here in Europe and in the US.
As far as I know, this institutional encouragement is new here. It could
stimulate wider interest in Germany in traditional or classical fencing
discipline, as opposed to the dominant and heavily-funded sort-obsessed
Deutcher-Fechter Bund. It won't go unnoticed--and I'll make sure it doesn't.
The plan is to offer the class for two years to seed sustained interest in
the area. It's not a done deal, however. One major challenge is equipment
costs. The German Volkshochschule is an open-enrollment adult continuing
education school roughly comparable to a US community college, its students are not
affluent, and the curriculum is financed on a pay-as-you-go basis.
Equipment costs could discourage enrollment and make adequate group
instruction difficult. My initial few current pupils are either wavering sport fencers
with their own gear or beginners to whom I loan my one old non-FIE outfit.
I'm asking everybody if they can donate old gear they no longer use--masks,
jackets, gloves, French foils--strictly for instructional use by VHS and KFS. We
need the equivalent, I don't care how battered or stained or in need of
reconditioning (that's why God made sandpaper, 3-in-1, duct tape and these
incredible German washing machines) of about 10 starter sets. Ten being the number of
enrollees for the class to make; we're setting a max of 12 to keep things
manageable and provide solid individual instruction.
Surface shipping to Germany via USPS is quite reasonable for light packages;
just make sure that on the customs declaration you specify "used!" If I have
a good start on building an inventory early on, I can be more confident that
the class will be offered and there will be publicity for it well ahead of the
term.
In this town, fencers make the sports pages. I have been told by an
administrator, "This is just what we need to do." We think we can make a big
difference here; in fact, it's struck me that there's enough of a malaise, unfocussed
disenchantment, with the DFB that a classical program devoted to the
traditional pedagogy has a large potential constituency to recruit, but we really need
your help to give it the jump start it needs.
Kim, could you pass the word at the tournament? And everybody else, every
rusty French foil, every well-worn mask (my first has started making strange
sounds in the night), every lumpy jacket) will be treated as if it were a gift
from heaven and have a wonderful new life. At the very least, please wish us
luck! Maybe in a couple of years, when you visit Europe you can bring your gear
and find a solid classical program in a lovely, walled town of 17th century
buildings, the oldest cathedral in Westphalia, and great outdoor cafes in
spring and summer.....
Thanks!
Bill Leckie
Klassisches Fechten Soest
Jungferngaerten 22
59494 Soest
Germany
flanconade@aol.com
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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