Definition of a "Maestro"

[Moonitic]

Could anyone please give me the proper definition of a maestro, in terms of fencing (of course!). Thanks ahead of time.

[neevel]

A person who has recieved a Maestro di Scherma/Maitre d'Armes degree from a training institution or program which grants such degrees.

-Dave

[This message has been edited by neevel (edited 04-17-2001).]

[ledgerto]

Maestro means teacher or master. It is of Itialian origin.

[Gajuith]

It is the Italien version of the Japanese title of Sensei. Maitre would be the French version if I have spelled it right.

[FencerInUS]

Dosent a Maestro also have to know all 3 weapons?

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F.I.US.
Parry, THEN riposte
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[space_cadet]

To FencerInUS,
Yes, someone who has obtained the title of maestro or maitre from a fencing school knows how to fence and teach all three weapons.
Just a note, there are fencing instructors, coaches, moniteurs out there but that doesn't make them a maestro.

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Cadet à Space

[Moniteur]

space cadet, right on... there is another moniteur here in Kansas who apparently insists on his students calling him maestro... fortunately he stays at his little cushy JUCO teaching job, and doesn't cause too much damage.. It irks me when people pull that routine, as it degrades those who have put the time into gaining their masters certification, and makes the rest of use monituers and provosts look bad.

For everyone else:
the Academie D' Armes Internationale is the international accrediting body for coaches (according to the French anyway..) and the US Fencing Coaches Association ( http://www.usfca.org )is the AAI recognized organization in the USA.

The moniteur exam can be taken for 1, 2 or all 3 weapons, but for provost or master certification you have to have teaching proficiency in all three weapons.

For more info, see the usfca website.

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Chris Holzman
Moniteur D' Escrime

[Moonitic]

I must admit, I already knew the definition (we have a Maestro at our club now...a wonderful man named Shapiro from the Ukraine).

It appears we have a few people who do NOT know it in our division, & are falsely portraying themselves as a "maestro." Thanks for the help, gang.

[HilandDoug]

Anyone who is not a Maestro, but calls himself one, or allows himself to be called one, ought to be exposed for the fraud he is. That's like a Corporal asking civilians to call him Mr. President (a.k.a. Commander in Chief of the US Army).

[Christopher J Umbs]

Actually it is one of THE hot topics among historical fencers. There are some groups of historical fencers that claim that there is no such thing as a master of historical arms. Personally, I think they are full of it. If you look at the IMAF (International Masters of Arms federation website - think AAI for HF) you can see a few different way to become one.

There is also a small but vocal minority that state that there is no such thing as a master because nobody every fully masters something. IMNSHO, they are using the wrong definition of master.

Chris

[sabreur]

Just to stir the pot, in sport fencing, a fencing master is someone who has certificates or diplomas in all three weapons from their national governing body for fencing.

I've been told that the three countries whose diplomas are universally accepted are France, Italy and Hungary. I'm not sure of the status of Russian or German diplomas.

Regards, Mark Ray

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Why sabre? Because you don't take heads with the point.

[Stryder]

I just read that Buckie Leach has his Master cert. in all three weapons from the American Academy of Fencing.

[Moonitic]

Doug, I completely agree. I feel terrible about the STUDENTS being duped into thinking they have something great, when in reality they don't. It's shameful to portray oneself as something one is not.

But there is no honor among thieves.

[Matt_Bailey]

"Master" as a title of competence in a certain profession. Like carpentry, fencing, whatever.
The Classical fencing use of the word "Master" is correct.
Chris: I think those folks problem with the word "masters" mainly stems from certain folks you and I both know, who think knowing classical fence teaches them Renaisance or even Medieval fence.
Theres even one character (whom I trust need not name) who apparently thinks he knows more about Historical swordsmanship than the people who actually fought with the bloody things.
Cheers,
Matt

[The Bayer Hunter]

Maestro was the guy on Seinfeld. "Yeah, just call me the Maestro" The real question is: What the hell is a Kramer?

[fred]

I understood 'maestro' in the general sense to be a term of respect applied to any coach or senior fencer. I was also once told that the term is appropriate to apply to a fencer that has won a high-level international competition (Olympics, World Championships, etc)

[Christopher J Umbs]

<Theres even one character (whom I trust need not name) who apparently thinks he knows more about Historical swordsmanship than the people who actually fought with the bloody things.>

Matt,

Sadly, that could be one of two people. East or West coast?

Chris

[Matt_Bailey]

East Coast Chris.
Geez, theres two of them?
BTW, I'm thinking of buying a subscription to IFV just to learn what "secrets" I'm missing in their for-pay articles. Though HACA is going the same way. Can't say I like that. (Can't say I wouldn't do it in their place, either) Have you checked out the lessons for rapier and dagger online? The fact that the author feels no need to justify himself with reference to the Old Fellows,when teaching a historic sword art, is what I find rather disturbing.
Cheers,
Matt

[This message has been edited by Matt_Bailey (edited 04-19-2001).]

[Christopher J Umbs]

Hey all, just let me know when Matt and I get too off topic... at the moment we're still dangling by a thread to the rest of the topic. There are a few Maestro's who call themselves classical (it can be argued...) who feel that being a master at foil sabre and epee automatically makes them masters of historical weapons.

Matt,

Right, that one... the West coast one I was thinking of is the one we're all talking about over at SFI. And how curious that they are both part of the same organization.

I wasn't aware that IFV had separate 'pay per view' articles aside from the open ones. I fully support anyone who's making money at this game simply because I'd like to do the same some day, but there should be SOME common sense limits to what one charges.

Chris

[latenight]

Well, I don't know who is or isn't going around calling themselves "Maestro". But I for one would feel like a dork having people call me that, earned or not...