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Cutter · 07-10-2002, 08:28 AM

Anyone had a chance to read the latest issue of American Fencing? I got mine last night and was amazed at all the political bs that is going on in our sport. I guess that is what you get when you have people other than fencers running the show. Anyone have any comments?

lochinvar · 07-10-2002, 12:21 PM

"The reason that academic politics are so viscious is because the stakes are so low."

Don't remember who said it...

***Craig*** · 07-10-2002, 01:14 PM

see the 2004 Olympics and 2002 World Champs threads for a little bit of commentary.

Sciurus Rex · 07-10-2002, 01:59 PM

I hope this doesn't sound too snobby or stupidly innocent, but what's the big deal? If each person would just be the best fencer or coach he could be and leave the other guy to do the same, then there wouldn't be any silly "political games" to play on the side. It's unnecessary posturing and manipulation, and no one has to be drawn into such nonsense against his will.

Kodiak Kid · 07-10-2002, 04:56 PM

Yes I just got my issue yesterday and despite the grumbling about the machinations of the FIE, OAC etc, I thought it was the best issue I've read in recent memory. Pumped up appearance, good articles (even D'art's...) and much more interesting in general. I intend to write a note to the editor and give this quarter's effort a gold star. I've tried to give some of my non-competitive students an incentive to join the USFA and shown them the magazine as an example of one of the benefits of membership. In the past, the magazine was pretty boring with all the tourny statistics and not much else. This issue is a much better selling tool for sparking interest in the USFA's package. I even liked the advertisements!

Gav · 07-10-2002, 05:35 PM

Americans are not alone in being on the receiving end of political machinations. Scottish Fencing is just the same. I received the latest issue of our magazine - The Point - and it was full of stuff that annoys your average scottish fencer. For example, there's a last 8 section where it lists the best results of scottish fencers abroad. Lo and behold it's the same cronies banging on about their results. It failed to list the excellent results our club has achieved this year and I also suspect some other fencers that I know have been omitted.

This might have resulted due to apathy, most Scottish Fencers have adopted the 'who cares' approach to their governing body. They fail to see the benefits in being promoted in The Point. As it's the official voice of Scottish fencing it's a major resource for information that potential sponsors can draw upon. It also effects the image of the various clubs as people assume that there is only 1-2 good clubs. This [attitude] is wrong. I've asked our clubs press officer [yes we have one] to write an article for The Point to clarify the situation but I don't expect it to happen - I'll probably just write a letter myself.

On the plus side there is a good letter from one of the Scottish FIE ref's about the ex-Glasgow A-grade that has been moved to London. Very critical of SF and kudos to The Points editorial staff for printing it.

My point is that if your unhappy with your magazine then you'll have to write to/for it. Apathy is a big problem for most fencers in Scotland [same as the rest of the world, I presume], most of whom do not feel that they get any support from their governing body.

[ 07-10-2002, 10:57 PM: Message edited by: Gav ]

Inquartata · 07-10-2002, 08:02 PM

Alas, this just seems to be human nature. You get more than three people involved in anything and intrigue, backbiting and political machinations inevitably result. It's not just fencing, it happens in every sport, and every sphere of life, no matter how petty---go to a meeting of the Homeowners' Board of a coop or condo complex sometime if you want to be thoroughly disgusted...

Gav · 07-10-2002, 09:07 PM

Inq' How true...

I needed to get my thoughts of my chest.

veeco · 07-10-2002, 09:55 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Sciurus Rex:
I hope this doesn't sound too snobby or stupidly innocent, but what's the big deal? If each person would just be the best fencer or coach he could be and leave the other guy to do the same, then there wouldn't be any silly "political games" to play on the side. It's unnecessary posturing and manipulation, and no one has to be drawn into such nonsense against his will.<hr /></blockquote>I agree, but I think that it would be even better if instead of "just leave the other guy to do the same" there was a real sense of cooperation among coaches.

Too many coaches that I know of tend to "keep their secrets to themselves", like a grandmother keeps her recipes for herself. In basketball for example, there is a great deal of cooperation amongst coaches, and every coach, from the one who coaches the smallest high school team to the one who coaches the Lakers know pretty much the same thing about the tactics and technique of the game. The difference then comes to the one who's able to motivate their team the most, and coaches would really become people's persons instead of magicians delivering "tricks" to their students whenever they whims tell them to do so.

Spanky McFarland · 07-11-2002, 04:06 AM

Gav,

I think the last eight section in The Point did list every fencer that achieved a last eight in the English Opens (at least those that they had results for). Neil Brown, who edits the mag, isn't biased toward any club in particular.

Usually, the same people are in these lists because they are the good fencers who get these results. RCP have done well this last season, but have they achieved any last 8s in the big English Opens? I think sometimes we are all a little too paranoid about the perceived bias toward EFC.

To publicise your club's achievements, I think you should write a positive article about it, as opposed to a complaining letter. Neil will publish it (right now I think he would publish an article about donkey bothering in Mongolia, he's so short of contributions) and your club would have the recognition it deserves.

Cheers,
Spanky.

D'Artagnan1673 · 07-11-2002, 07:04 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by veeco:
[quote]Originally posted by Sciurus Rex:
[qb].

Too many coaches that I know of tend to "keep their secrets to themselves", like a grandmother keeps her recipes for herself. <hr /></blockquote>We've often wondered that about our coach. Becuase he'd always do moves on us in bouts that he never taught us. IT was also more or less tactical. He never really said anything about tactics.

Gav · 07-11-2002, 01:17 PM

Spanky,

Yes RCP did get at least 1 english last 8 that I can think of. Iain Third got 7th at Merseyside (Jason McQueen got 5th but he's an Aussie).

Who are you Spanky - I get the feeling I know you.

Send me a PM.

Bebop and Rocksteady · 07-11-2002, 01:40 PM

Heh, I read D'Art's little letter. Very good.

Can't say the rest of the magazine was worth reading, though...

135711 · 07-11-2002, 07:06 PM

d'art, okay, i'll call you on this one, your coach was way ahead of you, you weren't ready for what he was doing, you don't expect him to fence down to your level do you? you're supposed to struggle to fence UP to his level. once you do that several times, you'll understand more, it's like having lessons. when i fence much better fencers, i recognize that i'm getting "free" if you will, lessons from people who have more skill than i do, what is the matter with you?

[ 07-11-2002, 11:07 PM: Message edited by: 135711 ]

Sasori · 07-16-2002, 05:10 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Gav:
[QB]Spanky,

Who are you Spanky - I get the feeling I know you.

QB]<hr /></blockquote>Who was that masked man.....

D'Artagnan1673 · 07-16-2002, 05:34 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by 135711:
d'art, okay, i'll call you on this one, your coach was way ahead of you, you weren't ready for what he was doing, you don't expect him to fence down to your level do you? you're supposed to struggle to fence UP to his level. once you do that several times, you'll understand more, it's like having lessons. when i fence much better fencers, i recognize that i'm getting "free" if you will, lessons from people who have more skill than i do, what is the matter with you?<hr /></blockquote>

He's got a few sneaky moves, but I've actually beaten him several times in foil, and once nearly in epee (the one time I fenced him in epee)

He fences so little these days that we beat him out of sheer speed. I am sure that if he were to fence regularly for months, we wouldn't stand a chance, too much prescision and blade work. When he parrys, he briefly holds his risposte, waiting for our reaction, he then promptly hits to the opposite line of the counterparry.

One thing that kills me against him is that I have gotten into the habit of dragging my back foot as I lunge (something I am working on getting out of) This means that I am that much closer to him after my failed attack. There have been plenty of times that I caught the parry but still hit because of my close distance. I've always been a fan of fencing in the lunge (I mimick the best foilist at the club, the coach of course) Than means that if I drag my foot, I am too close.

D'Artagnan1673 · 07-16-2002, 07:39 PM

B&R, thanks for the compliment, and I love your signature!