Sanzo Interview

[gladius]

An interesting interview with Salvatore "Toti" Sanzo appears on schermaonline.com

http://www.schermaonline.com/scherma...rder=0&thold=0


Here is my edited version, limited to topics I feel are of interest in this forum:

Q: The current fencing season is characterized by the changes in the rules for foil. Apart from the fact that any strong athlete is capable to adapt quickly to any technical change, do you like this modification? In your opinion did it improve the "spectacularity" or, as many think, made things worse, in particular for women's foil?

Sanzo:
True, all strong athletes sooner or later adapt to the system. To be honest, I liked very much Roch's initial idea. I honestly thought that it would have improved fencing considerably by favoring fencers with technique to the "flying" types. Instead, unfortunately, these various adaptations have given us slow bouts, without genial ideas, which capitalize on taking advantage from an opponent's mistake. There is no doubt that we are seeing a less spectacular fencing, but I believe that the path we are on should not be abandoned, quite the opposite. With some refinements we should arrive at foil fencing which favors the convention. As to women's foil fencing I have seen very little, only one event, therefore I'm not in a position to express an objective evaluation.

Q: How did you respond to the new technical change, both you and your maestro Antonio Di Ciolo. What changed in your work?

Sanzo:
We did what all serious people do when they work. Go to the gym, try to understand and learn! Change what had to be changed, but I won't tell you what, otherwise everybody will learn!!!

Q: Starting from the current foil situation, do you agree with the philosophy followed in the last few years by the President of the FIE M. Roch, which could be described having the scope to increase the popularity of fencing worldwide? If you could, what advice would you give him?

Sanzo:
I agree completely [with M. Roch]. We are in 2005, and we cannot think of fencing as an elite sport to be practiced only in Italy, France, Germany or Russia. Fortunately in men's foil, like in men's and women's epee, the progress/development is global. Fifteen years ago there were no Chinese, or at least few of them if compared with Koreans or Portuguese fencers. Today, also because of the introduction of the new system, all opponents know how to fence foil and they are dangerous. This is great and stimulating for an athlete. It makes you feel important, because when you win a world championship or any other international competition, you know that in that occasion you were the best in the world, and not the best of the five participating nations. If I could give some advice to M. Roch, I'd tell him to try to promote more the image of world class athletes, to sell TV rights to serious channels, to push not only the most important tournaments, but also a large number of tournament of the World Cup circuit. I realize that six weapons are a lot, but maybe one could just select the most exciting and intense competitions.

.......

Q: In your opinion, what's the secret of the Di Ciolo school? What are the reasons for the successes of its athletes in the three weapons? Is it a unique philosophy, technical, tactical, and in competition? Is it a particular method of teaching or training? A special organization? Or all these factors together?

Sanzo:
No secret, only work, work and lots of work. Morning to evening. Monday through the following Monday. And this is what, luckily, the others don't do ... we train here in Pisa this way since at least ten years. Myself, Puccini, Vanni, Vannini, Pierucci (as long as he was in Pisa), Martinelli, Bianco, Rossi, Scarpa (until she trained with Di Ciolo) we all bear all witness to this.

Q: Often in sport is not enough to have talent to reach the top but you need other things, beside luck, obviously. Anyway, what advice you feel you could give to a young and talented fencer who wants to become a champion like you?

Sanzo:
My advice remains [hard] work. Only with hard work you can win. Vezzali has enormous talent, but without being constantly in the gym she could not win all the time. A talented or lucky fencer can win one, two years tops, but he will never be a great champion. He'll be only one who was good for two years and won competitions in those years. The true champion is he/she who wins always, for years, many times, not only once. Everyone can have a lucky day.

Q: Here on Schermaonline we give a lot of importance to the theme of physical preparation. You've been fencing for many years now; how has this component in fencing changed from the beginning of your career until today? How important is it for you? In which model of preparation do you believe, at least for foil?

Sanzo:
In the last years the physical preparation has taken a very important role. I trust Enrico Di Ciolo [maestro, son of Antonio Di Ciolo, Sanzo's foil coach] from whom every now and then I take also fencing lessons. You should ask him this question. In general, I think that everyone should work on a good physical preparation, but I don't believe that there is a specific and ideal physical preparation for fencing. It could be that another athlete would not feel comfortable training with me. Therefore, I think that it is important to be in good physical condition, feel good on the strip. This means that you've gone through the right and correct training.

Q: Do you think that a [sport] psychologist has an important role in the preparation of the fencer? If yes, how?

Sanzo:
I never though it necessary, quite the opposite. If you don't feel well, if you have problems, then you go to the psychologist. But this is just my opinion, certainly a wrong one. If one believes and is convinced and thinks that a psychologist can help him in his sport results, it's right for him to do it and to continue doing it. Obviously it all depends on the professional one goes to.

......

Q: This is a "chat room" type of question: who was in your opinion the best foilist of all times? And who was the strongest fencer you ever fenced against?

Sanzo:
To both questions my answer is one name only. Golubitsky. And don't tell me that Dal Zotto was better. He won an Olympic gold, bravo, but not what and how many Gola won. An different category altogether. In general I think that the champions of any period would have been champions any time. So, if Numa fenced today, he'd be super strong like twenty years ago. The same for Franke, Omnes, Cerioni, Borella, and many other champions of the past. The reverse is also true, to be clear. I, Vanni, Cassara, Bissdorf would have been strong also twenty, thirty years ago.


Sanzo: born in Pisa, Juris Doctor, married since 2002 with the foil champion Frida Scarpa. In January this year they had a beautiful daughter Virginia. His palmares contain many world and Olympic medals, plus a record number of victories in World Cup: anyone interested in the details of his palmares go to his website www.salvatoresanzo.it. Since this year he is a contributor to the daily QS, which has a weekly article about fencing.

[kalivor]

Oooh ... a top foilist likes the direction in which the new timings take us. Alan's going to be so very disappointed.

[KD5MDK]

I'm interested by how he expressly advocated TV sales and supported Roch. I would have boiled down the arguements I've seen here into the following positions:

1) Any changes are bad.
2) THe new timings are a fact of life, deal with them
3) I don't like Roch, but I can understand why these are happening.

This is perhaps the first time, or close to it, I recall people being distinctly in favor of such changes.

[telkanuru]

Oooh ... a top foilist likes the direction in which the new timings take us. Alan's going to be so very disappointed.

You know, I had the exact same thought...

It's quite a sane outlook on the new timings. It sounds like someone has bothered to think about them, rather than frothing at the mouth and shouting soundbytes from the rooftops.

[armataforte]

Q: Do you think that a [sport] psychologist has an important role in the preparation of the fencer? If yes, how?

Sanzo:
I never though it necessary, quite the opposite. If you don't feel well, if you have problems, then you go to the psychologist. But this is just my opinion, certainly a wrong one. If one believes and is convinced and thinks that a psychologist can help him in his sport results, it's right for him to do it and to continue doing it. Obviously it all depends on the professional one goes to.

I think that he did a good job noting that this is his personal opinion, but he answered in terms of what the general public thinks that a psychologist should do. Granted I'm not an expert in sport psychology, but I have two professors who are sport psychologists/consultants who have taught us several things about consulting in sports. Sport psychologists can help athletes with their performance through motivational exercises, visual imagery, performance improvement, stress reduction prior to a big event and so many other ways. One doesn't have to go to a psychologist only when they have a problem they need to solve. (btw, this is my humble opinion as a person, fencer, and psychologist to be)

[Mr Epee]

It's quite a sane outlook on the new timings. It sounds like someone has bothered to think about them, rather than frothing at the mouth and shouting soundbytes from the rooftops.

I think that you forget that this is an interview with one of the top foil fencers in the world, and his livelihood comes directly from playing ball with the FIE.

When was the last time you saw a professional sports interview that acurately reflected their deepest personal opinions??

"That ****ing no good ****hit, father raping, polesmoker of a referee ****ing cheated me out of my skull" among teammates usually translates into "We had a difficult time tonight, and we hope to to do better in our next meeting" for the press conference

-----------
Edit: I was hoping a little more of that would be caught by the auto language censors.

[Araznal]

Here, I'm not so sure about the whole press thing. It seems that Sanzo is expressing his displeasure while keeping his professionalism and he understands what Roche is trying to do. Though it is toned down from the usual rants we hear here, Sanzo's just saying the same thing with a more middle of the road approach.

[Mr Epee]

Though it is toned down from the usual rants we hear here, Sanzo's just saying the same thing with a more middle of the road approach.

He is a professional, and that's the point I was trying to make.

He isn't supposed to be making rabid commentary on the new timings.

[Araznal]

Well what's ranting going to do except make Alan happy?

He knows that it's all politics and he can say so much more by trying to please everybody. But I think he would say this to any person, not just in an interview. We're saying the same thing except you're saying it's for the press when I'm saying that it's actually what's on his mind.

[miyamoto]

Something else occured to me. Most federations, many coaches and some top level fencers (Golubitsky comes to mind) were in favor of these new timings. This tells me that it's not that fencers are opposed to a change in timings, but rather the side effects that these timings bring.

[Mr Epee]

He knows that it's all politics and he can say so much more by trying to please everybody. But I think he would say this to any person, not just in an interview. We're saying the same thing except you're saying it's for the press when I'm saying that it's actually what's on his mind.

Ok, same page... but I promise you his comments to his coach/teammates are a little different directly after his hits don't register touches on the machine.

That's all I was saying

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

Ok, same page... but I promise you his comments to his coach/teammates are a little different directly after his hits don't register touches on the machine.

That's all I was saying

yeah, somewhere along the lines of G*D F*CKING D*AMNIT!

Seriously though, sanzo doesnt want to upset anybody in the industry by saying brash things that be unfavorable for him later on. Its just like most smart celebritys pick and choose their words strategically, as they do not wish to step on any toes.

Me, being a fencing peon, I will say most confidentally and with no remorse that the new timings suck something foul.

[mrbiggs]

I actually agree with Sanzo, that the concept behind the new timings is good, but that these specific changes cause problems.

By the way, many thanks to gladius, these Italian articles are most interesting.

[Alan]

Oooh ... a top foilist likes the direction in which the new timings take us. Alan's going to be so very disappointed.

Not at all. I have always said that there was a problem with ROW given to flicks which do not aim at the valid surface. The direction may be good but it should be cured by refereing not by these f***d off test timings.
And i have always said that.

And SANZO says exactly the same thing :

Instead, unfortunately, these various adaptations have given us slow bouts, without genial ideas, which capitalize on taking advantage from an opponent's mistake. There is no doubt that we are seeing a less spectacular fencing, but I believe that the path we are on should not be abandoned, quite the opposite

Another top foilist testimony against these f***d off test timings.


By the way do you remember what Sanzo said to the French magazine "L'équipe" :
http://www.escrime-info.com/photos/lequipe.jpg

"C'est triste cela va niveler le niveau par le bas." =

It is sad (ie these f***d off test timings). They will flatten the rankings from the bottom.

[KD5MDK]

I think that you forget that this is an interview with one of the top foil fencers in the world, and his livelihood comes directly from playing ball with the FIE.

How exactly could the FIE harm him? Are you proposing they'll fake drug test results or influence referees at his bouts? It's not as if they can affect his rankings directly.

[oso97]

I think an honest reading of that interview will lead to the conclusion that he liked the inital idea, is aware of the difficulties the athletes are making with the transition, thinks that the situation will get better as athletes improve their game, and it will be an overall net positive. By focusing on one or two statements, it obscures the overall context in which these statements are made.

Okay Alen, the test has been passed. A top level foilist has come out in support of them. So, now, will you keep your promise and go away now? Or at least find something else to gripe about?

[esskreemr]

I think an honest reading of that interview will lead to the conclusion that he liked the inital idea, is aware of the difficulties the athletes are making with the transition, thinks that the situation will get better as athletes improve their game, and it will be an overall net positive. By focusing on one or two statements, it obscures the overall context in which these statements are made.

Okay Alen, the test has been passed. A top level foilist has come out in support of them. So, now, will you keep your promise and go away now? Or at least find something else to gripe about?

In support of them? We must have read different articles. He states that he supports the ideas that Roch is trying to push which is increasing the popularity of fencing and trying to bring challengers to the perennial fencing powers.

I honestly thought that it would have improved fencing considerably by favoring fencers with technique to the "flying" types. Instead, unfortunately, these various adaptations have given us slow bouts, without genial ideas, which capitalize on taking advantage from an opponent's mistake. There is no doubt that we are seeing a less spectacular fencing, but I believe that the path we are on should not be abandoned, quite the opposite. With some refinements we should arrive at foil fencing which favors the convention.

"I honestly thought" is past tense indicating that he doesn't CURRENTLY think that the new timings have improvied fencing. "Slow bouts, without genial ideas, which capitalize on taking advantage from an opponent's mistake. There is no doubt that we are seeing a less spectacular fencing" is pretty hard to interpret as meaning he is a "top level fencer in support" of the new timings. There is a HUUUUUGE difference in jumping from "the idea of the new timings is a good idea" to "Wooooohooooo! Now foil is slow and boring like epee favoring sitting on your *** over a dynamic offense!!! The new timings rock! I wanna have Roch's love child!!"

[Alan]

I think an honest reading of that interview will lead to the conclusion that he liked the inital idea, is aware of the difficulties the athletes are making with the transition, thinks that the situation will get better as athletes improve their game, and it will be an overall net positive. By focusing on one or two statements, it obscures the overall context in which these statements are made.

Okay Alen, the test has been passed. A top level foilist has come out in support of them. So, now, will you keep your promise and go away now? Or at least find something else to gripe about?

I fully disagree with you. This interview clearly shows the opposition of Sanzo
to these f***d off test timings.

And even if *one* top foilist was against these f***d off timings,
should this condamn the opposition of a vast majority of foilists ?

[keith]

oh my god, fencing.net in discourse analysis shocker.

Derrida would be so proud of you all.

[gladius]

I think an honest reading of that interview will lead to the conclusion that he liked the inital idea, is aware of the difficulties the athletes are making with the transition, thinks that the situation will get better as athletes improve their game, and it will be an overall net positive. By focusing on one or two statements, it obscures the overall context in which these statements are made.

Bravo oso97, you got it!

esskreemer, please read until the end of the passage you quoted

There is no doubt that we are seeing a less spectacular fencing, but I believe that the path we are on should not be abandoned, quite the opposite. With some refinements we should arrive at foil fencing which favors the convention. (SANZO)