At 04:48 PM 10/24/2005, Linda Wyatt <hilinda@lightlink.com> wrote:
>In my last e-mail, I mentioned that I have not seen much of how other
>teachers teach or of what they teach.
>
>I'd really like to.
>
>I have sometimes seen the results of what has been taught, and I have
>rarely been impressed.
>
>We're working on getting a digital camcorder here so we can put video on
>our website. We'd like to show some of our students bouting and some of
>the tactical and formal exercises we use.
>
>Is anyone else out there attempting such a thing? Is anyone interested in
>seeing such a thing?

Several years ago I floated the idea here on the CFML of compiling
some video clips of various groups, so people could get an idea of
what others were doing. The idea was that anybody who sent me a tape
of them or their group would get a copy of the compilation. There was
no requirement for what was on the tape; it could be people bouting,
doing drills, teaching, or whatever, as long as it was related to
their fencing.

Unfortunately the response was less than overwhelming, and while many
people wanted a copy of the final compilation, few were willing or
able to provide tape of themselves.

I'd be willing to try this again, although I suspect in this day and
age it would simply be easier for people to put short video clips on
the Internet than to copy and send videotapes via postal mail.

>I'd really like to see more video of classical fencing. It would give me a
>better idea of what others are teaching, and, more importantly, might cheer
>me up. The sport fencing I've seen either on video or in person has been
>appalling, to say the least. Doesn't mean that all fencing elsewhere is
>like that- at least I sincerely hope not! But until I can see it for
>myself, I won't know.

So would I. However, it's one thing to see a tape of a few people
fencing; it's another thing to see what (and how) they were taught.
The problem with watching fencers, even in person, is that unless you
get to ask questions of them and/or their instructor, you don't
really know whether they are doing something that they were taught or
whether they learned it elsewhere, don't know any better and are
taking their best guess, are just tired and are getting lazy, or
picked up a habit from somebody else.

On top of that, a good instructor will tailor their lessons to the
individual (to the best of their abilities given the constraints of a
group class) so that what they teach one student may not be at all
what they would teach another student.

This is not to say it wouldn't be very interesting to see tapes of
people fencing, but simply that I wouldn't infer much about them or
their instructors based on a tape.

--K



------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~-->
Get fast access to your favorite Yahoo! Groups. Make Yahoo! your home page
http://us.click.yahoo.com/dpRU5A/wUI...LSAA/VRUolB/TM
--------------------------------------------------------------------~->

----------------------------------------------------------------------
The CFML is sponsored in part by Purpleheart Armoury, now carrying rapier blunts and leather gorgets. http://www.woodenswords.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/classicalfencing/

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
classicalfencing-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/