Fencing.Net - Your Guide to Fencing & Fencing Equipment

gladius · 10-29-2005, 02:38 PM

Excerpts of a long interview with Michele Maffei on Schermaonline.com pertaining some old and new issues in fencing.

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

ABOUT SABER

.... In regard to the technical aspect of saber, I think it is essential to have a greater cultural and technical exchange with the countries at the forefront in this weapon: France, Russia, Hungary.

Needless to say electric saber changed the nature itself of the technique and tactic of this specialty.

Italian saber goes through a healthy foil, therefore, foil should always be taught for the qualities it can transmit to a young fencer.

In my opinion, foil has an introductory technical value which is fundamental for the passage to saber, but also to epee.

I wouldn't like to be considered a nostalgic person or a blind follower of the great and missed Maestro and past FIS President Nostini [who passed away a month ago], but I still have clear in front of me the words of my first Maestro, Giuseppe De Santis "I train in foil to win at saber."

Obviously the way to approach and prepare for saber must be considered in light of the specialization which has been pushed by the technical and physical evolution in the last decade.

The connection of the motion activity of a child and the gestures in saber is complex, but I believe that many Maestri will understand me when I underline that one must absolutely avoid any shortcuts by pushing a competitive activity without a previous serious basic technique. On the other side it is also true that there is a need to have a teaching program with shorter timings as compared with the old days.

................

SCHERMAONLINE
What do you think of the policy of the FIE and its president Roch?

MAFFEI
I don't consider it very rational.

Often I cannot see the dynamics of Roch, even though it is clear -- almost too clear -- that his project is to increase the popular appeal of fencing.

In my opinion the FIE should mainly pursue the following objectives:
increase the visibility and utilization of fencing on TV;

change the format of the competitions;

improve the global quality of the most important events;

breakdown the big events during the four years period in-between the Olympics, by reducing the frequency; for instance, organizing a world championship every year is, in my opinion, useless and counterproductive;

impose fewer innovations reserved only to the experts, and therefore less understandable by the public at large, to be instead in favor of initiatives addressed to those who don't know much about fencing, or give more importance to the aesthetic aspects of fencing like the traditions, the execution of some actions which are particularly difficult and spectacular: a beautiful parry and riposte in saber should be rewarded with a double point, in my opinion.

In conclusion it would be more useful to apply the orthodox fencing rather than the conventional. The future is "in the art of touching and not being touched," a way of fencing that is much closer to the duel and the actual combat.

Even respecting the specific characteristics of each weapon, we should go ahead in this direction which in my opinion is definitely more spectacular.

In conclusion, either we turn towards the spectators, or we are better off keeping fencing restricted to few "salons" for connoisseurs and few intimate friends.

If it is true that sports today survive in society on the basis of economic considerations and equilibria, then the FIE has the duty to present a suitable show to the TV viewer, therefore substantial investments must be made for this purpose.

SCHERMAONLINE
What do you think about using the insta-replay in fencing?

MAFFEI
It's a possibility, an opportunity to study this more in depth, but it does not add to a more efficient way to refereeing a bout. It takes away from the referee trust and sureness without a corresponding fencing action because it is not linked with the actual real vision of the referee.

.............

SCHERMAONLINE
Which was the strongest sabreist ever you saw fencing?

MAFFEI
I had the pleasure to cross blades with the great Jerzy Pawlowski, the Polish champion who probably won less than others, but who was an athlete with an elegance, a class, and style no one has aver matched. In the period between the '60s and '80s he was for sure one of the greatest in world saber.

SCHERMAONLINE
And who is the strongest sabreist of the moment?

MAFFEI
No doubt whatsoever: Podzniakov.

......

Note: Michele Maffei (58) from Rome, was probably the greatest Italian fencer in the 70s. He competed between 1967 and 1984, He earned 4 Olympic medals (one gold), an individual world title (1971), two world bronzes ('78 and '81), four Italian titles, and numerous World Cup competitions.
Maestro dello Sport, officer of CONI (Italian National Olympic Committee), he was involved with the Youth Games, became Secretary General of the Federation for Handicapped, of the Modern Pentathlon Federation, of the Federation of Sport Medicine, and the FIS.
Professor of Fencing at the Faculty of Physical Education in Aquila, Italy, since 2003, he was recently honored as Grand Officer of the Italian Republic. He is a member of the FIS PR Committee.

He is currently Secretary General of the FIG, Italian Gymnastics Federation.

sabreman · 10-30-2005, 02:46 PM

Do not agree about starting in foil.

>>a beautiful parry and riposte in saber should be rewarded with a double point, in my opinion.
>>

I like this idea and have had similar thoughts. Kinda like a 3 pointer in bball.

>>
SCHERMAONLINE
And who is the strongest sabreist of the moment?

MAFFEI
No doubt whatsoever: Podzniakov.
<<

Agree 100% on this one.

whtouche · 10-30-2005, 03:32 PM

Two points for a "beautiful parry riposte" ??
Does that mean any parry-riposte is 2 points? Or does it have to be beautiful? Who decides?
I think that's a terrible idea, barely even worth mentioning.

keropie · 10-30-2005, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gladius

a beautiful parry and riposte in saber should be rewarded with a double point, in my opinion

Because one of the things we should definitely do is increase the subjective nature of officiating to include beauty... I'm all about it... sure, really I am.

Mr Epee · 10-30-2005, 06:37 PM

World Championships is counter-productive? I don't quite see where he's coming from on that issue.

Note to self: Living in Italy - not for you.

Inquartata · 10-30-2005, 07:51 PM

Except for the Podzniakov part and "fewer innovations", I disagree on almost every point.

Foil for sabre? Why? No specific benefits offered, just advocacy.

Countries "at the forefront" of sabre: France?!

And I for one am content to "keep fencing restricted to few "salons" for connoisseurs and few intimate friends", if the alternative is "turning towards the spectators".

Gav · 10-31-2005, 02:32 AM

Style points .... and people think ROW is [often] unfair, missapplied and subjective.

He makes an interesting point about trust and the referee (regarding video replay). I disagree with his points; if anything it would increase peoples trust in the ref'.

Alan · 10-31-2005, 05:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sabreman

>>a beautiful parry and riposte in saber should be rewarded with a double point, in my opinion.

Very good idea ... for artistic fencing !

But leave fencing alone, please.

sabreman · 10-31-2005, 08:44 AM

I am thinking any blade parry repoiste. I don't care about the artistic part. If there was a chance of extra touch people may try to do them more.

whtouche · 10-31-2005, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sabreman

I am thinking any blade parry repoiste. I don't care about the artistic part. If there was a chance of extra touch people may try to do them more.

Any parry and riposte is worth two points?
What about those wrestling matches where you get hung up on someone's 5 and grind grind grind till there's a light on.
Beautiful parry riposte. Two points. Right..

sabreman · 10-31-2005, 09:45 AM

Yes any parry reposte. If you take the risk this would be reward. Would increase the number of blade actions which the non fencing public (supposedly) enjoys.

nyacfencing · 10-31-2005, 10:12 AM

It wasn't that long ago that saber was fenced dry, even though foil and epee were already electric. For any that don't think style played a part, I assure you that big beautiful hits were much more likely to result in a touch. The advent of electric saber moved the sport much more closely to epee then it had previously been.

oso97 · 10-31-2005, 11:01 AM

(edited for brevity)

Quote:

Originally Posted by gladius

Excerpts of a long interview with Michele Maffei

ABOUT SABER

Needless to say electric saber changed the nature itself of the technique and tactic of this specialty.

Italian saber goes through a healthy foil, therefore, foil should always be taught for the qualities it can transmit to a young fencer.

In my opinion, foil has an introductory technical value which is fundamental for the passage to saber, but also to epee.

Obviously the way to approach and prepare for saber must be considered in light of the specialization which has been pushed by the technical and physical evolution in the last decade.

This just lends more credence to my already strong belief that the Italians just have a fundemental cluelessness about sabre, in general. I'll stick with the ideas, tactics and training techniques of the Hungarian and Russian camps thank you.

fatfencer · 10-31-2005, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oso97

(edited for brevity)

This just lends more credence to my already strong belief that the Italians just have a fundemental cluelessness about sabre, in general. I'll stick with the ideas, tactics and training techniques of the Hungarian and Russian camps thank you.

Ummm....lemme me see...Montano doesnt suck.... nor would I call him clueless.

Fatfencer

oso97 · 10-31-2005, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatfencer

Ummm....lemme me see...Montano doesnt suck.... nor would I call him clueless.

Fatfencer

Watch the way he fences... its a lot closer to Russian style than what the Italian Maestri profess to exault. An exception that proves the rule.

sabreman · 10-31-2005, 01:21 PM

>>Watch the way he fences... its a lot closer to Russian style than what the Italian Maestri profess to exault. An exception that proves the rule.
>>

Same with his teamates. All the top guys (France, Italy, Germany) fence that way.

KD5MDK · 10-31-2005, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keropie

Because one of the things we should definitely do is increase the subjective nature of officiating to include beauty... I'm all about it... sure, really I am.

Now we'll not only have coaches in our faces over the more complicated calls ("Was beat, not parry! Why you not see? Very clear, very clean, was beat!")
we'll have them all over us on the easy calls.
"Was beautiful parry riposte. Same as I taught him, exact same! Why you not give 2 points? Was beautiful! You biased! Not see beautiful riposte."

MikeHarm · 10-31-2005, 11:18 PM

Beauty points open the door to bribery and corruption, and its pretty lame at the same time. Lets keep fencing a competitive sport, if they want a beauty contest hold a pagent.

Teme · 11-01-2005, 03:44 AM

Aw, come on! Everybody knows a beautiful saber parry-riposte when they see one, even epeeists.
Start and end of an attack may be elusive, stop-cuts vague, counter-timing confusing, bladework fuzzy -- but a beautiful parry-riposte sticks out like Gulliver in the Country of Lilliput...