Keeth Smart: From Lightsabers to Olympic Sabre

[Craig]

Keeth Smart: From Lightsabers to Olympic Sabre
StarWars.com - San Rafael,CA,USA
... lightsaber battle between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader, it was only a matter of years before he participated in his own action-packed fencing duels at the ...

http://www.starwars.com/community/ne...s20060317.html

[Mr Epee]

That's funny...

Didn't Cliff Bayer used to reference Star Wars as one of the things that got him fencing?

A few weeks back, I was helping a 7 year old kid fit his mask for the very first time. As soon as the mask was in place he started breathing like Uncle Darth. Priceless. Absolutely priceless.

[noahz]

Seems like they puffed up that interview a bit...I have a hard time picturing Keeth name-dropping a fictional Star Wars location.

If I see him at the club this week, I think I'm going to give him a pop quiz on "the location of Obi-Wan and Anikan's final battle in Revenge of the Sith."

[rcmatthews]

I'm sorry, even though Keeth Smart says so, the lightsabre battles don't look like any kind of sabre fencing I have ever seen.

[edew]

I'd say the first duel between Obi-Wan and Dark Vader looked the best. Both moved cautiously at each other, made small feints and feint-disengages. Of course, they stood there like two Vet-60 geezers in epee, but they made circle parries and such (and not circling by moving their body in a circle).

Episode V: ESB had too funky of moves, and Episode VI was worse.

But the I, II, III had the worst swordfighting scenes, although Darth Maul added a bit of Eastern mysticism via his eastern martial arts style to the game. But then, I, II, and III were all so stupid someone should have took Lucas out of the loop for ruining so many things.

They had a 3-foot tall gnome who has to walk with a stick jump and fly all over the place when he, Yoda, fought Count Dooku. And instead of being measured and respectful of his opponent, Yoda flies around like he's going to give Dooku a biatch slapping. Of course, he doesn't, and as a fencer, those moves were just embarrassing. (Not to mention very difficult to release from the minds of impressionable kids who, when given a saber to try out, go Yoda on each other.)

Basically, the problem with the swordfighting scenes in I, II, and III is the incessant attacks by both fighters. I can see the possibility when it's a Jedi against some no-name. But a person with the force against an equal would require some circumspect and caution, as well as patience to confuse the enemy. Running full steam at the opponent, constantly, even in real fencing is not a winning strategy.

[oiuyt]

Running full steam at the opponent, constantly, even in real fencing is not a winning strategy.

WHAT?!?!?!?! Dang, now I have to re-think my entire coaching methodology! :)

-B

[noahz]

I'd say the first duel between Obi-Wan and Dark Vader looked the best. Both moved cautiously at each other, made small feints and feint-disengages. Of course, they stood there like two Vet-60 geezers in epee, but they made circle parries and such (and not circling by moving their body in a circle).

...

They had a 3-foot tall gnome who has to walk with a stick jump and fly all over the place when he, Yoda, fought Count Dooku. And instead of being measured and respectful of his opponent, Yoda flies around like he's going to give Dooku a biatch slapping. Of course, he doesn't, and as a fencer, those moves were just embarrassing. (Not to mention very difficult to release from the minds of impressionable kids who, when given a saber to try out, go Yoda on each other.)

Brilliant post! Bravo!

wait...you...were being sarcastic...right?

[chefencer]

IV, V, and VI were before "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", et al. In contemporary cinema, it is understood that the target audience has an expectation that at least one of the combatants fly around (even muppets) in any agonistic encounter to establish an atmosphere (mise-en-scene, if you will) of mysticism associated with asian martial culture so popular with said demographic. (Flexing the old film school B.A. in b.s.)

Edew: I'm afraid your students will be going Yoda for sometime, yet.

I did have an interesting conversation with a fellow fencing geezer, lately returned to the sport after a long absence, who likened his newly Vet adapted style to "The Matrix" saber school of deceive/parry/reposte... in slow motion.

[edew]

For the geezers, it's normal speed.

Actually, for my newbie kids, the video games are offering more of an impression. A lot, when given a weapon and not told what to do, would hold a reverse stance. That is, weapon on the back arm, not the front. And then doing the "come'on wave" with the free hand. Of course, once they get hit while standing in the wrong position, they realize that standing in the correct position is better.

[Dev]

Although, to be fair, Salvatore Sanzo did the "come on!" wave in a perfectly good stance and got greased for it anyway.

[chefencer]

Although, to be fair, Salvatore Sanzo did the "come on!" wave in a perfectly good stance and got greased for it anyway.

Man! When was that? Leipzig? The French team foil victory dance in the final at Leipzig is an often used allusion in my family...hilarious!

[edew]

Gold medal bout against Guyart in the 2004 Olympics MF. He dared Guyart and Guyart stuck it to him. It was very cool. I personally loved that whole bout. Very gutsy and energetic and emotional by both fencers. (You can always bet on a great bout or match whenever you have France and Italy against each other. The 2000 ME Team gold between France and Italy is another great one.)

[notalent]

Greetings oiuyt,
This from the guy who ran away from his opponent in sabre

WHAT?!?!?!?! Dang, now I have to re-think my entire coaching methodology!

-B

[needle]

Of course, once they get hit while standing in the wrong position, they realize that standing in the correct position is better.

Trouble is, that being beginners, they get hit in both positions ... gets very confusing that way

[Beowulfman6]

I'm sorry, even though Keeth Smart says so, the lightsabre battles don't look like any kind of sabre fencing I have ever seen.

It is theatrical fencing, don't get me wrong, but you can definately tell that Bob Anderson (leagendary fight coordinator and the guy in the Darth Vader suit) was a several time British saber champion (among other things). Especialy in episode V, my personal favorite.