Advice- The Science of Fencing by Gaugler

[D'Artagnan1673]

That's fine, it doesn't happen now so in a compeitive manner, it shouldn't be worried about either way.

[Inquartata]

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Helvetica, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Helvetica, Arial">Originally posted by attila:
<strong>I haven't read the book. i have fenced his students. They suck eggs. And if the suck egges then probably their coach sucks eggs. And if he sucks eggs then his book...............</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Helvetica, Arial">Meh, but I like eggs! I prefer then scrambled, but then...

B & R, I have a friend ( he's a C ) who does a sort of inquartata in sabre. It's works infuriatingly well, too. But I think he sort of developed it on his own, rather than learning it from anyone.

[MikeHarm]

Is it the sort where you do the inquartata with the sabre parries then you do angulated ripostes off of it? I've been playing with a similar action myself.

[Inquartata]

Yeah. He sort of parries wide in quarte, steps a little to the side with his back foot ( not very much ) and whacks you with the back edge.

[MikeHarm]

Yep, nice action. YOu can do a similar sort of action to the other side using a sideways lunge.

[Sildar]

Didn't mean to post twice here...

<small>[ 08-08-2002, 04:14 PM: Message edited by: Sildar ]</small>

[Sildar]

My belated 2 cents-

Gaugler and Evangelista, although the most vocal, DO NOT represent all classical fencers in their opinions or training methods. I think I can safely say, however, that if there is one thing that almost all classical fencers agree upon it is that many modern fencers do not have adequete technical training, especially when it comes to bladework. Especially at the middle and lower competitive levels, enormous numbers of modern fencers become intimidated by the superior bladework of better trained fencers, and therefore they avoid bladework at all costs. In doing so they cheat themselves of some crucial skills and prevent themselves from learning some of the finer points of fencing.

The few coaches I know who have trained world-class fencers place a great deal of emphasis on correct technique and bladework early on, and once their students have a rock-solid foundation in technique they add more distinctly modern techniques and competitive tactics to that basis to produce incredibly strong fencers. I find it amusing that the coaches I know who always have several fencers in the top 50 national point standings consider the same techniques to be crucial parts of training which lesser coaches deride as obsolete.

From what I have seen I'll agree that Gaugler does have a tendency to neglect tactics for form, which gets his fencers in trouble in modern competition.

Also, classical fencing should not be stiff or slow. Crisp and precise, certainly, but any fencer who is stiff or rigid is not practicing correct classical technique.

It is possible to get a lot out of Gaugler's book, if one proceeds with the understanding that it is aimed at reproducing an older style than is commonly practiced today, and modifies the techniques accordingly. But as always, no book can substitute for a good instructor.

[epeefencer74]

I have the book, its a really, really dry read. I've tried using his suggested sabre on guard, worked for a while but ppl started reading it and I had to stop using it. Didn't provide the speed and flexibilty that I needed.His epee drills I sometimes use as a basis for training my own students, but I modify it such that it is not done from his suggested on guard. N.B. I have yet to finish reading it even though I've had it for a couple of years.