Anyone can be a Fencing Coach ...or Pirate

[Jason]

Pulling from a recent blog post:

My god, you really do read everything on here...

[Mr Epee]

My god, you really do read everything on here...

And he's not even ashamed of it... sorta reminds me of those folks who have no qualms about playing Magic the Gathering in public places.

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To the subject....

I encourage anyone in search of a sobering moment to browse the back issues of the Sword Master newsletter. Practically every issue has an extensive article about what the USFCA should be doing, and a grand plan. Unfortunately, none of them have much to do with the realities of teaching fencing in the US. It's easy to design education programs, but as we have seen with many posts in this (and other similar) thread the people currently designing programs are all too willing to ignore the realities of demand and constraints of implementation.

[MdA]

I just want to encourage young fencing coaches to pursue your training, education, and certification while you are young and actively coaching. Take advantage of the programs and the people who offer you opportunities. If you wait around for the perfect system...you may never get it done.

[MdA]

....I encourage anyone in search of a sobering moment to browse the back issues of the Sword Master newsletter. Practically every issue has an extensive article about what the USFCA should be doing, and a grand plan. .

Our Swordmaster editors were some of the few members who were actively involved and volunteered to support the association....at least it is a free press....they didn't sugarcoat or gloss over the reality of coaching development in the USA.

When I took my Moniteur exams at the Coaches College in the 80s...I thought I was done with the USFCA...I had no more use for training ...and even less for certification. The USFCA was in worse shape than it is now.

But the late Bob Scranton kept after me. He invited me to his club and prepared me for the Prevot exam...he introduced me to books that I would not have read...he got me involved.

Richard Gradkowski sent me a newsletter from the German Academy. When I found myself in Germany, I contacted the ADFD and they invited me into their Masters training program.

[Guy from Idaho]

...American Fencing Academy (AFA), the two-year Fencing Masters program located on the campus of Cornell University...The Fencing Master Graduates of the American Fencing Academy: Lynn Antonelli, Guy Bertrand, Steve Cook, Adam Crown, Gene Gettler, Raymond Finkleman, James Fazekas, Greame Jennings, John Helmich, Anthony “Buckie” Leach, James Murray, Colin Oberg, Robert Scranton, Marc Twomey, and John Wills represent a part of the legacy to the art and sport of fencing inspired by M. Gillet.

Not germane to the discussion, but thanks for the memories... I spent a couple years club fencing in Ithaca and taking group/individual lessons from some of the AFA folks, most extensively with Lynn Antonelli (who was finishing the Fencing Masters program at that time) What a great coach and great person! -Guy Knudsen

[MdA]

Not germane to the discussion, but thanks for the memories... -Guy Knudsen

Thanks Guy. This was a special time in history for American coaches...you were very fortunate to be a part of it....and to know Fencing Master Lynn Antonelli. I hope that we can recreate it somewhere...someday soon.

I knew Lynn when she was the head coach at UC San Diego. She hosted the Western Intercollegiate Fencing Championships my senior year.