Fencer-generated Content

[dwilcomb]

In a prior thread about instructional videos for fencing, I mentioned a few people publishing fencing content on ExpertVillage. That got a discussion going about the quality of the instruction there - so rather than hijack that thread...

A notable quote from that discussion:

Originally Posted by Tomas N

Why do so many of these people either not know how to fence or use students to demonstrate who don't know how to fence?

First, thanks to Tomas for the Dave Littel link! I'm definitely going to spend some time with these.

As for ExpertVillage (or any other site for that matter) - I will note that instructional content out there - perhaps lacking in quality and completeness - is some of the only content available. Why (oh why) if the instruction out there is generally so poor, aren't more of the better fencers and coaches among us contributing better quality material?

By contrast, type "MMA Instructional" into YouTube and just admire the sheer volume. Some of it is good, some of it isn't; the community ratings usually tell you which is which. Point being - the community there is extremely active, and they're publishing. That's the kind of thing that advances a sport and helps make it approachable.

Now...if only we had a fencing reality show

If one of our goals is to open and demystify the sport for a wider range of people, this would seem a prime avenue for reaching prospective fencers and retaining new ones. It's a small commitment for a coach or an expert fencer to set up a tripod after a night of fencing and spend 10 minutes on a take. The larger barrier, I think, is the fortitude required to put one's expertise out there for the world to poke holes in. To the credit of the fencers currently on ExpertVillage, they've been willing to do that.

/rant

sidenote - As for using inexperienced students, I don't really get why. If that's a tactic to shield the coach's reputation from the critique of the masses - shame on them.

[Craig]

I think a lot of the people here are perfectionists about it, though I wouldn't mind setting up a video share section for people.

Craig

[Phrogger]

Interesting section on the Fencing Pictures website:

Originally Posted by Fencing Pictures

In the works

Maestro Patrice Menon Project — How to train to World-Cup level.

The "101" series — Foil, Epee and Sabre explained.

[Craig]

Those have been "in the works" for 2 or 3 years now.

Craig

[Delta]

Originally Posted by dwilcomb

As for ExpertVillage (or any other site for that matter) - I will note that instructional content out there - perhaps lacking in quality and completeness - is some of the only content available. Why (oh why) if the instruction out there is generally so poor, aren't more of the better fencers and coaches among us contributing better quality material?

By contrast, type "MMA Instructional" into YouTube and just admire the sheer volume. Some of it is good, some of it isn't; the community ratings usually tell you which is which. Point being - the community there is extremely active, and they're publishing. That's the kind of thing that advances a sport and helps make it approachable.

Now...if only we had a fencing reality show

/rant

sidenote - As for using inexperienced students, I don't really get why. If that's a tactic to shield the coach's reputation from the critique of the masses - shame on them.

I was under the impression a good number of the better quality coaches are employed full-time and don't really always have the time to contribute the way they are at their own club/team. Youtubing has benefitted greatly from people who want to help others despite limited resources of the pupil, but MA only requires your dedication and ideally, someone else's for sparring, take downs and such, but fencing requires more than just good shoes. It requires equipment/money ( I guess you could use a 2x4 as a rudimentary sort of epee....), and that already deters potential interest in the sport otherwise.
Also, most MA that are good in my book also teach a philophy of life- respect, dedication, compassion for others, etc. and these aspects are not always a theme in fencing. I could be wrong because I made the transition to fencing from a MA background,but this is something I have observed. You'll see from many posters here that they will make void of respect and compassion and this hardly provides the right sort of atmosphere for a youtube explosion.

Or maybe so many of us have already spent a small fortune on equipment we have nothing left to invest in a high-resolution video camera.