Hungarian Sabre Influence

[samax70]

hello friends,

I was wondering if anyone would know how Hungarian Sabre Coaching in the 1950's affected the way Sabre is fenced in the US today.

Any help would be appreciated.

Cheers,

Andrew

[jspierre]

I'm no expert but have read enough on the sport to know that Santelli went from Italy to Hungry and introduced Italian saber technique to the Hungarians; then the Hungarians (and there were specific coaches) further innovated, and created a more modern approach to the weapon by combining elements of French and Italian schools. I cannot tell you exactly what those innovations were but if you research it a bit on the www and in some of the literature, you'll find your answers.

Sorry can't be of more precise help.

[jeff]

To add to the above: Italo Santelli went from Italy to Hungary, and significantly influenced sabre there. (His story is well told in the new book "By The Sword", by ex-Olympian (UK) sabreur, Richard Cohen. Highly recommended!) Italo's son, Giorgio Santelli, came to the United States after winning championships in sabre and foil. He also fought a duel on behalf of his father when Italo was accused of being a "renegade" after a conflict in the Olympics. That fascinating story is worth a whole separate discussion...

Giorgio established Salle Santelli after teaching in other NY clubs. This had a dramatic effect on fencing here, and he produced generations of Olympic fencers and national champions. It would be more accurate to describe what he taught as Italian style rather than Hungarian. Among other accomplishments, Giorgio was one of the significant figures in breaking the color barrier in fencing in this country.

In the mid-50's there was an influx of Hungarian fencers and coaches during the time's political turmoil, and especially around the time of the Melbourne Olympics. Among the maestros that came to the states was Csaba Elthes, who taught Peter Westbrook and most of the other US national sabre team members from the '60s through the '80s.

So, you could definitely say that there has been a strong Hungarian influence on sabre fencing in this country.

regards, Jeff

["Fence like a Cat"]

Leon Auriol of Seattle's Salle Auriol wrote a great two part piece on the development and influence of the Hungarians to modern Sabre. It is good reading. You might visit their website and inquire on an electronic copy.

Marty