Fencing text?

[pknox]

Browsing through my local Barnes and Noble today, I came upon a book called "The Inner Game of Fencing", by Nick Evangelista. It is subtitled "Excellence in Form, Technique, and Spirit." It seemed to be rather comprehensive, and included a great deal of information beyond technique (actually, it looked like most of the book was devoted to it).

Is anyone familiar with this book and/or the author? If so, would you be able to recommend this as a good beginner's text? If not, is there an alternate text you would recommend?

[WoodsideDr]

Please do a search of the boards. There are plenty of opinions about Evangelista.

Just giving you a heads up, cause this topic typically spawns a maelstrom of responses.

[pknox]

Thank you sir. I will do so.

[pknox]

Oddly enough, I'm not getting any matches when I search.

[Craig]

Evangelista was a couple of letters longer than the max word length indexed. I upped that and rebuilt the index. The search now comes out.

Craig

[pknox]

Thank you, sir. I'll give it another try.

[whtouche]

Ill summarize what you're likely about to find:
Evangelista is satan to the modern sport fencing world. He's a useless propoganda machine, among other things.
The topic need not be discussed any more.

[DCB]

I'm a beginner and I've read Evangelista's new book. I obviously don't have a lot of fencing experience on which to judge his book, but I've studied and taught Japanese martial arts for over 23 years, and I've read thousands of pages on that topic (and authored several magazine articles), so I feel I can provide a perspective from both the beginner fencer and the experienced fighter. I think that the book is an easy read and is useful for providing a "framework" for the mental aspects of fencing/fighting. Like most books on martial arts, it contains statements with which I disagree. However, Evangelista does not appear to take himself too seriously, and the book clearly evidences both his experience with and passion for fencing. I recommend that you read the book, that you not take all the statements as gospel, and that you supplement it with other books and a healthy attitude of "does this really work for me?" If so, I think that you'll be satisified with your investment of time and money.

[DangerMouse]

Originally posted by DCB
I recommend that you read the book, that you not take all the statements as gospel, and that you supplement it with other books and a healthy attitude of "does this really work for me?" If so, I think that you'll be satisified with your investment of time and money.

That needs to be posted on my wall somewhere. This is the hardest thing to get students to understand. I mean that not just in relation to books (by Evangelista or others), but also any technique. Great post.

[Iwant2bafencer]

Aye good point DCB. That's what I try to do whenever I buy something or I have to make a big choice etc etc. I'll take many different view points, opinions etc etc etc, compaire them, and see what works for me.

[MikeHarm]

I read it. It seemed like he was trying to model it on the TAO of JKD - a bunch of unconnected muses on different subjects.

I didn't find it very useful to me.

On a related subject, there was a part where Evangelista was bragging about beating an unnamed international champion in the Faulkner salle. Is the guy still around? Does anyone know who this mystery fencer is?

[pknox]

Given the controversial position evidently occupied by Mr. Evangelista, is their an alternative text anyone could recommend for a rank beginner? I am currently interested in sport fencing, but I definitely would not mind a text that deals to some degree with historical and/or classical as well.

[Craig]

Check out the Big Book of Fencing by Rudy Volkmann.

Read Reviews of the book

Buy from Fencing.Net

You can also click on "search posts" and do a search on the big book of fencing to get other (pre review system) comments on the book.

Hope that helps,
Craig

[Rolls]

I say read the Evangilista text. It's really only controversial in his view of sport fencing which can be easily ignored. I've never heard anyone argue with his views on en guard, the parries, advancing, retreating, etc.

However, for a beginner, I would recommend that you start with his first book, The Art and Science fo Fencing. At the very east, you can join in when there's another discussion on the subject.

The Big Book of Fencing is good too.

Rolls.

[pknox]

Thank you both! I will look for each text, both at Amazon and my local shop, and give them a try.

[duel mom]

The Art and Science of Fencing by Evangelista is great for youth fencers to read. I find that many youth do school reports on their subject of interest and this book is perfect. There are plenty of photos and art work and it is an easy read.

I also looked at, skimmed really, By the Sword by Richard Cohen. Now I know my young fencer will get nowhere with that book.

But why the bad rep for Evangelista?

[Dave]

Personally I think that "Fencing with the Foil" by Roger Crosnier is a great book for teaching the basics. It explains how to do everything with picture of what to do and more importantly how not to do it (with explanations).

The book is about 50 years old and there for is comparitively useless for an advanced fencer. However it is the clearest book I have ever read for beginners.

It is unfortunatly out of print but there are always second hand copies on ebay and abebooks.

[Dr.Epee]

Evangelista's Art and Science of Fencing is a good beginning point for basic information on parries, repostes, and attacks. Rudy Volkmann's Big Book of Fencing is also excellent because it includes information on what can go wrong executing a particular move and how to correct it. All books have merit and utility; it is up to the reader to glean the pearls of wisdom the text and discard the rest.

[MikeHarm]

My beginner book was Michele Alaux's modern fencing book. I liked it but I think its been out of print for a while.

[Phoenix]

I have 3 books by him and he is excellent for begginers and long time fencers.