"One problem I have noticed with many of the classical fencers who have
not had prior SF fencing experience and who are learning fencing without
the benefit of a master, is that often they do not understand or use the
correct terminology when discussing fencing. This leads to a break down
in communication. There is a very specific set of definitions in fencing
which must be understood in order to communicate effectively." (Rez)
I think that you've made a big point here, and it extends past just terminology, but to
the skill of fencing itself. It seems that there are a number of aspiring classical
fencers who don't have the benefit of a skilled instructor. Fencing (and it's
terminology) is difficult, if not impossible, to learn on one's own. There are far too
many critical points of timing and execution which can only be picked up from
someone who's already doing it.
I had been training with an extremely qualified master, and it still took TWO YEARS
before I discovered how to do something as simple as a beat-attack properly. Mind
you, up until that point I thought I had been doing it correctly, but it took two years of
experience to be able to percieve the difference. It's easy to make bad & incorrect
technique work, which is what I was doing.
I always feel that you should seek out the most skilled preactioners that you can find &
lear from them. For a classical fencer without a master, that may mean consorting
with Sport fencers or even taking lessons from their coach (gad zooks!). If you can't
find any sort of instructor, try to find films or videos of real fencers in action.
Reruns of "The Three Musketeers" don't count. ;-)
Cheers,
J.
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