Fencing Book Reviews.

These are some book reviews I wrote for my club newsletter at various times. All prices are in Australian dollars.

Fencers Start-up

Title:        Fencer's Start-Up: a Beginners Guide to Traditional and Sport Fencing. 
Author:       Doug Werner
Published:    1997, Tracks Publishing
Available at: Readers Feast
Price:        $17.95

This is the latest of a series of start-up books produced by the author, who apparently picks a sport, learns how to do it, then write a book for beginners by a beginner. This is its main strength as a beginners introduction, it contains the information most likely to be of use to a would-be fencer in a format they can understand without a coach to translate.
It goes through the equipment, safety, basic moves and the three weapons, and has quite a good little glossary and history in the back. I was quite impressed by the way it handled the fuzzier topics of fencing distance, right of way and general tactics, and it has a lot of very good explanatory photos. To get around the fact that blades are often hard to make out in photos, they placed black and white sheathes over them. I didn't like it at first, I guess I'm a purist, but it did make it a lot easier to see what was going on.
Particularly interesting was the authors journal toward the back, which went through the trials, tribulations and satisfaction of becoming a fencer. I'd recommend it as reading for anyone thinking of taking up fencing, as it gives due warning that fencing is not easy and requires commitment, but also provides reassurance that it is well worth it in the end.

Now for the ranting. The introduction made me cringe. It's bad enough when anyone tries hard to make something sound cool, it's worse when it's a 46 year old Californian Surfie being sponsored by Winsor Sports.
Winsor Sports? You innocently ask. It's a Californian company created to promote... Sport Fencing. Sport Fencing, that's like what we do, right? Well, I say yes, they say no.
Windsor's founder was one day teaching his hapless son to fence, when he was struck by the sobering thought that his beloved sport was simply no competition for all the modern action sports out there, and it was doomed to die. Determined to save it, he came up with a new and improved fencing style.
It's done with sabres, and is described as "a simplified non-electric form of fencing that enables Fencers to bout outside(!) of the studio." Novel concept, huh? (Exclamation mark theirs).
"It can be played on any flat, non-skid surface. Patios, tennis courts, basketball courts and airport runways" At this point I collapsed on the floor in hysteria, as I imagined the next nominees for the Darwin Awards, and couldn't help but add "Interstate highways" to the list of excellent fencing surfaces.
But seriously, this has to be more than simply non-electric fencing, right? Well of course. You have to hit above the waist, you have to have right of way, and you have to acknowledge hits against you if there's no president, scoring is optional.
Completely different, right?
Okay, to be fair, they have changed half the terminology. A disengage is now a disconnect, a stop hit is actually a dig, a feint is a fake, a circular parry is an orbit, a remise is a remo, advance lunge becomes a patio (!), On guard is "ready position", redoublement is redo, and a riposte is now a rip.
The only other possible difference I could find was that Sport Fencing is apparently a "hip, aerobically supercharged thrill-trip". You have to hand it to these people, no one reinvents a wheel like they do (thank goodness).

If anyone is interested in Winsor Sports "dynamic new line of sportswear" you can find their website at www.winsorsport.com. I have to admit, the fencing watch is pretty cute...

So to sum up, avoid chapter 10 at all costs, especially the photo and caption on the last page (p121), but the rest of it is well worth a read, and very useful when trying to solve an American fencing crossword. Ah, what the hell, chapter 10 is hilarious, read it too, but rip it out before letting any newbies borrow it.

Foil, Sabre, and Epee Fencing

Title:        Foil, Sabre, and Epee Fencing
Authors:      M. Garret, E. Kaidanov, G. Pezz
Published:    1997, Pensylvania University Press
Available at: Sports Books, Elizabeth St City.
Price:        $45 (hardback)

I liked this book.
At first I was a bit dubious when it claimed to be all things to all people, covering everything from history and technique through to running competitions and liability, and for everyone from novice to coach. I was, however, pleasantly surprised.
Most topics are covered only briefly, and have limited scope, but as a general reference book that fits in the fencing bag, this one looks destined to be my favorite. The history is relatively brief, but more than adequate, the photos are generally good and used appropriately (except for a couple where the blade is lost in shadow), and the text as a whole is remarkably readable for what is, essentially, a technical book.
As with most fencing books, the chapters on technique require a bit of deciphering, and it helps a lot if you already know what they're trying to say. For best results, use as a supplement to lessons and as an aid for the memory.
The general layout is similar to some school text books. Each chapter is divided into sections, and at the end of each section there are some theoretical and practical exercises for the fencing student to try. It struck me as a good text to use if one wanted to create a fencing course with a theoretical as well as practical component.
Chapters covering strategy, physical fitness, rules, officiating, liability, equipment maintenance and conducting tournaments were quite interesting, although clearly US-oriented in some cases and going into little detail. Things like the penalty chart and score sheet are useful to have.
The glossary was quite comprehensive and remarkably readable. The inclusion of page numbers where terms were described in greater detail was also useful and makes it a good quick-reference.
So to sum up; a good general reference book, with huge scope and small size. Personally I was left wanting more information on many topics it raised, however if everything was included it would be the size of an encyclopedia, and I'd be complaining that it was to heavy. Everything's a trade off, and this book does what it does very well. A good way to start your fencing library, although if you already own more speacialised fencing books it's probably not worth the money.

Addition: A friend commented the other day that this book seems to be stuck somewhere between a beginners and more advanced fencers text (I'm misquoting horribly there). I thought he hit the proverbial nail on the head, so I've now included it here for your information.

Fencing (Know The Game)

Author:  Allan Skipp
Year:  1994
Price:  $12.95
Available At: Readers Feast

This is one of a number of books in this series, each on different sports. Last year in Sydney I came across an earlier edition, 1960's if memory serves me correctly, selling for about the same price. This newer one is a little bigger, and in glossy full-colour rather than blue and black, but otherwise very similar.
The money behind it still seems to be equipment vendor Leon-Paul, although it's not so obvious in this edition. All the equipment shown is L-P, often distinctively so. The full back-cover ad of the earlier one is replaced by a small caption on page 1.
At 50 pages including covers, this seems to be the smallest, and cheapest, fencing book currently in print. It is intended as an introduction for newcomers and people interested in the sport, and as such has little information of value for anyone who has been fencing for more than 6 months. However it may well be worth keeping in your bag so that the next time someone says "Fencing? You mean" (swish swish stabbing motion), you can shove the book under their nose before they have a chance to crack any jokes about barbed wire, pickets, or stolen goods.
Beginners however may well find it a worthwhile purchase, for although its target audience is limited, it does what it does very well indeed.
The pictures, diagrams and text working together do a good job of explaining stance, footwork, and blade movements. There's a quite comprehensive glossary, and the sections on training and tactics are short, but to the point.
Most of the sections on foil, footwork and stance are covered in the first few lessons a beginner receives, however people might find it useful for revision when practicing at home. The basic rules are given in a straight-forward and uncomplicated way which will help the novice interpret what the senior fencers were garbling.
The sections on epee and sabre are again short, and the sabre tactics are completely obsolete, but they are a good starting point for anyone toying with the idea of trying the weapons out.
I'd recommend the chapter on "fencing on the piste" to anyone preparing for their first competition, given that we don't use the full set-up and formalities at training. The section describing equipment and clothing is also very good, although you'll probably only ever need to read it once.
I have two gripes. The clothing section is quite happy to explain the role of women's BP's (breast protectors) but like the rest of the fencing world completely ignores the men's box/cup. And while I'm not sure when the rule about not crossing-over in sabre was introduced, surely it was before 1994? Anyway this book stresses the use of running and the fleche in sabre, which is no longer legal.
Addendum: I'm told the fleche was banned in sabre in 1994, so I guess this edition was unlucky enough to come out just before hand.
It's a small book, with small aims, which it achieves admirably. As a simple introduction to the sport I can think of no better text. Newcomers, if you have the money to spare and think you could use a text to help you through the beginners course and ease you into the fencing world, I recommend it. However it won't show you anything that you won't learn eventually anyway, at which point it will just become a conversation piece on the coffee table - not that this is a bad thing, it can be darned tricky to bring up your fencing exploits in casual conversation without such aids

On Fencing

Author:  Aldo Nadi
Year:  1994
Price:  $35.95
Available At: Borders Books

I'm not sure whether to start with the positive or the negative, on one hand, most of the book was very good, on the other, the bits that I didn't like, I *really* disliked.
It was written by Aldo Nadi, whose fencing career reached it's height in the 1920's before he moved to the US to coach, On Fencing was first published in 1943.
He is described glowingly as "the world's greatest fencer", I only wonder at which point he surpassed his brother Nedo, who certainly had more olympic medals to his name than Aldo did. Would it be cynical to think it had something to do with leaving Europe and surrounding himself with Americans?
I used to wonder why Fencing had such a reputation of arrogance and elitism, given how removed it now is from its roots in noblemen's duels. Now I see that safe here in Australia in the 1990's, I have been relatively sheltered from fencers who really do fit the mould. Aldo certainly has some very strong opinions, but then perhaps you're entitled to strong opinions after such a successful fencing career.
Certainly most of the points that really raised by hackles can be attributed as a product of his times and upbringing, and it's not really fair to hold them against him. None the less, I frequently found myself wanting to hit him over the head with a sabre, a rather foolish desire given that he was a master of all three weapons, perhaps that's the arrogance of youth he kept referring to, not to be confused with the arrogance of old ex-champions.
Here are some quotes for your amusement:

"Competition calls for psychological qualities which the average girl simply cannot possess."
"Fencers only recognise fencers, potential fencers and hopeless individuals." (I like this one:)
"he who knows foil knows almost all there is to know about modern fencing ... the technique of the epee is borrowed from the science of foil. In comparison ... sabre fencing is mere child's play."
"It is far more useful to practice four, or even three, times a week than carelessly every day. To fence once a week is completely useless."
"The entire (fencing) equipment costs slightly less than a good tennis racket"
"You can find fencing equipment in almost all good sporting goods stores."

Having got that out of my system, it should be fairly noted that most of the book as actually very interesting, especially for the insights it gives on the nature of fencing earlier this century. I don't really recommend it as a technical manual though, quite aside from the fact that it only looks at fencing foil with an Italian grip, some of it is now outdated and all of it is long-winded and more likely to inspire boredom than enthusiasm. He devotes 2 pages the correct execution of the salute, including such vital details as the need to make a swishing noise on the downward stroke, the shame of accidently letting the point touch the ground, and the importance of not using your right hand when putting on your mask. The precise process of coming on guard is even more detailed.
It's interesting, particularly when he starts discussing tactics rather than technique, but not something I'd want to learn from. Some more quotes for you:

"The best Italian foil, ie., the best foil, is the one herein described."
"The french weapon... (has) insecurity of grip which is a constant source of embarrassment to all fencers who use it ... (Of course, no girl can effectively use this weapon)."
"The blade must whistle though the air, and this sound is the opening bar of the symphony of fencing."
"The fencer who cannot win is incomplete."
"Toward the end of the second day … came a crucial bout … And I was exhausted. Luckily enough, a small glass of port with two egg yolks made me feel as good as new for the necessary few minutes."

Don't get me wrong, despite all my gripes I'm glad I read this book. I'm just a little worried that it's being sold as THE book on fencing, where Aldo Nadi "the worlds greatest fencer" will "show you the True Art of Fencing". Browsing the web, one gets the impression that this must-read is a great ambassador for the sport of fencing, whereas I would regard it as a relic of a past (and slightly embarrassing) age, which will give people entirely the wrong idea about the modern sport.
I'm probably taking this too personally, but being an inept foilist, and female at that, this book just rubbed me the wrong way, so, since I can't personally prove him wrong, this is my way of letting off steam.:-)

The Inner Game of Fencing

Author:  Nich Evangelista
Year:  2000
Price:  $US 15.95
Available At: Amazon

Oooh, another book that makes me mad. This time not just an insult to women sabreurs, but sport fencers everywhere! But I get ahead of myself, back to the beginning.
I was impressed by "The art and science of fencing". I have no hesitation in recommending it to people looking for a book to supplement their lessons. So when I saw "The inner game" advertised on Amazon, I thought first "Yay, about time, I need help with tactics" and second "with Evangelista writing it will probably be good too". So I had no hesitation in pre-ordering it 6 months in advance.
I'm afraid I'm disappointed. Nick is a classicist, he made no secret of that in the other book, but in this one it has been grotesquely highlighted. The first 90 pages contain little but advertisement and propaganda for classical fencing. If it was intended as an intro to explain where he's coming from then it could have been expressed in half a dozen pages. As it is, as someone who identifies myself as a sport fencer, I was mostly insulted, occasionally amused, and for the remainder simply confused by contradictions. Possibly this was a practical demonstration of how to manipulate and throw your opponent off guard to make them do what you want, but it sounded like a load of tripe from a bitter old man. I shall save my own opinions on classical vs sport fencing for elsewhere. I don't know, maybe his descriptions were accurate of fencing in America, I just know they don't ring true for sport fencing in Australia and that effectively weakens the whole book from where I stand. When was the last time I saw a modern sabreur use the point to hit their opponent just behind the guard? Last Tuesday actually, and I've had it done to me a few times in competition (much to my embarrassment).

I'm also confused when, after reading a lengthy diatribe on the differences between the True Art and the Hacks Who Disgrace Fencing (read Sport Fencers), he claims to not want to be divisive!

From my (admittedly limited) experience "bad fencing" only works up until you meet someone better, an encounter hard to avoid if you're a sport fencer. However now that I think about it, if you've learnt enough to handle a bad fencer, you probably don't need this book. Despite my assumptions much of this book is clearly aimed at the rank beginner, still deciding which weapon to start with and what to look for in a coach. This actually makes it more worrying, a beginner would probably believe that modern fencing is the root of all evil after the 20th repetition.

Repeatedly through the book he asks questions along the lines of "Why are you reading this book?". I mostly answered "Good question, I'm beginning to wonder." but after a while I really did ask myself what I expected to find here. A long list of "If your opponent does this, you should do that"?? Might as well pick up a coaching manual. Physical Chess it may be, but there are too many options to survive by memorising sequences of moves. Teaching a computer to fence would be a *lot* harder than teaching it to play chess.
Distilling the good and useful bits would leave not very much book behind. I think I begin to see why there aren't more books on fencing tactics around. A pamphlet might be a more suitable medium. What it all boils down to is asking yourself "what the hell am I doing, and why am I doing it?".

They say you can't learn fencing from a book. If it's true of physical actions then it's triply true of the inner game.

Okay, now that I've got that out of my system I can get on with things. I read the book from start to finish, determined not to let him goad me into tossing it away, and was eventually rewarded. Start to finish is not the best way to read this book. Short, self-contained chapters make it ideal for flipping through and locating the bits you're interested in, but highly repetitive otherwise. The chapter headings are highly descriptive, so if you're not interested in the classical vs sport debate you can fairly easily identify and skip the worst tirades. There is some good stuff in there, it's just a pity you have to wade through garbage to find it.

Some quotes:
"The fencing mask was ... invented in the mid-eighteenth century, it was first spurned by serious swordsmen, who believed this safety feature would inhibit personal responsibility for safety based on skill. They prided themselves on skillfully using their blades to keep from harming anyone on the field of play. ... By the 1820s, however, the mask was finally recognised as an enhancer of skills, rather than a destroyer, freeing the fencer to fully exercise his abilities."P5.
Compared to:
"One problem in fencing is brutal play that leads to injury. ... If fencing is approached safely with thought, deliberation, and an eye for consequences, fencers do not get hurt. ... When human values take second place to individual egos and victory at any cost, problems are bound to arise. To be sure, accidents happen, but the possibility of accidents can be lessened by the sensible, balanced input of individuals.
What would immensely improve the safety in fencing would be a back-to-the-basics approach, where personal control is stressed over winning. ... Unfortunately, faced with a growing number of injuries, the powers that be of fencing decided instead to ... (put) fencers back into armour ... in the form of kevlar". P72.
Perhaps this explains it:
"In part it is simply an odd feature of the human mind to sometimes develop blind spots to its own output, "He does that, but not me." P65.
He's not divisive:
"Remember, too, the modern and classical approaches to fencing are, at the bottom line, the same animal. One is just bad and the other good." P67.
And a good question to finish with:
"But when we become judgemental, when we start hanging concepts of "good" and "bad" on performance, we have made a big mistake. How the heck did morality find it's way into this issue?" P261.

Despite all the negative things I've said about this book, it worked for me. After finishing it my view of my fencing bouts was changed, concepts which I thought I believed in became firmly entrenched and I suddenly realised I'd only been paying them lip service all this time. I've really begun to think on the strip, and although I haven't got it fully integrated into my game I'm seeing a whole new dimension in my fencing. So for fencers who've been at it long enough to tell opinion from fact, I can recommend this book.
The other good thing to come out of it, is that one of Nick's questions had me asking myself why I took up sabre. My automatic reply is that I'm no good at foil, something on Nicks List of Bad Answers. However on reflection that wasn't the only, or even the main reason. I fence foil like a novice because I was a novice when I gave it up, but as novices go I wasn't actually too bad. I first picked up a sabre about half an hour before my first sabre comp (the national uni champs, we only had 3 women, so we all fenced every weapon). I'd stick with foil for another year afterwards but I was hooked. I enjoyed foil, I could appreciate the conversation of blades at least a little even then. But if foil spoke to me, sabre sang.
Like most I started out an ignorant hack with an inflated idea of my skill, but my delusion of being good at it wasn't the reason I made the switch. Sabre just felt right, for no reason I cared to put a name to. I knew I was a sabreur. I'm not sure what Nick would say, and don't much care, love at first sight is a perfectly legitimate reason for devoting yourself to one weapon above all others, and for me at least fencing will always be more romance than art, science or sport.
After a few months of intensive admin, I needed to remember that.

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Written by: Lisa Lagergren
Updated: 09-7-00