The Real Deal Has Audience Appeal

By

Laura Souris

Yet approximately four hundred spectators gathered to watch the First Annual New York Wine Country Professional Fencing Championship which was held on Sunday July 26th in Watkins Glen, New York in conjunction with the Fingerlakes Wine Festival.

These spectators were not other fencers. Not team-mates, friends or family members. Just regular people. But they certainly knew a good fight when they saw it, and didn't hesitate to show their appreciation with applause and even cheers when touches were particularly well made. They didn't seem to have any trouble following the action or understanding who was touched.

Well, perhaps the increasingly absurd so-called "fencing" of Olympic type competitions is meaningless enough to be boring. (When was the last time you saw 400 spectators at a fencing competition? Much of the time, even the other fencers don't hang around for the finals!) But the response of the audience at the Wine Festival was living proof that one doesn't have to be "sophisticated" or "initiated" to understand a good fencing bout when the fencing in question still bears some resemblance to actual swordplay.The event opened with a demonstration of fencing techniques performed by members of the Crown Academy of Armes. Led by Moniteur d'Armes Laurie Roe, the group included Matthew Hayes, Ron Lis, Bruce Horncastle, Robert Workman, Tom Bechtold, Michelle Sawyer and Stephanie Woodams.

Next came an entertaining presentation explaining the basic concepts and rules of fencing, given by Maitre d'Armes Richard P. Alvarez of Houston, Texas, who acted as "President du Combat" – a combination of referee and master of ceremonies.

Students from the Ramón Martínez Academy of Arms in New York City made a clean sweep of the preliminary bouts:

Mr. Kim Moser defeated Ms. Laurie Roe 4-3.

The weapons used were crafted by Master Armourer Robert MacPherson especially for this event. The hilts were made to the specifications in Luigi Barbasetti's Art of the Foil. The blades were extra wide epee blades from Triplette Competition Arms. They were as identical as possible and balanced four fingers ahead of the guard.

Not only were electrical scoring machines not used, but not even judges were employed. The honour system proved sufficient among honorable people.

The first round was fought cautiously as each master swordsman took the measure of his opponent, and ended with two touches against each gentleman. Maitre Crown established a small lead by the end of the second round, and was able to gradually pull ahead, managing a narrow victory of 20-14.

The expert swordplay was exciting. There were beautiful actions in time as well as third, fourth, and even fifth counter-ripostes. And the impeccable gallantry of the gentlemen, as they acknowledged touches against themselves or declined touches in their favor, was inspiring.

When they embraced afterward it was impossible to tell by their manner who had won and who had lost.

None of this was lost on the crowd as numerous spectators clamored around afterward to congratulate both masters.

This was fencing the way it should be. The way I dreamed of it as a kid. And the way I want my kid to learn it.

If you'd like to know more about hosting or participating in Classical Fencing matches, contact Maitre Crown at 1045 Coddington Road Ithaca, New York 14850, (607) 277-3262, info@classicalfencing.com.

[ Return to Top ]