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The following series of photographs presents a visual account of a three day fencing event, concluding with an exhibition of classical swordplay, presented at the San José Hilton Hotel on May 2, 1999, in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Fencing Masters Training Program offered at San José State University, San José, California. The fencing exhibition was sponsored by the County of Santa Clara/Province of Florence, Italy Sister-County Commission, the San José State University Department of Theatre Arts, the Associated Students of San José State University, and the Students of the Fencing Masters Program.
Principal Participants: Maestro Giovanni Toran, fencing master at Pro Patria Scherma, Busto Arsizio, President of the Associazione Italiana Maestri di Scherma (Aims), Editor of the Notiziario Aims, author of Introduzione alla tattica schermistica (Roma, 1996), and member of the Accademia Nazionale di Scherma di Napoli Commission for fencing masters examinations. Maestro Saverio Crisci, fencing master for the Scuola Ufficiali Carabinieri di Roma and Vice President of the Associazione Italiana Maestri di Scherma. Like Maestro Toran, Maestro Crisci is also a member of the Accademia Nazionale di Scherma commission for masters examinations in Naples. Maître Alex Beguinet, graduate of the Ecole d'Escrime (INSEP), Paris, fencing master at Duke University, Director of the United States Fencing Association Coaches College at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, and author of the official texts and videotapes used by the USFA in its national training program for fencing teachers. Prof. Emeritus William M. Gaugler, Director of the San José State University Fencing Masters Training Program, and Honorary Member of the Associazione Italiana Maestri di Scherma (AIMS). The Maestro holds a doctoral degree in Classical Archaeology from the University of Florence. Prof. Gaugler was also awarded his fencing master's diploma by the Accademia Nazionale di Scherma di Napoli. He is the author of A Dictionary of Universally Used Fencing Terminology (Bangor, 1997), The Science of Fencing (Bangor, 1997), and The History of Fencing (Bangor, 1998). Graduates of the SJSU Masters Program include past members of the United States Olympic fencing team. |
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Friday, April 30, 1999 Benvenuto On Friday, instructors and students of the Fencing Masters Training Program spent the evening with Maestri Toran and Crisci and with Maitre Beguinet. Each of the masters worked with a variety of students in the program to prepare for the exhibition that was to be held two days hence, and to afford them the opportunity to experience different personal styles of instruction. In addition, information and ideas regarding the training of fencers were shared among the members of the group. |
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| "Rope Trick" Maestro Toran plays a training game with Provost Gary Murry. To develop a sense of timing and dexterity, the maestro twirls a loop of rope between himself and the student, while lightly holding a glove. The object of the game is for the pupil to assume the guard position, snatch the glove from the maestro's hand and then replace it without becoming entangled in the spinning rope. As the student becomes more adept, the rope is twirled faster, and its direction of motion reversed. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| "Appassionato" An animated Maestro Crisci shares his passion for fencing with the group. He explains that Italian fencers who wish to be successful in international competition must contend with practices and changes in present-day fencing that would, as the Maestro put it, "make Parise turn over in his grave." | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| "Merci" Maître Beguinet and Provost Margaret Dickerson shake hands after a somewhat arduous lesson. With so little time available it was necessary to work hard on Friday night in order for the masters and their students to become accustomed to each others' sense of time, velocity and measure. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Right: Provost Murry, Maestri Lurz and Crisci. |
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| "Fatigued" Because final examinations for candidates of the Masters Program were scheduled for the next day, the only time available for the visiting masters and their new pupils to get acquainted and prepare for the fencing exhibition was Friday evening. Preparations for the gala gave the faculty of the Program little time for sleep and our friends from Italy were suffering from serious jet-lag. Working late into the night, everyone, including even the indomitable Maestro Crisci, begin to show signs of fatigue. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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