Accademia di Scherma - The Art of Swordplay

Sunday, May 2, 1999 Fencing Exhibition

Following a formal reception, a fencing exhibition was held before an audience of more than 200 guests in the ballroom of the San José Hilton Hotel. The demonstration featured four classical fencing lessons: one each in French foil, Italian foil, Italian saber, and the Italian spada. In addition, two classical bouts were fought; one in saber and one in spada.

"Affondo" The classical Italian foil lesson begins with a straight thrust. Provost Hazenkamp delivers the thrust on target with a deep lunge as the audience looks on.

"Una risposta è come il giudizio del dio." There is an old saying about the manner in which the risposta (riposte) is to be executed; it is said that it should follow the parry with the same decision and swiftness as "the judgment of God." Provost Hazenkamp obliges Maestro Gaugler with a riposte that both hits the mark, and closes the inside high line.

"Controtempo" Maestro Crisci takes his student through a series of attacks and counterattacks resulting in double hits. The pupil then initiates a simulated direct cut to the head to draw the maestro's counterattack, meeting it with a parry, followed by a swift cut to the flank. To the delight of the audience the maestro includes spontaneous counter parry-ripostes which his student, Provost Murry, rapidly opposes with additional parries and ripostes, resulting in an exciting complexity of blade work.

"Cavando" Beginning an exercise in point control, Maestro Toran instructs Provost West to prepare for a series of disengagements to the advanced target. While a captivated audience watches in fascination, the maestro increases the lesson's complexity by repeatedly attempting to engage the pupil's blade in every line, leading him to deliver an elaborate series of rapid thrusts to both the arm and body, inside, outside, high and low.

"All' Attacco" Elevated above the audience, Provosts Murry and Hazenkamp thrill spectators with a five touch saber bout, directed by Maestro Crisci (center) and judged by officials from the floor (not visible).

"Due Spadaccini" The last bout of the afternoon, fought between Provosts Dan West and Erin Hazenkamp, is directed from the floor by Maestro Toran.

Presentation Maestro Crisci reads the inscription on an award presented to Dr. Gaugler by the Italian Fencing Masters' Association for his "faithful evaluation" of Italian Fencing.

Random Action Speaking on behalf of the members of the Fencing Masters Training Program, the program's assistant director, Maestro Frank Lurz, gives Maestro Gaugler an unexpected surprise; telling him exactly what his students think of him now that final examinations are over! In commemoration of the program's 20th anniversary, and in recognition of his many sacrifices and contributions to fencing, the Maestro is presented with a bronze plaque (see below) featuring two dueling swordsmen, taken from an illustration in Ridolfo Capo Ferro's "Gran Simulacro..." published in Siena in 1610.

Finale