[Artemisia] Actual learning ... was 4 Dons

[Marten van Rosenveldt]

Don Conchobhar said:

The problem, as I see it, with newer fighters, especially those with Olympic
style training is twofold.  (1) They think that they are supposed to do a
give and take, back and forth, one attacks while the other defends, right of
way to score the point type stuff.  These modern concepts add some convience
and structure to sport fencing, but, as you said, do not lend themselves
well to our simulated rapiers (and less so if we had edges, points, and no
rules or concern for the safety of our opponents and selves).  

You're absolutely correct.  I had to unlearn over 40 years of sport fencing (and not entirely successfully as yet) and as a trained foilist it is even worse since the parry-riposte is what that game is all about.  Guillaume as an epeeist had a better feel from his previous training for stop hits and counter time (what stesso tempo is called in the current sport sense) then I did to begin with and he's honed it [dare I say it, yes I will] to a fine point.......(insert groan here).

You're remarks about spectating fencing at high levels is also well taken.  The old German proverb, Mann seiht was mann weiss" applies to this.

YIS, Marten


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