Description
Often thought of as an activity just for actors or an elite few, fencing is actually an ideal sport for people of all ages. Fencing develops dexterity, endurance, flexibility, grace, and overall fitness, while also allowing participants the opportunity to hone the mind's problem-solving abilities. It is easily learned and practiced by both young and old, men and women, boys and girls. It has even been molded to fit the needs of the blind and individuals using wheelchairs. This is truly a sport for everyone. The Art and Science of Fencing covers everything from the history of the sport to the specifics of fencing technique, including the psychology of fencing, types of fencing weapons, biographies of great fencers, and information on selecting a fencing school and getting started in the sport. This book is a necessity for everyone who's ever seen an Errol Flynn movie and thought "Hey, that could be me!"… (more)
Library's review
Often thought of as an activity just for actors or an elite few, fencing is actually an ideal sport for people of all ages. Fencing develops dexterity, endurance, flexibility, grace, and overall fitness, while also allowing participants the opportunity to hone the mind's problem-solving abilities.
The Art and Science of Fencing covers everything from the history of the sport to the specifics of fencing techniques, including the psychology of fencing, types of fencing weapons, biographies of great fencers, and information on selecting a fencing school and getting started in the sport. This book is a necessity for everyone who's ever seen an Errol Flynn movie and thought 'Hey, that could be me!'
Contents
Foreword
Introduction
A note for the beginner
For the woman fencer
Part I Histories
Fencing: A social history
Ralph Faulkner: The old man and the sword
My life in fencing
Part II A fencing philosophy
My fencing philosophy
Part III The beginning fencer
The language of fencing
Why fencing?
Getting started
The first fencing lesson
Fencing thought
Learning the weapons of fencing-progressively
Approaching your first bout
Conventions: Behavior on the fencing strip
Some particulars of sport fencing
Your first tournament
Part IV The foil
The foil
The body of the French foil
The set of the blade
Holding the French foil
On guard
The lines of the body
Initial footwork: Advancing and retreating
The engagement
Absence of blade
Point in line
The lunge
The recovery
The fleche
The running attack
The simple attack
Preparations
Invitations
The parry
The riposte
Composed attacks
Feints
The counterattack
Continue attacks
The secondary intent attack
Atacks on the blade
Taking the blade
Moving in the low line
Foil tactics
Part V Beyond method: Concepts
Classical form: Fencing's yardstick
Fencing with the fingers
Timing
Distance
Speed
Strength
Balance
Honor
Part VI: The epee
The epee
The nature of epee fencing
The French epee
The epee on guard
General princoples of epee fencing
Epee offense
Epee defense
The epee bout
Reminders and final thoughts
Part VII: The sabre
The sabre
The nature of sabre fencing
The conventions of sabre fencing
The body of the sabre
The sabre target area
Sabre lines
Holding the sabre
The sabre on guard position
Footwork and distance in sabre
Cut and thrust: Sabre offense
The cut
Point atacks
The sabre defense
The ripost
Composed attacks
Sabre counterattacks
The sabre bout
Some final thoughts on the sabre
Part VIII: Assorted aspects of fencing
Conventional exercises
The left-handed fencer
Fencing for kids
Warming up
Caring for your fencind equipment
Part IX: Electrical fencing
Some thoughts on electrical fencing
Pitfalls of electrical fencing
Part X: Fencing lives
The man who made sport of fencing
The greatest swrordsman in the world
Swordswoman, unexcelled
America's fencing master
The French connection
King of the swashbucklers
Falcon with a sword
A.K.A. speedy
Maestro and scholar
The modern musketeer
Part XI: The secret of success
The fire
A final thought
Appendix I: Fencing terms
Assorted fencing terms
Pronunciations
Appendix II: Resources
The United States Fencing Association
Fencing Equipment Suppl Companies
The swashbuckler film: Fencing in the movies
Literature of the sword
Books about fencing: A selected reading list (bibliography)
Appendix III: Theatrical fencing
Theatrical fencing
About the autho
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It is easily learned and practiced by both young and old, men and women, boys and girls. It has even been molded to fit the needs of the blind and individuals using wheelchairs. This is truly a sport for everyone.The Art and Science of Fencing covers everything from the history of the sport to the specifics of fencing techniques, including the psychology of fencing, types of fencing weapons, biographies of great fencers, and information on selecting a fencing school and getting started in the sport. This book is a necessity for everyone who's ever seen an Errol Flynn movie and thought 'Hey, that could be me!'
Contents
Foreword
Introduction
A note for the beginner
For the woman fencer
Part I Histories
Fencing: A social history
Ralph Faulkner: The old man and the sword
My life in fencing
Part II A fencing philosophy
My fencing philosophy
Part III The beginning fencer
The language of fencing
Why fencing?
Getting started
The first fencing lesson
Fencing thought
Learning the weapons of fencing-progressively
Approaching your first bout
Conventions: Behavior on the fencing strip
Some particulars of sport fencing
Your first tournament
Part IV The foil
The foil
The body of the French foil
The set of the blade
Holding the French foil
On guard
The lines of the body
Initial footwork: Advancing and retreating
The engagement
Absence of blade
Point in line
The lunge
The recovery
The fleche
The running attack
The simple attack
Preparations
Invitations
The parry
The riposte
Composed attacks
Feints
The counterattack
Continue attacks
The secondary intent attack
Atacks on the blade
Taking the blade
Moving in the low line
Foil tactics
Part V Beyond method: Concepts
Classical form: Fencing's yardstick
Fencing with the fingers
Timing
Distance
Speed
Strength
Balance
Honor
Part VI: The epee
The epee
The nature of epee fencing
The French epee
The epee on guard
General princoples of epee fencing
Epee offense
Epee defense
The epee bout
Reminders and final thoughts
Part VII: The sabre
The sabre
The nature of sabre fencing
The conventions of sabre fencing
The body of the sabre
The sabre target area
Sabre lines
Holding the sabre
The sabre on guard position
Footwork and distance in sabre
Cut and thrust: Sabre offense
The cut
Point atacks
The sabre defense
The ripost
Composed attacks
Sabre counterattacks
The sabre bout
Some final thoughts on the sabre
Part VIII: Assorted aspects of fencing
Conventional exercises
The left-handed fencer
Fencing for kids
Warming up
Caring for your fencind equipment
Part IX: Electrical fencing
Some thoughts on electrical fencing
Pitfalls of electrical fencing
Part X: Fencing lives
The man who made sport of fencing
The greatest swrordsman in the world
Swordswoman, unexcelled
America's fencing master
The French connection
King of the swashbucklers
Falcon with a sword
A.K.A. speedy
Maestro and scholar
The modern musketeer
Part XI: The secret of success
The fire
A final thought
Appendix I: Fencing terms
Assorted fencing terms
Pronunciations
Appendix II: Resources
The United States Fencing Association
Fencing Equipment Suppl Companies
The swashbuckler film: Fencing in the movies
Literature of the sword
Books about fencing: A selected reading list (bibliography)
Appendix III: Theatrical fencing
Theatrical fencing
About the autho
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User reviews
LibraryThing member dcmdale
Among fencers, Evangelista is either loved or hated, mostly hated. The Art and Science of Fencing is a good introduction to sports fencing: the different blades, it history, and some of the basic strategies. It is also good for the biographical information on some of the old masters. The more
A good introductory work if you are just getting into fencing, but your coach probably will not be thrilled if you bring it to class.
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controversial aspect of his work, however, is his insistence that modern innovations are ruining fencing. Evangelista decries the emphasis on winning over style. He dislikes the flick. He hates strategies that are designed to get points, but wouldn't have necessarily "worked" if fencing with "sharps" (real blades). A good introductory work if you are just getting into fencing, but your coach probably will not be thrilled if you bring it to class.
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ISBN
157020754
Publication
Masters Press NTC/Contemporary Publishing Group