I tell you what, they don't show nearly enough, nor is enough credit given to, fencing. Great drama and perfect for TV in the mixture of skill and speed.
My only regret is the lack of longer back and forth between the opponents mainly due to the fact that there isn't any reason to hesitate when going for a "kill" because in most cases there is no fear of pain or injury (as the olden days give us). How to remedy such a matter is unknown to me, but it's just something I noticed...
Solution: Naked combatants.
Posted by: Patrick | August 19, 2004 at 09:23 PM
I'm fairly sure that this comment is so late that no one will take much notice. I happened to be doing a web search for something completely unrelated and noticed this entry. I myself, was a fencer for a little over seven years and often felt that my art was under appreciated by the media. Therefore, I have actually put much thought into this topic and I would have to agree that fencing is much overlooked as a martial art as a whole. While sport fencing remains, little of the martial relevence is forgotton. I would have to disagree, however, with the idea that fencing is somehow dramatic and visually pleasing when performed. The movement is often tiny, fast, and ideally imperceptible when executed correctly. Surprisingly, I had a conversation about this very concept earlier today and also about the mostly lost martial relevence. It is interesting to note that what I have read about the fencing masters concerned with actual martial application is contrary to what is understood about Eastern swordsmanship, especially Kenjutsu. The Western fencing masters revere the thrust with a light weapon as the superior sword attack able to strike with more speed, distance, and penetrating force (which is more likely to be fatal) than a slicing attack, even with a curved curved weapon designed for such an attack.
Posted by: Scott | May 21, 2005 at 07:50 PM