Fencing as Art

Fencing is usually taught as a science, not as an art. This is especially true of the old masters. If you read their books and look at the diagrams, you'll see something very interesting. Geometry. Fencing is based off of the principles of geometry, as such you can brake it down mathematically and create a computer mod...el that could demonstrate perfect form and technique.

umans are not computers, nor should we attempt to function as a
computer. Instead, we should approach problems as human beings. If we
take that approach to fencing, we no longer see the science of the old
masters who attempted to merge ancient Greek thought with the then
modern weapon systems. But rather we have a new... study in humanities, and
through this study of the human mind and body we come to understand
violence (both real and sporting) in terms of our humanity, and not as a
cold set of facts.

The humanity approach to fencing brings to mind (and rightly so):
literature, painting, sculpting, film, and philosophy. A master
swordsman, like a master artist, imprints his soul on his work.
Precision and technique merge with feeling and emotion, in the very same
way a master painter will carefully lay out his pattern and then follow
his intuition as he works.


Prepare to explore these concepts in my class on June 7th.


See you there!

by Erik Schlagel - June 4, 2010

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