After 500 bouts, 8,000 attacks, and 6,000 retreats ... Stitched leather lateral stabilizer toe-protector offers insole reduces scuffing. support. EVA mid-sole absorbs shock. Suction cup sole Removable side and razorback heel stabilizers and thick design provide cushioning around excellent traction ankles provide comfort and support. (high-tops only) Irs time for anew shoe. Yes, after fencing for so long, your low-tops and $125 for high-tops, your worn out shoes have had it. It's time feet and wallet will appreciate the relief. for a change. Introducing, the all new So toss out the old and break in the Star Fighter fencing shoe. Designed new. Call or visit an authorized Star especially for fencing, not tennis or Fighter dealer and get your pair today. volleyball, Star Fighter shoes provide support and comfort for fast-moving Remember, only the best fighters feet. And at a price of only $65 for become stars. AVAILABLE AT: Physical Chess 2933 Vauxhall Rd., Vauxhall, NJ 07088 • (800) FENCING ''-4ft '.GHTER Blade Fencing Equipment 212 W. 15th Street, New York, NY 10011 • (800) 828-5661 United States Fencing Association 1996 ~ 2000 President: . Donald W Alperstein Vice President: Edwin (Buzz) Hurst Vice President: Sherry Posthumus Vice President: Ralph Zimmerman Secretary: Michael Sullivan Treasurer: Bob Prifrel Official Publication of the United States Fencing Association Dedicated to the memory of Jose R. DeCapriles, 1912 ~ 1969 Miguel A. DeCapriles, 1906 ~ 1981 Editor: Candi MacConaugha email: [email protected] Women's Foil World Cup AMERICAN FENCINCJ magazine (ISSN 0002- (436) is published quarterly by the United Photos recall this stallar event, held at a glasHoofed shopping States Fencing Association, Inc., One Olym­ 14 mall in Rochester New York. pic Plaza, Colorado Springs, CO 80909- 5774. Periodicals postage paid at Colorado In a Game of Firsts by Bob Largman Springs, CO 80909-5774. The Manager's Report from the World Youth Games held in POSTMASTER: Send address changes to 16 Moscow. AMERICAN FENCINCJ, USFA, One Olym­ pic Plaza., Colorado Springs, CO 80909- A Change in Format by George Kolombatovich 5774. © 1998 United States Fencing Assn. Changes in the format for our NACs offer new opportunities EDITORS EMERITUS: Mary Huddleson, 18 for all fencers. Emily Johnson, Albert Axelrod. EDITORIAL OFFICES: Subscriptions It's A Small World by Carla~Mae Richards $18.00 in the U.S. and $24.00 elsewhere. Photos and memories from our young fencers in Japan for a Members of the USFA subscribe through 20 cultural fencing program. their dues. Please send all correspondence and articles for submission to Editor, AMERI­ Changes in Sabre by Ted Li CAN FENCINCJ Magazine, 1 Olympic Plaza., As Women's Sabre prepares for the world stage, technicians Colorado Springs, CO 80909. Contribu­ 2 2 are busy modernizing the equipment. tors, please note: Articles, results of compe­ titions, photos and cartoons are respectfully solicited, preferably on disk, ASCII format, ON THE COVER: Former National Champion Pilar Roldan photographed otherwise typewritten, double spaced. Pho­ the fencing floor at the Rochester Wodd Cup. Rodan now serves on the tos should be black and white and include Directiore Technique at FIE World Cups. names of those photographed. Opinions ex­ pressed in signed articles do not necessarily reflect the views of AMERICAN FENCING or the USFA.The Editor regrets that materials President's Corner .............. 2 Strip Sense ........................ 10 may not always be returned. by Donald Alperstein by Greg Jones PLEASE NOTE: No art or articles from Letters to the Editor ............ 4 In the Trenches ................ 12 AMERICAN FENCING may be reprinted in Sport Science ...................... 5 whole or in part without the express written by Edwin (Buzz) Hurst permissionof the Editor. by Mark D. Geil, Ph.D. Results : 1998 National DEADLINES: AMERICAN FENCING maga­ T echnical Talks .................. 7 Championships .............. 24 zine will publish quarterly in January, April, by Joe Byrnes Fencing Bulletin Board ..... 32 July and October. Send materials two months Gray Blades ........................ 8 prior to the month of issue. by Bob Block brought more worthy proposals than the program could possibly Three Cheers to fund. The choice was difficult because so many people and programs do work that merits our support. Hearty congratulations go to this year's grant recipients: the Peter Westbrook Foundation and the S~l11 Our World Youth Antonio Sports Foundation. Recognizing the great need for promising programs and believing Games Team that these programs represent a fine opportunity to enhance the health of fencing, the USFA is expanding the Developmental Grant program. In 1998, the available grants totaled $4,500. In 1999, th,n We have much to celebrate as our teams add increases to $10,000. Many of this year's applicants proposed using grant money to pay USFA dues or entry fees for members of their to our medal count, our clubs prosper, and programs, so next year $6,000 will be given in the form of member­ our financial future improves. ship and entry fee waivers; the remaining $4.000 will be distributed as cash awards. Program administrators who want more information about the Development Grants 'and the application process should By DONALD W. ALPERSTEIN, US FA PRESIDENT contact the USFA National Office. encing shone brightly at the competitions in Moscow, with our An Ombudsman to Speak for the Members Fathletes taking five of the eight medals won by the US contin­ For many reasons including recent good publicity, division gent. These fine young fencers and their able adult support team incentive contests and the creation of progratm that bring fencing have honored fencing in the eyes of the USOC and the world. As to new constituencies - our membership continues to expand. As recounted elsewhere in this issue of American Fencing, their success the USFA grows larger, so too do the needs of the members. was a team effort, and all members of the fencing delegation deserve Anl-icipating the broad spectrum of concerns that will likely result our hearty congratulations. from increasing size and diversity of the membership, the USFA is Indeed, the state of fencing looks good on many levels. Our membership con­ tinues to grow. We are on increasingly sound financial footing, and we arc pro­ viding more and more opportunities for During the American fencers to attain international experience without leaving our own bor­ Summer N ation~ ders. With strength at the grass roots, a als in Austin, talented crop of young fencers and op­ portunities to hone their talents, the President Donald future seems bright. Alperstein pre~ The publicity generated by our success in Moscow and several popular summer sented the first films which prominently feature fencing USFA Develop~ have resulted in clubs across the country experiencing unprecedented curiosity mental Grant to about our sport. We need to seize this opportunity to popularize fencing. W cl­ the Peter come interested newcomers to your salle Westbrook and share with them the romance, chal­ lenge, camaraderie and entertainment Foundation. of swordplay. Among these neophytes are some who will remain with fencing for the rest of their llves. contemplating the appointment of an ombudsman (a gender neutral Others may become coaches or referees or technicians or adminis­ term, according to the United States Ombudsman Association). trators. Maybe one will someday become National Champion, or An ombudsman helps members deal with organizational issues. even an Olympic Medalist. The vitality of our sport requires the As the USFA grows, so does its institutional complexity. Adoption continual infusion of new members who bring enthusiasm and fresh of an ombudsman program recognizes that a knowledgeable inter­ ideas to all aspects of fencing and the work of the USFA. mediary can help members communicate with the organization. Underlying such programs is the desire to address issues and ques­ Financial Assistance for Clubs tions before they become problems and frustrations. Part of that work involves extending fencing opportunities to Essential to a successful ombudsman is the selection of the person young people with athletic talent but few recreational opportuni­ who will fill the position. It takes a special individual to serve as an l1<:s. The USFA Development Grants, created last veal' to assist effective ombudsman. Not only is knowledge of the organization programs with limited resources, was a big success. Applications and its key people essential, but so arc excellent communication 2 sk i lis, a great deal of patience, a strong sense of equity and fairness, Thompson was a member of the USFA's 1998 World Under-17 ,mll ,1lot of time and energy to devote to the task. It can be hard work, Championships team that competed in Valencia, Venezuela in hLiI it can be very rewarding. April. He is also a member of the USFA's 1998 Under-20 and Any reader of these words who may be interested in serving as a TJnder-17 National Tecum. USFA ombudsman, As I told Thomp­ or who knows of a son in my congratu­ qualified individual, latory letter, I am to invited - and honored to ac­ mged- to contact , , The vitality of our sport requires knowledge his USFA Vice President achievement and to Sherry Posthumus. commend him, on She may be reached the continual infusion of new members the occasion of this I hrough the National ceremony, by not­ Office. who bring enthusiasm and fresh ideas ing the importance While we look for­ and significance of ward, we must also to all aspects of fencing and your accomplish­ pause to look back. A ment. thorough search of the work of the USFA. , , Your selection as available archives re­ Male Ath lete of the veals that the USFA Year honors not has a complete record only yourself, but of proceedings of its your parents and Membership Meet- family, your ings and Board of Directors going back to 1919, with one mysterious coaches and teachers, the United States Fencing Association, and exception.