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 Summer '97Nolume 47, Number 3 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 AMERICAN FENCING magazine (ISSN 0002- 8436) is published quarterly by the United States Fencing Association, Inc., One Olym­ pic Plaza, Colorado Springs, CO 80909- 5774. Periodicals postage paid at Colorado Modern Revolutionaries by Bob Largman Springs, CO 80909-5774. The 1997 Maccabiah Games began with Jeff Bukantz's fund POSTMASTER: Send address changes to 13 raising efforts and ended with the greatest medal haul to date. AMERICAN FENCINCJ, USFA, One Olym­ pic Plaza., Colorado Springs, CO 80909- Don't Give Up Your Reels Yet by Ted Li 5774. © 1997 United States Fencing Assn. EDITORS EMERITUS: Ralph M. Wireless fencing is the talk of the international set but it might Goldstein, Mary Huddleson, Emily Johnson, 16 just stay talk. Albert Axelrod. EDITORIAL OFFICES: Subscriptions Losing Our Grip on Women's Epee by Paul Soter $16.00 in the U.S. and $28.00 elsewhere. Members of the USFA subscribe through Some referees would have you believe that infighting, the their dues. Please send all correspondence 18 fleche and corps a corps don't belong ina woman's game. and articles for submission to Editor, AMERI­ CAN FENCING Magazine, 1 Olympic Plaza., Results from the 1997 Summer Nationals Colorado Springs, CO 80909. Contribu­ tors, please note: Articles, results of compe­ Over 1400 fencers filled 43 strips for 10 days during this titions, photos and cartoons are respectfully 21 extravaganza. solicited, preferably on disk, ASCII format, otherwise typewritten, double spaced. Pho­ ON THE COVER: Olympian Peter Devine launches a ferocious attack against tos should be black and white and include teammate Cliff Bayer. Photo: Dave Black 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 may not always be returned. PLEASE NOTE: No art or articles from President's Corner .............. 2 Sport Science & the ,Fencer. 6 AMERICAN FENCING may be reprinted in by Donald Alperstein by John Heil, Ph.D. whole or in part without the express written permissionof the Editor. Readers Write ..................... 4 Technical Talk ................... 8 DEADLINES: AMERICAN FENCINC maga­ 1997 Membership by Joe Byrnes zine will publish quarterly in February, May, Meeting Minutes ............. 4 My Turn ........................... 10 August and November. For inclusion in a 1997 Coaches by Peter Burchard particular issue, materials must be received College Report ................ 5 two months prior to the month of issue. .~-______ I four directors selected by the USFA Congress and the six national Aboard, a Board officers. The president is also allowed up to four appointments, which must have Congress' approval. I hope to use those appoint­ ments to assure wide representation among the various constituen­ and Abroad cies of the USFA, and perhaps to enlist someone from outside the USFA to bring us fresh perspectives, insights and ideas. I've decided to wait until after the Board meeting in September before making As we begin the new competitive season we any appointments. After seeing who comprises the new Board and need to build on the accomplishments of the how the group functions, I'll be in a better position to make appointments that will bring helpful viewpoints to the meetings. past year and look for ways to improve in areas I look forward to working with the new Board. It is my hope that where we fell short. a smaller, stable group will bring focus and continuity to decision making within the USFA. There is much that needs doing. Among its first tasks must be reorganization of the international program. By DONALD W. ALPERSTEIN, US FA PRESIDENT Restructiring Our International Efforts s I write this column late in an eventful summer, I realize that The past competitive year the first in the Olympic cycle and A the season just ended saw both some very rewarding develop­ the first of this administration - generated disappointing interna­ ments and some not so positive revelations. The success of the tional results. Some contnbuting factors cannot be administratively Summer Nationals and the membership's overwhe 1m­ controlled. Others we ing support of organizational changes represent great can correct with strides for the USFA. On the other hand, our inter­ prompt action by uti­ national performance brought disappointment. We lizing resources within need to build on the good things and look for ways to our grasp. correct those areas where we fell short. After investing a great deal of time in Wow! What a Party! consultation with The debut of Summer Nationals, a nearly unquali­ knowledgeable fied success, sure made an impression. I've never seen people, analysis and anything like it. But then, neither has anyone else. planning, the admin­ No one there, be they a spectator or participant, istration developed a could leave the venue without optimism about the proposal for restructur­ strength and future of fencing in this country. Even ing and re-directing forgetting, as if one could, the monumental organi­ the USFA'S interna­ zational undertaking needed to launch the tourna­ tional program. We ment, the sight of 42 strips in near constant use - will present the plan and four finals areas, sometimes busy three at a time for consideration by - had to impress even the doubtful among us. the Board of Directors And what a crowd it was! Over 3000 entries at its September meet­ shattered the old record. Present were representa­ Donald Alperstein presents the HaU of Fame award ing. It may be in place tives of all facets of the USFA. People from New to Michael Marx who, because he was in Calx by the time this issue England and Hawaii, Florida and Alaska and every Town with the World Championship team, selected of AMERICAN FENC­ state in between. Almost eight decades separated the ING reaches you. birth dates of the youngest and oldest competitors, brother Robert for acceptance duties. At the heart of our and nearly as much between the most junior and proposal are the be­ most senior referees. We call the event the "Summer National liefs that successes and failures reflect the quality of our communi­ Fencing Championships and Convention," and convene we did, en cations, cooperation and use of resources, and that with shared masse. I for one can't wait for next year's edition. knowledge and a common direction we can achieve much. The plan has two principal components: a structure and a mission. Changes in Governance We propose to organize our international efforts by empowering I'm also enthusiastic on the eve of the first meeting of the new those with the most intimate technical knowledge of international Board of Directors. With foresight, courage and true dedication to fencing the coaches, the athletes and others with direct practical the organization's future, and realizing that times have changed, the experience - and placing upon them responsibility for program previous Board selflessly recommended that it be converted into a development. Another group will oversee budgetary and adminis­ Congress and that a new, smaller Board of Directors be created and trative tasks, with authority to engage and supervise the people charged managing the USFA. By a margin of 400 to 76, the needed to make the programs work. Acting in concert, these two membership agreed and enacted the changes. groups, the technical and administrative, will devise and execute the The new Board of Directors is composed of an elected representa­ plans needed make the USA a world power in fencing. tive from each of the ten Sections, six athletes chosen by their peers, To guide the groups in their quest for excellence we have set forth 2 short, medium and long range international program goals. Among the tasks we ask these groups to achieve are better integration of Finally _... back in print! junior programs into the national and international effort and the employment of sports science to improve the skills of fencers and Read these classics before your rivals do! make new tools available to coaches at all levels. Fencing: the modern international style, We also want to incorporate Women's Sabre into our interna­ by Istvan Lukovich. A great mas­ tional efforts. The FIE has begun its glacial move to introduce ter lucidly explains the world's lead­ international competition for Women's Sabre. Olympic status by ing fencing system. "Deeper and 2004 has been mentioned, perhaps as a demonstration sport, al­ more systematic than any other text though 2008 is probably more realistic. The inauguration of a new available in English." -- George E. event in international competition presents an opportunity we Kolombatovich, Head Coach, Co­ don't want to miss, so we must begin preparing now. When Women's lumbia U. Hardcover, $30.00 Sabre assumes World Cup status we can and should be ready to compete at a high level. By starting now, we can come on the scene Fencing and the Master, by as contenders, not hangers-on. Laszl6 Szab6. "Of great and last­ ing value." -- Robert Scranton, Ralph Goldstein, a Last Hurrah President, USFCA. "More If the Summer Nationals provided the first great competition for than revolutionary . .. the most many new fencers, it also provided a grand finale for an old one. Ask complete book on the teaching and Ralph Goldstein "how're you doing?" and the heartfelt answer learning of fencing I have ever invariably came back, "Never better." Even when advancing age read." -- Dick Oles, Head Coach, sapped hio endurance and a bad hip hobbled his gait, nothing made Johns Hopkins.Columbia's Kolom­ Ralph happier than being next to a strip calling touches.