Given the number of people who have cancelled tonight, I think it best to cancel the entire class. The roads are sufficiently treacherous that I don’t want people venturing out for a Fight Night that we can’t have.
I’ll let you all know as soon as I can about a make-up class.
As I mentioned, here is the information for the classical fencing tournament in Florida.
Kim Moser’s Palm Beach Classical Fencing is, sensibly enough, located in Palm Beach, Florida. On Saturday, March 26th, Kim’s club is hosting a classical fencing tournament. This tournament will feature foil, dueling sword (épée), and saber. (Please note that you have to follow the specific rules for these weapons.)
On Sunday, March 27th, Palm Beach Classical Fencing will host a three-hour class taught by Maestro Ramon Martinez. After that, there will be an hour of free fencing.
I display no ability in French by explaining that escrime artistique can be translated as “artistic fencing.”
If you’re not familiar with it, escrime artistique is a theatrical sort of fencing, akin to stage fencing or stage combat. Unlike the fencing we practice, escrime artistique is choreographed and deliberately dramatic, comprising wide movements and flourishes. (This is not to suggest that there isn’t an athletic component to their fencing: like ballet, escrime artistique seems to hide its athleticism behind its elegance.) These fencers practice performances and then, like the artists they are, give spectacles to audiences. Apparently, escrime artistique frequently includes period costumes and a range of weapons, such as broadswords, rapiers, and smallswords. Done well, it is visually entertaining. You can see some examples at the following links:
Judging from its Internet presence, escrime artistique is one of the most common forms of fencing in France (the other being, not surprisingly, sport fencing). But I’m a little confused by this. On the one hand, I think its sensible that fencers in France—home of the Three Musketeers, Chevalier de Saint George, and La Boesserie—would use this medium to carry on their country’s rich tradition of fencing, even right down to leather tunics, huge belts, and high leather boots. After all, this is not unlike our country’s Civil War buffs who gather in historically-correct costumes to re-enact select battles.
But on the other hand, I am surprised that I can’t find more Internet representation of classical French fencing (escrime ancienne, I think). I’ve searched for a while now and I think I’ve found a place or two, but those places don’t seem to provide any videos, making it difficult to discern if they practice the sort of fencing we do. (Personally, this is an important goal for me: I’d like to go to France and learn classical or historical French fencing from traditionally trained instructors or maîtres.)
I should note that I could be wrong here. I have found it difficult to find any French website, club, or salle dedicated to classical fencing (as defined by fencing in the 18th and 19th centuries). But perhaps I haven’t searched with the right terms or maybe my French translation skills are worse than even I think. Still, if you find any sites that you think are candidates, feel free to email me about it.
In the meantime, enjoy the videos above. And practice your lunges, everyday.
Tomorrow, Sunday, January 23, will be a make-up class at the Jazzercize studio. We will meet from 2:00 to 3:30. (We need to be out of there promptly as a class starts shortly after we end and I’m not sure how early the Jazzercize instructors arrive.)
More broadly, this will be part of our inclement weather policy going forward: that is, when we miss a day due to weather, we will try to have a make-up session in the ensuing week. Of course, this will be contingent on space availability.
Also, something to remember with all this snowy weather: when you arrive, please spend an extra moment drying off your shoes on the mats to the sides of the door. Understandably, Laura Kitzi doesn’t want people tracking in snow, slush, etc., into the studio. Better yet, wear your boots and take them off when you arrive, putting your fencing shoes on once you are inside. If you see some wet spots needing attention, please wipe them up.
Finally, at fencing today, I showed a YouTube clip featuring some diligently classical French fencing. People asked me to provide a link and here it is.
Again, consider yourself informed: tomorrow, Sunday, at 2:00. See you there!
Here’s an announcement about Columbia Classical Fencing, LLC’s weather policy. The website will soon be amended to have a page reflecting the policy below.
Columbia Classical Fencing, LLC (“CCF”) will be closed on any day that Columbia Public Schools is closed due to hazardous weather. Thus, if Columbia Public Schools closes, no notice of CCF’s closure will be provided: the public announcement of the schools’ closures will be your notice.
Alternatively, CCF may close if road conditions become too hazardous, regardless of Columbia Public Schools’ schedule. (This may happen if, such as it did today, inclement weather arrives between the end of the school day and CCF’s scheduled time.) In that case, CCF will:
Consequently, given that Columbia’s schools are closed tomorrow, CCF will be closed as well on Thursday, January 20th. I’ll be sending out an email to that effect this time, since this is the first announcement of this policy.
Columbia Classical Fencing, LLC 