Tag: coaching fencing

In Memoriam

Maitre Edwin Hurst, portrait by Stephanie Goldman

I learned today that the first master with whom I worked, Edwin “Buzz Hurst, passed away last month at the age of 84. My good friend Patrick Bratton (Sala della Spada, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, USA) shared the USFA’s fb page about it:


https://www.facebook.com/USAFencing/posts/pfbid02NHb3eZD8oEUny3E7ijUBdCAggDn5en3fztnPMmsWCyh2EZUEsVAs8qHUfKU3LW75l

Before working with Buzz, I had studied foil with a gentleman in the DC area, one who split time between Olympic Fencing, SCA, and work. Working with Maestro Hurst was far more regimented, and true to his navy roots, more like working with a drill sergeant than a coach. He was somewhat notorious for berating fencers he didn’t think were trying hard enough, smacking them across the mask, and often expressing his opinions about one’s ability and/or ancestry. Having grown up in a military family, I didn’t take any of it to heart, so was better able to focus on the lesson, but I will say it was often as funny as it was mean. Some favorites:

“You move like a bovine.”

“Look, grow a pair, and hit that guy. My grandmother could hit him.”

“What’s your major?” [Buzz would often try to use our study track for analogies]
“Archaeology.”
“Damn. Uh… do you know boxing?”
“Yes sir.”
“Okay, we’ll go with that.”

I learned a lot from Buzz–he provided me a solid foundation upon which Al Couturier and his assistants, and later Delmar Calvert, constructed more of a building (one still very much in the process of being built).

Buzz had some fantastic stories. One of my favorites was about a collegiate bout he was in while at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. One of his opponents, no kidding, was Neil Diamond, the pop star. In this particular tournament Buzz lost to Neil and it still bothered him. I heard this story in 1991 or 1992, and if I recall correctly he concluded with “Can’t believe I lost to the Jazz Singer.” Funny chap.

Rest in Peace Buzz, and thanks

*Being a club team, we couldn’t easily afford a coach of Buzz’s caliber, and so I think by 1994 he was in San Diego. He didn’t say much about it, least not that I have heard or read, but he was the first coach to get our team to first place, something a club team had not been able to do in at least 25 years.

UC Santa Barbara Fencing Team, 1992, All Conference Champions, SoCal Division

Of Ranks and Cults

Today my friend and colleage, Jay, shared a video response to a concern several fencers aired on a fb page, namely, the problem with cultish programs. This is a real fear and justifiable given the fact that we do see groups who take advantage of members. It’s a shame, but it does happen. That could take many forms–perhaps students are charged for every little thing or to advance; perhaps they are expected to show absolute loyalty to some charismatic leader; perhaps they’re told not to fence with others because everyone but their own club is dangerous, or unskilled, or what have you. These are all red flags.

It’s important to me, and to Jay, because we work within an organization, Storica Defensa, that has already spooked a few people. There are, largely, personal reasons and/or prejudices that explain that, but some of those voices are loud and so we have done our best, all of us, to be as transparent as possible. There is no hidden knowledge we promise to “initiates,” there is no fee to advance, and each of the coaches is not only willing, but eager to demonstrate to potential SD fencers their qualifications. It’s only right we do so.

Moreover, we have been quick to state what we are not. None of us claim to be masters. We are not claiming any lineage, training, or certification we have not earned and/or which we cannot prove. We want everyone to know what they’re getting, and, why Xian and Jay created SD in the first place. Jay says it better than I can (see link below), but SD’s ranks do two things:

  • provide a set of goals, by skill-set, for students to help them improve [this also helps place them with people of similar skill level in events]
  • provide coaches with tools to teach more effectively

That’s it. As I often remind my own students, I didn’t invent any of the things I teach, but transmit what I learned to them. Sure, there are things I’ve added, tweaks here or there or suggestions, but these I always call out as such. None of us will be claiming to have invented the lunge… The why? is easily explained: historical fencing lacks these two things and desperately needs them.