Scherma Italiana - The Ultimate Italian Fencing Training Bring to Your Doorstep!
Fencing as a sports has been evolving more than 150 years. There are always masters throughout the development of fencing history from different parts of the world, mainly among European countries.
And there are different styles of coaching approaches and specific techniques some masters are identified to be good at.
Obviously there is no right or wrong on style -- the best suit yours is the best, on clothing, food and fencing!
Per discussed with Coach Valerio Aspromonte, there are various ways of conducting the fencing class and coaching approaches that he would like to introduce to the States and Asia.
Fencing is always a combat sports, and applied technology might help a bit but not all. Yet technology must be applied to the fencing training or it is no longer a sports for the modern world.
During his stay in Hong Kong, Coach Aspromonte also observed that venue is very limited in Asia, specifically for Hong Kong and Japan, and it is of no luxury to have a spacious training arena open long hours. Costs will eventually be transferred to the fencers, not the venue owner.
He also noticed that fencers in Hong Kong, probably apply to all Asian cities, are very busy everyday. Most students do not have long vacations, probably only during X'mas, CNY holidays and summers. And homework and schoolwork is very heavy for children since kindergarten. Jobs in Hong Kong is also very demanding and discourage adult fencers to fence after work.
He realized that the fencing clubs in Hong Kong are very coach-driven. It might come from the ancient way of kungfu or wushu way of teaching. Apprentices must obey to their Masters, no matter what and regardless it is right or wrong. The Coach chooses the weapon to their fencers, suggests changing weapons, changing classes and assigning coaches for private lessons to their fencers. Fencers' preferences and wills are always not the determinant factor.
Lack of warm-up and relax concept has also been a big problem with the young fencers, as Coach Aspromonte observed. Fencers prefer no warm-up and finish their practice with no scratching muscles. In Italy and Russia and other countries, it is a must to have those before and after the practice, usually at least 30 minutes. Of course, fencers and parents might see waste of time to do warm-up during the lessons as lessons are usually 2-hour and it does not make sense to spend one hour to warming up and scratching.
Coach Aspromonte also heard from the fencers that they usually practice within their clubs, without visiting other clubs -- or it leads to a suspicion of 'betraying' the own club. With limited skill exchange and fencing with other fencers, fencers cannot upskill their existing techniques and could perform in inferior position during tournaments.
Other than no fencing with other clubs, the fencers are also observed that they do not fence enough with different age/level fencers -- younger and older, new and experienced. It is probably due to the fact that their coaches assign with whom the fencers would fence and in what age/level class they should join to practice etc. With that said, fencers only play with similar age fencers and practice with the same few fencers in most of the time.
From the above observations, Coach Aspromonte has come up with the tailored approach for the Asian fencers, by blending with the Italian way and factoring the specific conditions happening in Asian cities.
It is not easy to transition with a change from the existing regime. Coach Aspromonte is working hard on putting together this approach for us!
Please stay tuned for the new way of learning fencing here in Hong Kong!
0 comments
Post a Comment