Maestro Hayes,

Is this to be the last graduating class of the Fencing Masters Program at
San Jose State University? I had previously heard that it was no longer
receiving sponsorship.

Blessings,
Rez

"Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the
good way is, and walk in it..."

>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: classicalfencing@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:classicalfencing@yahoogroups.com]
>> On Behalf Of Sean Hayes
>> Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2008 6:55 PM
>> To: Tattershall@yahoogroups.com; classicalfencing@yahoogroups.com
>> Subject: [CFML] Fencing Masters Program Final Exams
>>
>> The Fencing Masters Program at San Jose State University held Winter
>> Examinations this past Saturday, December 13, 2008. Eleven candidates
>> presented themselves for examination for certification as Master,
>> Provost, or Instructor at Arms in classical Italian fencing theory
>> and pedagogy. The program, founded by Dr. William M. Gaugler in 1979,
>> employs the pedagogical methods of Italy's celebrated Scuola
>> Magistrale, the great military master's school of the 19th and early
>> 20th centuries. Dr. Gaugler is a graduate of Italy's Accademia
>> Nazionale di Scherma, the school that succeeded the Scuola Magistrale.
>>
>> I am pleased and proud to announce the results of those tests, naming
>> the candidates with their new titles:
>>
>> R.E. "Puck" Curtis III, Master at Arms
>> Eric Myers, Master at Arms
>>
>> Tony Barajas, Provost at Arms
>> David Borland, Provost at Arms
>> William Byrne, Provost at Arms
>> Kevin Murakoshi, Provost at Arms
>> Jeremy Tavan, Provost at Arms
>>
>> David Coblentz, Instructor at Arms
>> David Cogley, Instructor at Arms
>> Dr. Sydney Thomson, Instructor at Arms
>> Ricardo Vargas, Instructor at Arms
>>
>> In addition, three Provosts who had tested in prior exams completed
>> their final requirements and were awarded their Master's certifications:
>> Dr. Greg Hicks, Master at Arms
>> Gary Murray, Master at Arms
>> Daniel Williams, Master at Arms
>>
>> The candidates have prepared for one year (instructor), two years
>> (provost) or three years (master) with masters who graduated from the
>> program, either at the San Jose program directly, or at the satellite
>> locations at Sonoma State University or at the University of Oregon.
>> Each level has as a prerequisite the prior level, so that the
>> candidate for the Master's certification has already taken and passed
>> the Instructor's and Provost's exams.
>>
>> After passing their written exams, the 11 candidates submitted
>> themselves on December 13 to a board of five fencing masters for a
>> grueling all-day examination on fencing theory and practical
>> application of their skills. The parts of the exam consisted of oral
>> exams on fencing theory and practice, practical exams on the giving
>> and taking of group lessons and individual lessons, and finally to
>> stand before the board and teach any action or combination of actions
>> that board wished to see.
>>
>> During this final portion of the exam the candidates were expected to
>> develop and execute a lesson plan for complex sets of actions that
>> they had not prepared beforehand, and to refine and perfect the plan
>> while undergoing questioning and scrutiny from the board. the
>> requirements become harder at each level. As an example, Provost (now
>> Maestro) Eric Myers was required to teach Provost (now Maestro) Gary
>> Murray at epee to execute a blade seizure in fourth, followed by
>> feint by glide with an advance and disengagement with a thrust to the
>> arm, followed by an arrest with a reassemblement and thrust to the
>> arm, followed by recovery backwards and retreat with parries of
>> second, counter of second, third, and counter of third, followed by
>> change of engagement to fourth and riposte by glide, countered by Mr.
>> Myer's parry -riposte and Mr. Murray's execution of second intention
>> indirect - a complex parry-riposte pattern used against an opponent
>> who habitually ripostes in the same line - with a final thrust. The
>> action was executed in time and with mobility, meaning that Mr. Myers
>> had to drive Mr. Murray back and forth on the fencing strip at high
>> speed, and press Mr. Murray to execute this complex chain of actions
>> at equally high speed. The final action was performed flawlessly
>> several times.
>>
>> All candidates performed very well under this intense pressure, and
>> clearly demonstrated the requisite knowledge and skill of a
>> professional fencing teacher.
>>
>> The board was comprised of five fencing masters, all graduates of the
>> SJSU program:
>>
>> Ralph K. Sahm, Military Master at Arms - Director, SJSU Fencing
>> Masters Program
>> Janine Monteleone Sahm, Master at Arms - Assistant Director, SJSU
>> Fencing Masters Program
>> John P. Sullins, Military Master At Arms, Sonoma State University
>> Sean Hayes, Master at Arms, University of Oregon
>> Paul Scherman, Master at Arms - Faculty Member, SJSU Fencing Masters
>> Program
>>
>> Please join me in congratulating the students on their accomplishment!
>>
>>
>> Sean Hayes
>> Maestro d'armi
>> Northwest Fencing Academy
>> www.fencingacademy.net
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------------
>>
>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>> The CFML is sponsored in part by Twin Arms Fencing, featuring custom
>> Italian foils. www.twinarmsfencing.com
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