The Art and Science of Fencing

Rating:
Summary: Great book !
Review: As a 15 year fencer veteran, fencing in at least 5 different countries I consider this book a GREAT basis to start with.

It is well written and the reader / fencer can immediately identify a lot of similar situations that Nick Evangelista points out through his amazing fencing career. It is a pity that the sport is not very popular in the States, but we're trying!

Highly recommended!!

Rating:
Summary: A Good Book for Beginners
Review: As I read this book I felt as though I was part of something special. This book cleverly illustrates the art and history of fencing, while at the same time explaining the quantitative aspects of the sport. However, this book is by no means a literary work of art, so if you are looking for a book writen by an english major-this is not it. My advice is for you to read this book and develop your own opinion, and don't forget, this book could make you part of something.

Rating:
Summary: Good overall - I don't like the bias of the author
Review: A good intro to fencing, good history and interesting bio's of well known fencers. Overall an ok book. Not superb and there is some bias against advances in the sport that I found detracting.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent companion text for a beginning fencer
Review: Obviously you can not learn fencing, or any sport for that matter, from a book. It is assumed that if you are reading this, you are either in lessons or considering them. With that in mind, this is an excellent companion text for a beginning fencer.

In many ways, this book fills in the missing gaps in lessons. It contains the background and the evolution of the sport. It describes the basic attacks and defense, the takes and ripostes. It shows the footwork and lays out the rules. There is a nice little piece about leverage and some interesting theories and tactics. I found that is was a good way to keep my brain wrapped around fencing while I waited for the next lesson.

It does address an older style of fencing, and may not jibe with your instructor. Ultimately, "The Art and Science of Fencing" is a one man's opinion on the sport of fencing. It is, however, an informed opinion. There will be ideas in this book that you will disagree with. That's OK. I am sure that you will find many ideas that you also agree with and can learn from.

Rating:
Summary: An inviting introduction to fencing
Review: Excellent discussion of the unique characteristics of the three fencing weapons! Not only descriptive of the swords and actions; Nick explains the positive relationship between foil, epee and sabre. Learning each sword in turn builds a fencers vocabulary.

Being grounded in the knowledge of how each weapon works gives a fencer the ability to determine how well they are doing on the fencing strip. Nick gives a fencer the tools to evaluate the effectiveness of an action. Want to know why an action you used was effective? If your answer is "because I got a touch", you will have great difficulty bouting with fencers more skilled than yourself.

Great information on composing attacks and developing timing, distance, speed and more. A special treat is the section with biographies of prominent fencers.

A fun book to read and one that will give you insight into the rich, colorful tradition of fencing.

Rating:
Summary: I like this book BECAUSE it is personal!
Review: Perhaps the best thing about Nick Evangelista's "Art and Science" of Fencing" is that it DOES contain a strong personal touch. Most other fencing books I've read are like text books, hard to read, and thus hard to learn from. "The Art and Science" is full of Nick Evangelista's own experience, which, when you get down to it, is pretty much every fencing student's experience, to one degree or another. The maestro does not preach from the mountain top; he is right down on the ground with everyone else. This is great! A teacher who knows and relates to his students. There's no ego problem here. I wish Nick Evangelista was my personal fencing master. I have heard rumors that "The Art and Science of Fencing" has sold over 10,000 copies, and is still going strong. I believe it. After reading the book, you'll know why. I also love his "Inner Game of Fencing."

Rating:
Summary: A little less 'I' and a little more 'you'
Review: Many trees could have been saved if Master Evangelista left out the 'I' in this book. The information is invaluable, and he is indisputably a gifted artist, but the first 100 pages of this book are not about fencing, they are about Master Evangelista. The information is helpful. The ego is not.

Rating:
Summary: BUY THIS BOOK
Review: Read "The Art and Science of Fencing" if you want to know what fencing is really about. The emphasis is on ART and SCIENCE, not the latest fads in fencing that masquerade as modern "advanced" techniques. This book teaches the tried and true methods that have been taught for hundreds of years. "The Art and Science of Fencing" is good for beginners, and for fencers who want to be reminded of why they originally wanted to get into fencing.

Rating:
Summary: A "GET IT."
Review: Some fencers get classical fencing. Some don't. The "don't" fencers think modern fencing, with its flicking and bashing, its mindless, bent arm attacks, and its tantrums, is just fine. Why? Most of them would change their minds if they fenced the way they fence with sharp weapons. Reality would change their minds. Classical fencing, as Maestro Evangelista teaches it in "The Art and Science of Fencing,", creates control. Those who don't understand this don't understand fencing. If you want to learn to really fence, buy this book. You won't get the head-banging nonsense you get in so many fencing schools today. "The Art and Science of Fencing" is one of the best fencing books ever written. It'll last you a lifetime.

Rating:
Summary: impractical - does not teach how to fence
Review: This book is way too subjective. Too many pages are wasted on useless opinions, and too few discuss the actual maneuvers of fencing. Some maneuvers like the coule,the degage, or the coupe in the foil section are described with only a few sentences. And too often the author goes on tirades about the use of strength in fencing or some modern equipment. This book is all art and no science.