Fencing and the Master [Hardcover]

Laszlo Szabo (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1998

Fencing and the Master is abeloved, unique classic tat distills the fencing wisdom of the twentieth century.

Of great and lasting value. -- Robert Scranton, President, USFCA The most complete book on the teaching and learning of fencing I have ever read. -- Dick Oles, Head Coach, Johns Hopkins. More great coaches have stolen ideas from this book than any other! George Edward Kolombatovich, Fencing Coach, Columbia University.

Szabo's book lays out the tools and techniques of coaching, but more than that, it opens up the heart and spirit of a maestro. Copiously illustrated. Supplemented with a discussion of fencing terminology and with a new memoir of Szabo by his student Eugene Hamori, Olympic medalist, US sabre champion, and distinguished coach.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Laszlo Szabo was one of Hungary's most distinguished coaches.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 298 pages
• Publisher: S K a Swordplay Books (April 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0965946800
• ISBN-13: 978-0965946803
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #338,305 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A complete guide for both master and fencer alike, April 26, 2000

By 

Stewart Watson (Durham, England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fencing and the Master (Hardcover)

My Hungarian master Laszlo Jakab, a personal friend of Laszlo Szabo, introduced this book to me as "The fencer's Bible". He continued telling me that within its pages were common faults that Masters should look for and how to fix them. Master Szabo has in his book endeavoured to put in to writing his method of teaching. It a very thorough treatment of the subject matter. Within the scope of subjects covered is immense. Ranging from the master's obligations to his pupils, techniques for building the correct fencing mussels, giving individual and group lessons (where to stand, how to give signals etc), a complete tactical system all the way down to the basics of a correct guard stance.

My master can not speak highly enough of this book and has integrated many parts of the contents in to his own method of teaching and fencing. I myself feel that even though some of the methods explained are now outdated (e.g. training without masks) the book offers great insight in to fencing at all levels and should you wish to become a good coach this is the only book you will need.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Aspiring Coaches: THIS IS THE BOOK TO OWN, February 3, 1999

By 

Noah Zucker, [e-mail] (New York, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fencing and the Master (Hardcover)

As an aspiring coach, I have read through many different books on fencing and fencing instruction. Only one other book (Foil, Sabre and Epee Fencing, by Garret et. al.) approaches the breadth, detail and clarity of this remarkable work.

Szabo not only describes exercises, drills and lesson plans for the fencing instructor -- he describes *how* to teach them. His section on fencing theory, specifically the "tactical wheel" and "tactical tree," is indispensible -- it is simply not found in any other fencing book. Finally, the book is superbly illustrated: both with represenations of proper technique(and improper -- so that coaches can recognize common errors in their students) and diagrams showing the position of feet relative to the torso during footwork.

$30 may be kinda steep, but it is cheaper than taking a plane flight to Hungary for participation in a week-long fencing instruction seminar (the next best thing)

I did notice that a large portion of the book was dedicated to sabre, but then again, the author was primarily a sabre coach.

I could go on, but I think that if is suffice to say that any serious coach (i.e. hoping to have students with national results) should buy this book and commit it to memory. You won't be sorry.

The book is also available from major fencing equipment suppliers (e.g. blade)

My opinions do not reflect in anyway those of my employer, Vault Reports

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A distillation of a lifetime of wisdom, August 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Fencing and the Master (Hardcover)

There are faults in this book, but they are mostly of production, illustrations in the wrong place and some clumsiness in the translation.

However, the content is excellent. Each topic is considered in detail and there is a pleasing flow in development.

If you are intending to be a coach then this book is an essential adjunct to your coaching course. If you already are a coach then it offers a wealth of material to improve your coaching.