Customer Reviews

The Inner Game of Fencing: Excellence in Form, Technique, Strategy and Spirit.

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

I read The Inner Game of Fencing before I read my other favorite, the Art and Science of Fencing, and I'm glad I did. This book was instrumental in instilling the confidence I needed to act on my curiosity of the sport of fencing. Nick Evangelista believes that fencing belongs to everyone, not only the athletes pursuing Olympic notoriety. He makes it clear that you have just as much a right to be at the salle learning to be a recreational fencer, as does the dedicated sport fencer.
This book unmasks the mysteries of the fencing world by using wisdom and reasoning. You'll find more than just a "how to" list." Strategies are shown to be a mindset rather than any complex technique. Even a beginner has a fighting chance of winning when the mind and hand and feet work together. Most fencing books only address the latter two. The Inner Game will give you the edge you need to make your fencing goals materialize.
The format of the book is such that the busy person can open up to any page and read as little or as much as time allows and walk away with encouragement and prowess. Not only is Nick's wisdom imparted in this book, he includes quotes from past fencing masters that would have been lost had this book not brought their truth and substance forth to the new generations of fencers.

Fencing is all about achieving an end. And that's exactly where the readership of *The Inner Game* will neatly divide into separate factions at odds with each other, with the author, and with the entire book.

For the one group, fencing means setting off a green or red light as quickly and decisively as possible. The end justifies the means: you punch, jump (with both feet of the ground), flick, or (sometimes) actually parry-riposte to achieve this end. Win the bout. The tournament. The Nationals. And find your name somewhere on the "train schedules" published in *American Fencing*. Nothing wrong with that: If fencing to you is a magnificent competitive sport that involves hitting an opponent no matter how (as long as it is within the FIE rules), I'd agree with you. It is... among other things. But this book may not be for you.

Because if you take the Art of Fencing in its intellectual complexity... a parable of human life, maturation, truth, and social interaction, you enter into what Evangelista calls The Inner Game of Fencing. This Inner Game is about integrity and logical cohesion of mind and body, of strategy and movement... in short, a complex interaction of will, mind, and motion that will only open itself up to the individual who searches, probes, ponders, and questions the quick fixes and shortcuts convenience and short-term purpose dictate in modern competitive fencing.

Evangelista has chosen a somewhat off-beat format for his book. It is less a prescriptive tractate that tries to please and coddle as it instructs. It is more a collection of individual insights... sometimes gruff, sometimes unflattering... but always honest, just as they were gathered and hard-fought for over decades of a man's and fencer's life.

In a way, *The Inner Game* comprises the quintessence of what a serious student of fencing might glean from individual conversations with an experienced master over a decade of lessons.

If you're looking for a book telling you how to set off a buzzer a split second earlier than your oppenent... go practice. If you have come to see fencing and swordplay as a process involving the lifelong pursuit of certain human truths, you might be tempted to put it next to Nadi's *On Fencing* and Musashi's *Book of 5 Rings*.

That's where I put my copy.

Having read "The Art and Science of Fencing" by Nick Evangelista, I was eagerly awaiting the arrival of his newest book "The Inner Game of Fencing" and I was not dissappointed. Classical fencing, or the "art" of fencing is a balance between technique, form, strategy, and spirit, and that is exactly what Maestro Evangelista addresses in this book. It is obvious he writes from an appreciation of an art which is being over run by a game concerned only with touches. If your interest in fencing lies merely in the goal of racking up touches, regardless of how you achieve that objective, then this book is not going to do much for you. But, if you believe fencing is a true ''Martial Art,'' requiring discipline, where every move, every position, every thought has a specific purpose, then I highly recommend this reading.

Ok, I am a new fencer, and a novice being critical of someone as famous as Nick Evangelista may seem a bit out of line at this stage of my career. However, I did buy the book and did read the book, and I suppose in this great American republic, that qualifies me to review his work.

I found Mr. Evangelista's book to be a series of essays regarding his philosophy of fencing. The essays, are for the most part ungrouped by theme or topic, and tend to take on a tone that could only be described as a bitter rant.

I don't know what school of fencing offended Mr. Evangelista, but he is sure sore at someone, and it does not help the book at all. He constantly rails against those who are `brutal, fast, etc. etc,' with little fencing grace or skill.

Other comments: Mr. Evangelista writes well in a tactical sense, he is however prone to repeating himself, and his stories. These vignettes offer little to the beginner, and the title of the book never delivers the promise.

Advice: If you are a beginner, pass on this one, perhaps, as I gain experience it will take on more meaning, but as I read it, the book was a rant against some unknown group of bad guys.

This book is written by someone who lives and breathes fencing. The insights from cover to cover have helped me to overcome the greatest obstacle to my bouting.... myself. The inner game is about mastering the fencer within you.
My first tournament was a loss before I even started to fence. Nick teaches that there are two games going on simultaneously when bouting. One, fencing against your opponent, and two, keeping your mind so free of clutter and doubt and so focused on the game at hand that the next touch is the only one that ever matters. At my next tournament I won the game within myself and made it to the final round.
This book is very well rounded and covers every aspect of fencing. It may come across as negative to modern fencers, but that's because modern fencing is veering far away from fencing as a game of skill and strategy and turning into an electronic game with ever-changing rules made to suit the moment. I would rather learn the same lessons that have been taught to fencers for 350 years from someone like Nick who has the deepest respect for this most honorable sport.
I fence with a rapier and found the techniques presented in 'The Inner Game' to be just as beneficial as if I were a classical fencer. The aspect of honor in the sport of fencing can be applied to everyday life. This book can read over and over again as you improve your fencing skills.
This book and 'The Art and Science of Fencing' are the first two books that I highly recommend to any type of fencer or anyone simply interested in fencing.

Fencing masters have an obligation to their students. It is present during the lesson, the bout or the printed page. Nick Evangelista's devotion to fencing is lifelong and he imparts that passion in "The Inner Game of Fencing."

For the new fencer, Nick stimulates thought about actions and behavior on the fencing strip. For example, "How does a composed attack evolve?" or "What are the benefits of fencing conventions (rules)."

For the experienced fencer, Nick offers a diverse range of topics to reflect on. It becomes easy for many of us to say, "because that's the way I have always done it." The book caused me to look inward. Am I doing this action in the best way that I can do it? What do I stand to gain or lose by changing?

Nick Evangelista meets his obligation well. Agreement with all of his points of view is not required. Reflecting on your fencing game and how you want it to develop is.

Nick Evangelista has produced a book that is quite removed from most aspects of modern fencing. He has very strong views concerning how fencing 'should' be and seems rather irritated that they're not. As a result his work seems to at every opportunity take the form of a personal rant against modern styles of fencing. In fact 'The Inner Game' seems so full of personal vendettas and anecdotes to support them, that it's a wonder actual fencing tactics get a mention at all!

I suggest this book is unsuitable for those practicing the modern sport of fencing and would suggest works by authors such as Prof. John 'Jes' Smith as a preferable source.

It does concern me that those new to the sport could become extremely disillusioned by this work.

That being said he does make some useful comments concerning general approaches to training, placing a lot of emphasis on self discipline and correct practice.

In addition, all this talk of 'Real fencers' is at best a demonstration of the writer's ignorance. Nick may be a good teacher of classical fencing, however i believe 'The Inner Game' is poorly written and would not even recommend it to those who do wish to practice the classical style.

The Art and Science of Fencing should be the first step for people interested in the topic, beginner, fencers and writers wanting a good feel for the subject. However, Evangelista builds on that solid foundation of the first book, by moving into the practical mentality needed to do well in the sport. This book is dedicated to excellence in form, technique, mindset and the fencer's élan. Evangelista gives such a rich in-depth look at the sport, how to succeed, how to adjusting your mind to winning.

This a must for fencers looking to win and improve in all aspects of the sport.

Mr. Evangelista makes a persuasive argument that with the new electric style of fencing something has been lost in the translation.

He doesn't argue for turning back the clock, but he does argue for rethinking some of the new conventions that have been embraced with the new technology.

There is no other fencing book on the market like this one, and there probably never has been. Who else but Nick Evangelista, the author of the great "ART AND SCIENCE OF FENCING," would think of writing a book dealing with the mental processes of fencing? He has attempted to create a world-view, a mind-set, for the fencer, and he has succeeded admirably. In a game that has otherwise been reduced to running, whipping blades, bad tempers, and staring at a scoring box for vindication of one's actions, he has given us a wonderful alternative. He has reminded us of what fencing once was and can be again for anyone who is willing to look beyond any-thing-for-a-touch and elitism. Thank you Maitre Evangelista!