Jeez! I hate it when I blow a punch-line like that! But you get my point.

When I was fencing actively, I was forced because of polio-affected legs (minimal footwork) to play an essentially defensive game. Lure my opponent to attack me, then parry-riposte. I worked very hard to develop a strong defense (various combinations of parries that could be penetrated only by one specific combination attack) and a lightning fast riposte. I found the key to this in a brief chapter in Aldo Nadi's On Fencing (1943) entitled "Free Will in Defense." A revelation!

Granted I never won any championships, but I have a satisfactory collection of second and third place medals and trophies. On one occasion, I fenced in a nationally ranked competition, the Di Capriles Open Épée. Other entrants consisted of a three-time national épée champion and two members of the U. S. Olympic team. I tied for third, and after the fence-off, ended up fourth.

I was taking lesson from Hans Halberstadt in San Francisco at the time. I assumed I would never be able to compete because of my limited footwork, but Maestro Halberstadt insisted that I enter the Di Capriles competition. I was flabbergasted at the results, but the Maestro said, "See? It's in the hand and the head! Not the legs!" I went on to compete actively when I returned to the Pacific Northwest.

I would love to take on one of these modern electrified fencers—and just stand there and wait for their attack. I'm beginning to think they are not even aware of such things as parries.

Don Firth