This is my favorite fencing poster. I purchased a copy of it over 20 years ago when I competed in the Midwest Sectionals in Minneapolis in 1977. Somehow, in all my subsequent moves, it became lost. I recently found a copy of it online.
It shows Maestro Okawa in a dramatic shot, having passed his opponent (a Polish fencer I believe) he is remising with a thrust over his head and behind the back.
Andy Shaw runs the American Fencing Museum Website. If you need any information on fencing history this is the place to go. Here is the link to Maestro Uttenhove.
One of the most beloved and highly respected of all fencing masters, Henri J. Uyttenhove, was born in Herch-La-Ville, Belgium in 1878 and has just passed away (1950).
His spectacular rise in European fencing circles found him, at the age of twenty-six, Head Professor of Fencing at the national Belgium Normal School of Fencing where fencing masters were taught their profession, trained and received their diplomas. Many presently living Belgium fencing masters treasure their diplomas signed by Professor Uyttenhove.
He arrived in the United States in September, 1907, and after a short stay in New York and Chicago came directly to Southern California. Mr. Frank Garbutt, President of the Los Angeles Athletic Club, immediately recognized his superb qualities and offered him the position of fencing master. He remained with the A.C. for 5 years where he was successful in building the popularity of the sport. He then opened his own private salle in Pasadena. Probably the first fencing competition held in southern California was between his Pasadena pupils and his pupils from the Los Angeles Athletic Club.Beginning in about 1916, his services were in great demand by the motion picture industries and in rapid succession, with Douglas Fairbanks, Sr., and his pupil, he was appointed the technical director of “The Modern Musketeer”, “The Mark of Zorro”, and “The Three Musketeers”.
He returned to the Los Angeles A.C. in 1921 and remained as fencing master there until 1950 when he retired in favor of his personally selected successor, Professor Jean L Heremans. His duties also included coaching at the Hollywood Athletic Club, a subsidiary of the Los Angeles A.C.., until 1939 when he installed Duris W. De Jong as coach.
In 1922 the University of Southern California decided to make fencing one of their sports and, under his inspirational coaching, interest in fencing increased. It was from his classes at the university that fencers such as Edward Carfagno, Herman Hersum, (who is now chairman of the San Diego division), and the writer of this article were developed.
Without remuneration, and in the interest of the sport, he started classes at the University of California at Los Angeles and continued until a proper coach could be found in the person of captain of Capt. John Duff, a prominent English fencer.
A committee of Belgium fencers, headed by the late Professor Deladrier of the U.S. naval academy, recently petitioned the Belgian for award of the Legion of Honor to Professor Uyttenhove in recognition of his great contribution to the Belgian school in the United States.
Here, truly, was a maker of champions. His pure, classical form, his great ability as a teacher, his personal magnetism and above all, his innate humility and sportsmanship won him the love and loyalty with all of whom he came into contact with. Without question, here was one of the greats among fencing masters, who did much to promote the sport of fencing in this country. He will live long in our memories. His passing is a great loss to fencing.
This is the cover of a book which Mori Sensei wrote with Muriel Bowers. Ms. Bower's Wikipedia entry is:
Muriel (Bower) Taitt is an American foilist, coach, and educator.
She is author of the foilist's classic textbook [Foil Fencing], now in 8th edition. In the second edition (1972), then-former F.I.E. President Miguel de Capriles identified her as "a sensational teen-age Pacific Coast champion before the war (who subsequently) returned to competition to win a well-earned No. 3 national rating. She is one of the small but bright cluster of California women who dominated the national fencing scene in those years".
She holds the distinction of having been accredited the first woman fencing master in the United States, by her fencing master, the Hungarian Istvan Danosi (b.1912, d. 2005), USFA Hall of Fame recipient recipient.
Her first fencing master was Henry Uyttenhove, who was Douglas Fairbank Sr.'s fencing trainer. Uyttenhove was fencing master at the Los Angeles Athletic Club, to which Fairbanks belonged. Uyttenhove was replaced by Jon Hermann, also from Belgium. Muriel was obviously Hermann's star pupil, but a serious car accident prevented her going to the 1948 Olympics (she had made the team), and she started working with Hermann as his assistant. She was going to college during this period, earning a bachelors in PE at UCLA and a Masters at USC
In the 1970's Muriel coached the California State University Northridge and has subsequently been inducted into that University's Hall of Fame
Women's foil coach to the American team at the 1964 Olympic Games fencing events in Tokyo, she managed the American women's fencing team at the World University Games, Russia, 1973, and served in protocol to fencing at the L.A. Olympic Games, 1984. She has subsequently served as West Coast Vice-President of the USFA Coaches Association for two terms, and also as Commissioner of Western Regional Intercollegiate Fencing Championships, USFA.
It would make sense that Mori Sensei would co-author this book (Bowers is now the sole author and the book is in its 8th edition) since they had the following commonalities:
If you like kendo/fencing history, this must be fascinating. I do, that's why I'm posting it.
I had previously posted up on the Mori Sensei videos, delineating his life story. I asked Stroud Sensei to help me with the name of the fencing instructor who helped Mori Sensei when he came to the states before WW II (Mori video, part 2). Stroud Sensei sent me an email which said that the video had the following:
2:39: text states
ベルギー出身のコーチBelgium Coachユーテン・ホーフYuten Hof
It turns out to be Maestro Henry J. Uyttenhove who was at the time involved with both the Fencing Team at the L.A. Athletic Club as well as the University of Southern California.
Here is Maestro Uyttenhove's biography from the USC website:
Henry J. Uyttenhove, Belgian fencing champion, graduated from Belgium's famous Military Institute of Physical Education and Fencing. The USC Yearbook from 1937 describes Uyttenhove, saying "before coming to S.C., Uyttenhove was head professor of the Institute Of Fencing in Brussells, Belgium. He was for many years one of the best duelists in Europe and never placed worse than third in a national or international contest." An article describing a tournament in November, 1905 at Pierre Vigny's New School of Self-Defence and Fencing Academy in London reads, "Foil play found admirable representation at the hands of Professor H. Uyttenhove, Assistant at Bertrand's Fencing Academy, and Professor Pontnau, at McPherson's Academy in Sloane Street, in which after a very brilliant bout, the victory went to the Belgian, H. Uyttenhove." Soon after, Uyttenhove traveled to the United States, where he took a coaching position at the Los Angeles Athletic Club.
After meeting USC President Rufus B. von KleinSmid, a regular member of the L.A.A.C., Uyttenhove took another coaching position at USC and in 1926 the USC fencing team was born. Uyttenhove remained at USC for over 15 years, leaving his position in 1942. In her 1930 treatise "The Book of Fencing," Eleanor Baldwin Cass writes "The most prominent and successful among professionals in Southern California is Prof. H. J. Uyttenhove, the coach of the Los Angeles Athletic Club, who also handles the fencing at the University of Southern California and the Marlborough School for Girls." His excellence in teaching can be seen in his work, "Foil Fencing: Syllabus for Physical Education" published in 1941.
Uyttenhove's legacy to fencing lives on in the various films in which he worked as fencing consultant. He was hired by Douglas Fairbanks in 1920 to train Fairbanks for the role in "The Mark of Zorro." He would advise and train in "The Three Musketeers" (1921), "The Prisoner of Zenda" (1922), "To Have and to Hold" (1922), "Robin Hood" (1922), "Trifling Women" (1922), "Monte Cristo" (1922), "Rupert of Hentzan" (1923), "Scaramouche" (1923) and "Peter Pan" (1924).
Interesting man. The USC connection explains why Mori Sensei's daughter fenced for USC in the 1960's.
UCLA digital library recently released a series of photographs. Here is a picture of Mori Torao sensei teaching some children in Lawndale in the late 1950s. It has a real "ain't that cute" feel to it. Since Mori sensei is the O-sensei for me by both Stroud-sensei and Mizobe-sensei as well as Maestro Okawa I have to put this pictue up.
I saw The Great Raid last weekend and was at loss on how to write the review since it evoked so many contradictory emotions in me. The movie tracks a book that I had read earlier, Ghost Soldiers as well as another book, The Great Raid. My major criticism of the movie as history: it's hard to get actors to achieve the gritty look engendered by starvation and dystentery (that was my beef with the movie, Gettysburg as well - 200 lb. cavalrymen? Preposterous).
Not withstanding this I think that the movie was excellent. The blogfather, Hugh Hewitt, said it best:
"The secret to happiness is freedom," wrote Thucydides. "And the secret to freedom is courage."
Courage is on display in The Great Raid.
Celebrate courage and thus freedom. Take everyone you know to see The Great Raid."
Change is good
Johannes Kepler: Epitome of Copernican Astronomy & Harmonies of the World (Great Minds Series)
I was doing some star gazing this weekend and got to thinking about Copernicus, Kepler and Tycho Brahe. These are the individuals who, along with Galileo, revolutionized the science of astronomy. When I was younger I played with the idea of becoming an astronomer, but I quickly realized that I did not have the math skills for it. Good read, however. (****)
Dale L. Walker: The Boys of '98: Theodore Roosevelt and the Rough Riders
We were talking in class the other night about the Roosevelt legend and the effect that both TR and FDR had upon world history in the 20th Century. This book depicts the events of the Spanish American War as seen through the eyes of the First U.S. Volunteer Regeiment (Cavalry). It gives the history of the Rough Riders in Cuba (only some of the companies of the Regiment managed to catch the boat) and vividly describes the Battle of Las Guasimas as well as the charges led by TR which took both Kettle and San Juan Hills over looking the city of Santiago. Must read if you want to know what happened in the Rough Rider's "crowded hour." (****)
Dave Lowry: In the Dojo: A Guide to the Rituals and Etiquette of the Japanese Martial Arts
I wish that I had this book when I started kendo. My then teacher wasn't too big on rei-ho and the sempei were nothing but a bunch of kids who had been trained by him. This book has the answer to a number of questions that I had had during my initial kendo career. Not perfect, but I have loaned it out to karate-ka who needs some tips on what is "traditional" and what is not. (****)
Victor Hanson: Ripples of Battle: How Wars of the Past Still Determine How We Fight, How We Live, and How We Think
Since I haven't posted book reviews doesn't mean I haven't been reading so I'm working on my back log. Besides I need to push my review of the Carpetbaggers down the queue. This book looks at the effects of three battles. The US invasion of Okinawa in 1945, the Battle of Shiloh in 1862 and the Battle of Delium between the Athenians and Boetians in the Pellopenesian War. Each of these battles changed the war warfare is conducted and each has effects which persist to this day. Delium is apparently one of the first instances of the use of combined arms. It is said that "Pagondas made use of planned tactical warfare for one of the first times in recorded history. In the previous centuries, battles between Greek city states were relatively simple encounters between massed formations of hoplites, where cavalry played no important role and all depended on the unity and force of the massed ranks of the infantry, straining against the opponent. At Delium, Pagondas made use of deeper ranks, reserves, cavalry interventions, and gradual changes in tactics during the battle." Shiloh was the first of the total war battles which were fought to the hill and pre-saged the start of more industrial slaughter such as was seen at Gettysburg and Grant's campaigns in Virginia in 1864-65. Finally, Okinawa was fought as a result of the desire of the US to secure an air base closer to the Japanese home islands and used by the Japanese as an opportunity to inflict such a huge cost on US forces as to force public opinion into effecting a negotiated peace. Well worth reading. (****)
Steven Pressfield: Last of the Amazons
Pressfield (as you may gather) is one of my favorite authors. Of his books, this one stands out amongst a group of stand out novels. He takes the story of Theseus of Athens and his war with the Amazons and takes it to a level which makes it completely readable. The character development is superb and the age old battle between agrarian and nomadic life is explored, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. (*****)
Thucydides: The Landmark Thucydides: A Comprehensive Guide to the Peloponnesian War
I hated this book when I read it in high school but I have begun re-reading the Great Books of the Western World. When I got to Thucydides I found it to be a bit dense. However, Professor Hanson's telling was much more intelligible. Essential reading for a back ground of the age old struggle between democracy and tyranny. (****)
Nathaniel Philbrick: Sea of Glory: America's Voyage of Discovery, the U.S. Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842
Before America turned to the West, it turned to the sea. This book gives the history of the U.S. Exploring Expedition of 1838-42. Cast of 100s, with an extremely competent yet tragically flawed commander, the Ex.Ex. discovered Antarctica, explored the mouth of the Columbia River (which I never knew could be so treacherous before it was tamed by dams in the New Deal era) and returned with 1000s of specimens which formed the basis of the Smithsonian Museum. First rate. (****)
Steven Pressfield: Killing Rommel: A Novel
Pressfield (Legend of Bagger Vance, Gates of Fire) has written another novel of historical fiction. This one depicts the Long Range Desert Patrols who fought in the North African campaign in 1940-1942. This campaign was the last one fought with a bit of chivalry. This probably due, at least in part, to the fact that the elements were so severe for both the Axis and the Allies they had a common enemy, the Sahara. Thus, while the encounters between forces were oft-time murderous, there were times when both sides engaged in acts of kindness toward the other that you do not hear much about. I highly recommend this book. (*****)
Eric Flint: The Rivers of War
As I finished this book Hurricane Katrina was finished ravishing the coasts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. I was struck by the primacy of this area for the development of the United States and came to realized the geopolitical reason why there was even a "Battle of New Orleans". Flint is a master of alternate history novels, and this one is great. Character development is adequate (Flint is a former labor organizer and he likes his enlisted men over officers - and it shows in his writing). First of an apparent trilogy, I would recommend it. (****)
John Ringo: Into the Looking Glass
If you can accept the premise of wormholes then this is the book for you. Marked down for being "too short" it is otherwise an interesting book with aliens appearing on Earth as a result of a science experiment gone horribly wrong. Mechanized battle suits (see Gust Front) make a reappearance. Ringo can read the soldiers heart and makes honor the central theme. I particularly liked the author's insight that no one would get post-traumatic stress syndrome from killing aliens. (****)
John Ringo: Watch on the Rhine (The Posleen War)
This is another in the Ringo created Posleen Universe (PoVer) to the initiated. Centaur-alligators invade the Earth, aided and abetted by the shadowy Darheel who try to play both sides against each other. Earth responds militarily and regenerates (as a physician I can state that would be way cool) warriors from nursing homes who have combat skills. Germany makes the decision to resurrect survivors of the Waffen SS creating a firestorm within the watermelon community (Greens on the outside, Reds on the inside). If you are going to jump into the PoVer start with a Hymn Before Battle and Gust Front before going here. Sure to offend some with it's paen to the fighting capabilities of the deutshe volk. (Epilogue hints at a revival of the Yamato spirit as well). (****)
Douglas Preston: Brimstone
Another classic from these authors. I've been a fan of theirs from their first book Relic. FBI Agent Prendergast is one of the great characters in the crime/horror genre and I would urge you to get your hands on this page turner (yes, it's 640 pages but I whipped through it in a day and a half). Hair-raising! (****)
John Buchan: The Thirty-Nine Steps (Oxford World's Classics)
A classic spy novel made into a great movie by Hitchcock. The prequel to Buchan's Greenmantle. (****)
John Glusman: Conduct Under Fire: Four American Doctors and Their Fight for Life as Prisoners of the Japanese, 1941-1945
Harrowing tale of USN physicians taken prisoner during the Japanese invasion of the Phillipines during WWII. As doctors they exemplified the highest traditions of the Hippocratic tradition. Goes into detail about nutritional deficiency syndromes engendered by the diet given to Allied Prisoners during their captivity during the War. The genesis of Japanese atrocities are explored (I was surprised to learn that during the Russo-Japanese War and during WWI that Imperial Japanese troops had orders to kindly treat captives, which were rescinded during the period leading up to the Second World War) and the consequences of the Allied Powers finding out about these atrocities explained. Thus the fanatical defense of the Japanese outlying islands such as Iwo Jima and Okinawa did not dissuade the Allied Powers from their goal to achieve unconditional surrender of the IJ government, but made them rethink the method. Rather than invade the Home Islands Truman made the decision to drop the atomic bombs. Right? Wrong? A case can be made for either conclusion. (*****)
John Buchan: Greenmantle (Oxford World's Classics)
Resonates with the West's current difficulties. A roman-a-clef about Lawrence of Arabia. Well worth the read. (****)
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