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Dr. Sydney Thompson, instructor at arms candidate, duels with a student trainee from the Santa Clara Adult School during a fencing lesson.

Program fights for survival

By: Kaajal Morar

Posted: 9/16/08

Although the fencing masters program is the only one in the entire nation and is internationally recognized, its existence is not commonly known among SJSU students.

"It's this well-kept secret at the school that everyone in the fencing community knows about," said David Coblentz, a candidate for the instructor at arms fencing test in May. "A lot of the people at school don't really know that it's here."

Hiding in the television, radio, film and theater and aerospace studies departments, the program has lasted nearly 30 years at SJSU. However, both departments are no longer sponsoring the fencing masters program, said Janine Sahm, assistant director of the program.

"Without being associated (with) any college, we don't exist," Sahm said.

The program has successfully graduated 86 students, Sahm said. Of those graduates, nine received the highest title, Master at Arms. Two of the nine are the first women in the nation to be given the title: Sahm and Jennifer Walton.

"I've been so honored and blessed to have studied under Maestro Gaugler and to have worked hard and been able to achieve the standard that he set," Sahm said.

"It's probably the most rewarding thing I've done in my life," said Jeremy Tavan, a provost at arms candidate.

But fencing isn't just about hitting each other with swords.

"There's so many things that you can get out of it," Sahm said. "If you're interested in becoming an actor or director, this teaches you body movement and awareness of your body."

Dori Coblentz, an instructor at arms candidate, said she aspires to become a teacher and recommends this class to others who want to teach and tailor their teaching method to their students' needs.

The History

Founded by Maestro William Gaugler in 1979, the three-year fencing master's program has thrived for 30 years because of one man's passion to bring fencing to the United States.

Gaugler was trained in Italy by Maestro Aldo Nadi, Umberto Di Paola and Giorgio Pessina, according to the Classical Italian Fencing Web site.

Gaugler received his fencing master's diploma from the Accademia Nazionale di Scherma di Napoli in Naples, Italy.

Sahm said Gaugler was made an honorary member of the National Fencing Academy in Naples, which is a rare honor itself, but far more rare for a non-Italian.

Gaugler has also contributed many books and articles to the fencing community, two of which are "The Science of Fencing" and "The History of Fencing," according to the Classical Italian Fencing Web Site.

"The Science of Fencing" is "the most widely used fencing text in the world," and "The History of Fencing" is used for the exams in Naples, Sahm said.

In 1979, Gaugler founded the fencing masters program at SJSU, with the intent to teach fencers how to teach fencing, Sahm said.

In 2004, Gaugler retired, and military master Ralph K. Sahm became director of the program with Janine Sahm as assistant director.

"He really laid out a foundation, a solid one, that has its roots in 500 years of dueling tradition," said Janine Sahm.

The Background

There are three fencing titles to achieve in the United States: instructor at arms, provost at arms and master at arms. The military master at arms title is no longer available because the program is not affiliated with the Army ROTC.

The program was sponsored by the military science department for the first 17 years. After the military science department closed down, it set up camp under the TRFT and aerospace studies departments, according to an article written by Gaugler.

The program was based on the pedagogical system of the Scuola Magistrale Militare di Scherma in Rome, according to Gaugler's article.

The article states that in May 1988, Maestro Niccolo Perno, who died in May, gave an "official letter of accreditation" to the president of SJSU.

The letter stated that the fencing masters program was comparable to the best fencing schools found in Europe and the diplomas given to students are internationally recognized.

Gaugler's dream was for the program to last 50 years, according to the article he wrote. That's as long as the Scuola Magistrale Militare di Scherma had lasted.

However, with its current predicament, the future of SJSU's program is up in the air.

The Problem

The program would have celebrated its 30th year at SJSU, but it has been dropped from both the department of TRFT and the department of aerospace studies.

Both departments said they are no longer allowing course credit for the classes. Without class numbers, the program doesn't exist.

Representatives from the international and extended studies department were unavailable for comment.

"I'm really disappointed because I'm halfway through the program and would really like to finish up," Tavan said.

Without a department to house the program, the fencing masters program will be forced to go to another university or institution, Sahm said.

However, there has been no clear indication for why the program was dropped from both departments, she said.

"(Gaugler) even e-mailed people and spoken with people," she said. "His e-mail didn't get returned."

"The program brings in people from across this country on a regular basis. We have people from out of state enrolled in the program. They fly in on a Friday night or Saturday morning, work all day and then fly back home," Sahm said. With that in mind, Sahm said she doesn't understand why the program is being dropped.

Sahm said that there has been a suggestion the program was dropped because of financial issues.

"There's no regular faculty position. We don't have an office. We don't use the copier. We don't ask for money for equipment or supplies. For the exam we bring in our own chairs and tables," she said.

She also said she's willing to make changes to the program to accommodate for the problems, but because no information has been given, no one is able to do anything to remedy the situation.

"I made a commitment to taking this class at SJSU and finishing. And I expect the same commitment back from the school," said Sydney Thomson, a candidate for instructor at arms. "In a way, I feel very disappointed and cheated."

Other students of the fencing masters program feel the same.

"Maestro Gaugler worked really hard to build this program," said David Coblentz. "He's built it into this incredibly well-respected thing, and I think to just drop that for, as far as I can tell, no apparent reason, is a very sad thing."