A to Z: The Xceptions

 

 

Yesterday I wrote about fencing whites (the uniform of fencers).

 

Today, I want to mention the Xceptions. (Yes, I'm cheating, sorry.)

 

These are the men/women in black. Who are they and what gives them to the right to wear black?

 

 

 

They are the fencing coaches. They are the experts.

 

They are the exceptions to the whites rule.

 

 

The main coach of any club, or a master level coach, usually wears black, or at least a black vest.

 

Sometimes extra padding is worn on the sword arm, where a coach is most likely to be hit by wild beginning fencers.

 

The best coaches are master coaches, or maestros. My coach wore the black vest, but didn't consider himself a master level coach.

 

However, I did meet a handful of Master/Maestros at the USFA coaches training event I went to. They were . . . amazing, and all former Olympians. I felt awed to be in the same room as them, and then I got to fence with them . . . along with 100 or so other eager "grassroots" level coaches in training.

I'm not sure the USFA has events like that anymore. It was a long time ago (mid 90s). It was a time with the USFA was trying to build up the number of fencing clubs across America, in the hopes of finding a few Olympic hopefuls. (And no, I never wore black - I was a Level 1 and Basic Coach for beginners)

 

So, when I see the man in black (aka Wesley) in The Princess Bride, I don't automatically think "bad guy in black" - no, I think "Maestro," or "eXceptional fencer."

 

 

 

Have you ever met someone that you find exceptional?

 

Happy A to Z!