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Very well said.

I agree wholeheartedly on the application aspect. I’ve attended too many classes in the past where it felt more like a lecture than an applied technique lesson. Finding the balance is always important but getting students (especially newer students) with a sword in hand is when their eyes light up the most. From that excitement comes the passion that has them coming back class after class for the deeper, technical instruction.

I agree very much that we teachers are there for the students. I always ask my students for feedback to hear what they want to do and invite advanced ones to teach pieces, warm-ups etc if they want because some of them can then be future teachers. I also don't think of myself as a fencing "master", we are all equal. One issue I have is trying to convince the rest of my club that we need a feedback form because a lot of them don't want to hear feedback and their classes really suffer. 90% quit, which is very sad.. 🤦🏻‍♂️ 50% should stay after beginners course, like in my old club, EHMS, #1 club in the world.. I do however believe that we should teach specific plays from the manuals (of course then play with them and make drills). If people are not interested in being physically fit or in technique then this is not the sport for them. I do hope I balance this with doing things in a fun but competent way, including general principles, games, and filling in blanks with Olympic fencing, analysis of tournament fencing, and other masters. I do also think that any fencing teacher who has not read and worked through the historical manuals simply shouldn't be teaching. I have had a lot of pushback from trying to persuade some fellow instructors that students should at least know the 17 basic principles of Liechtenauer but don't actually know them themselves. Which is kinda embarrassing. Similarly I have issues with people teaching fencing who have never been sporty or competed but read a book, because if they can't fight well, how can they teach other people to fight? One could say that it's just for fun, it's just a "hobby", but for me what makes something fun is doing it properly. Pretty sure if we spent time and money going to a karate or boxing class we would want an experienced teacher who knows what they are doing, ie. has competed a lot, knows proper technique and theory, and can structure a lesson well according to the students' needs.