Good coaching book, very specific to the German school, a fairly tough read - Rated 
First of all, this book is primarily for coaches. A lot of space is devoted to fairly esoteric sports science theories on motivation, performance, learning and so on - quite useful if you are the coach, mindnubingly boring if you are the athlete.
As a coaching book, it really is a complete guide to fencing. It covers technique and tactics (all three weapons), strength and fitness, structure of long and short term training programs, injuries, nutrition, various coaching methods (including a separate chapter about teaching juniors), the afore-mentioned theories of learning and motivation, etc.
Two features in particular I really liked about this book.
1. There are many useful and stylish illustrations.
2. This book has an index, which any reference book this size needs but, unfortunately, a lot of coaching books don't have!
On the downside:
1. This book is tied to the modern German school. The way fencing is taught in Germany is markedly different to how it is taught in most English-speaking countries. Even the basic terminology is somewhat different. It all gets a bit confusing here and there.
2. My guess is, the original is probably a bit of a heavy read, and the quality of the translation is not great. To give you an example:
"These performance structure issues become important to the trainer, when practicing and training by goal formulation, determination of the necessary training content to reach the goal, training means and training methods are to be directed to where the fencer trains according to the demands, and that the targeted physical-organic movement-regulating, psychological-cognitive and emotional-volitional prerequisites and processes are developed and linked in a structurally ideal (according to the requirements) way."
Phew! Admittedly, this monstrosity is indigestible even by the standards of this book. But you get the general idea... This is my main reason for giving the book four stars.
FINAL VERDICT: If you are a fencing coach, this book is worth a read. Emil Beck is one of the best known names in post-war fencing. My understanding is that in Germany many of his ideas and methods are still widely applied. Given the Germans' enduring competitive success, he must have been onto something... If you are a fencer, my advice is, get a fencing book (rather than a coaching one). Look for something readable and in tune with whatever names and methods your own coach uses.
my first book on fencing.. - Rated 
i looked in the review of the book, apart from being the latest, published this year, 2006, i feel it incorporates all, esp. for biginners like me, starting fencing.
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