Welcome
Welcome on the Internet pages of the International Championship in Stage Fencing.
After the success of the first championship this event will be held on 11th and 12th 2009 for the second time in Berlin (Germany). The championship is held under the auspices of the German Academy of Fencing (ADFD) and is organised by the fencing division of the Olympic Sports Club Berlin (OSC Berlin).
In stage fencing different fencing scenes are presented as part of theatre pieces or theatre scenes. During the championship a jury evaluates the presented scenes. Stage fencing is also sometimes called scenic fencing or theatre fencing (or more general stage combat). To practise stage fencing a wide variety of abilities and certain knowledge is required. In particular:
- Mastering the fencing techniques and to have the physical fitness,
- Acting in different roles in the play, producing the choreography of the play, drama acting
- Knowledge about historical costumes, weapons, historical fencing techniques and historical background
Due to the increasing interest in stage fencing in the inner country and abroad the International Championship will be held for the secont time. The Championship shall provide a good opportunity to contact other participants and to exchange experience and knowledge in scenic fencing. Also the championship shall make stage fencing more and more popular.
The ADFC and the OSC Berlin are happy to welcome participants and members of the audience from Germany and abroad at the championship and to present a great program to you all.
The championship will be held in the FEZ-Berlin. The FEZ is a leisure centre for everybody (especially for children and families) with various buildings, halls and stages and high tech equipment and provides ideal conditions for this event. We wish you and ourselves an active exchange between the participants, a fair competition and a great entertainment for the audience.
To arms, a good preparation and see you in Berlin!
Karsten Hoffmann (OSC Berlin and ADFD)
Word of greeting by the president of the German Academy of Fencing, Mike Bunke
Dear friends of the art of fencing,
Although the duel's basic principles of right of attack and obligation to parry are still recognizable, the old adage of “hitting without being hit” does not always apply anymore. The fight with sport weapons is safe and the rules allow for being hit and nevertheless winning.
This was not the case during past centuries. He who found himself facing a sharp and pointed weapon had to avoid being hit at the cost of his own life. The deadly duel with swords fortunately does not exist anymore in our days. In literature and movies it is found frequently, however. The tales of duels of long ago are legends, but even in nowadays novels now and then someone looses his life in a fencing salle or elsewhere and it is well known that in the future there will be duels with laser swords in space ships and on distant planets, as if no other weapons ever existed.
The sword represents power, magic and art. It's fascination lives on.
I invite you to the spell of knights, musketeers, fencing masters and their swords, rapiers, epees, foils, sabres, daggers and a plethora of other hilt weapons. Experience with us the First International German Championship in Stage Fencing!
Fencing master Mike BunkePresident, German Academy of Fencing