The occupation fencing-master

The Fencing Master in Germany has a long tradition, teaching the student, scenic or historical fencing. Other names for the fencing master are also Maître d'Armes, Maestro di Scherma or Fechtmeister. If you want to take the education to a fencing master, you have to introduce yourself at the Association AGA (Association of Andernach). If you are accepted as a candidate, you must not participate anymore from that time on at any scale and also not act as a fugleman.
Education for the fencing master takes two years in which the use of fencing weapons foil, epee and sabre easily taught. However, the focus of the training as a fencing master is the acquisition of competence as an instructor. Here, the weapons are academic basket racket, racket bells and heavy sabre in the foreground, for which a minimum size of 1,000 teaching hours are estimated.
In order for a fencing master can teach later both the fencing between two right-handers, as well as between two left-handed or between a right- and a left-handed, the training also includes fencing of each weaker arm. This poses a particular challenge for many. After a year of training, the preliminary examination is carried out. In the second year the master's examination takes place. If this were successful, a principal test follows, that ultimately capable of a Fencing Master (VdF). .

Until World War II, universities were among the most important schools of swordsmanship. They provided their own fencing master and university fencing floors. Those instructors who were not privileged by the university were disparagingly called angle fencer. Over time learning the art of fencing was a special university discipline, so in addition to dancing and riding instructors later also own fencing masters were employed. The forerunners of today's University Sports included fencing, dancing, horse riding, they were called the exercitia (lat. Exercises) and were in addition to theoretical subjects as a supplement. .

Already Goethe reported on the fencing lessons as a student in Frankfurt am Main, before taking up his studies in Leipzig.

One speaks from the 17th to the 20th century of fencing instructor dynasties, which students taught at various German universities. Known fencing masters of the University of Göttingen were Kreußler, Roux and Sailor Kahne. After the exchange of all German university fencing master on uniform methods of teaching fencing, in 1884 the Association of German fencing masters (Society of Friends) was founded. The aim was to complete the fencing at universities and private fencing floors on a consistent level to promote the training and testing of prospective fencing master and maintain the comradely spirit among the members.

The first national fencing master examination was introduced in 1927 in Spandau and enhanced its audits of the audit committee of the Society of Friends of the VdF.

In 1934 under National Socialism, the incorporation of the Association of German gymnastics, sports and gymnastics teacher took place, with respect to the student council fencing.

1952 during the period of the ban on student scale, the Academy of Fencing Germany founded next to the Society of Friends (ADFD).

The legalization of scale fencing finally took place in 1953, because of the landmark decision of the Federal Court. .