Michel Alaux

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Maitre Michel Alaux (1924–1974) was a French-American world-renowned[1] fencing master, Hall of Fame Olympic coach, key figure in developing official US fencing standards, and author. He was hailed as a "genius" in his field for his holistic approach.[2] Historically, he bridged classical and modern Olympic fencing, approaching the sport as an art and science.[3][4] He is credited with fusing, through his teaching and writing, nationally originated techniques into an international style.[5]

Biography[]

Early life and career[]

He graduated from the rigorous military college, le ,[3][6][7] in 1947, and immediately established himself in his club, L'Association Jean Louis in Montpellier, France. There, he trained a number of foil and épée champions,[8] the most illustrious being Christian D'Oriola, the greatest French foil fencer of all times,[9] named [10] by the FIE, International Fencing Federation.

At the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, Christian d'Oriola won two Gold medals for Individual and Team foil, spectacularly winning all ten bouts in the Team events.[3] The French national press Le Monde and Le Figaro congratulated Maitre Alaux,[11][12] noting the affinity and friendship between student and teacher, both in their twenties- four years apart.

Michel Alaux was awarded two Medals of Honor[13] by the French Government's Ministry of Sports in recognition of his contribution to fencing: Bronze, in 1949, for the World Championships, followed by Gold, in 1952, for the Helsinki Olympics.[3][14]

Career in the United States[]

In 1956, Michel Alaux was invited to the US by the NY Fencers Club. He served three times as US Fencing Olympic coach: 1964 Summer Olympics, Tokyo; 1968 Summer Olympics, Mexico City; 1972 Summer Olympics, Munich; and several times , Pan American, and World Championship coach.[5] He remained head fencing master[14] of the NY Fencers Club[15] until his death in 1974, at the age of fifty.

In the course of his US fencing career, Michel Alaux played a key role in developing American fencing official standards and professional requirements.[2] He chaired the 1962–63 U.S. Committee which developed A Text for Defining Fencing Terms.[3] He chaired and directed the committee which devised the official examination for the first professional diploma of Fencing Master in the US (1965).[16]

A passionate exponent of fencing, and seen as a glamorous figure by the media,[17] he served as fencing consultant to TV, newspapers & magazines.[3]

For his contributions to sports education and culture, he was inducted into l'Ordre des Palmes Académiques in 1962.

Career as an author[]

He was a contributor to US, UK, and French fencing journals.[18] He is the author of Modern Fencing (Charles Scribner's Sons New York. 1975. ISBN 0684141167).

Legacy[]

Following his death in 1974, twelve annual US Grand Open competitions (1975–1987) were named after him: the Michel Alaux Grand Open was a three-day international event "considered essentially the same as the Nationals".[19] He was inducted into the US Fencing Hall of Fame in 2006.[20]

Footnotes and references[]

  1. ^ Czajkowskiego, Profesora Zbigniewa (29 May 2005). "The Essence and Importance of Timing (Sense of Surprise) in Fencing". Retrieved 24 May 2006.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b Gradkowski, Richard (March–April 1975). "Michel Alaux". American Fencing. 26 (4).
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f "Biography". Michel Alaux, Fencing Master. Archived from the original on 15 March 2011.
  4. ^ Alaux, Michel (1975). Modern Fencing. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. ISBN 0684141167.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b Blanc, Eugene (1975). "Preface". Modern Fencing. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. ISBN 0684141167.
  6. ^ "Gallery". Michel Alaux, Fencing Master. Archived from the original on 5 October 2008.
  7. ^ Mercier, Alain (April 2002). "Fencing, A Perennial French Specialty". Label France/ Magazine. French Ministry of Foreign Affairs (46).
  8. ^ In addition to Christian d'Oriola, Michel Alaux trained French champions Rene Bougnol, Francois Romieu, Baudoux, Rigal, Raoul Marques at his salle, L'Association Jean Louis.
  9. ^ Fédération Française d'Escrime, "D'Oriola". COMMUNIQUE DE PRESSE, 30 October 2007
  10. ^ "Highlights of the Week: Week of 29 October 2007". Olympic.org – Official website of the Olympic Movement. 2007.
  11. ^ Rommel, Adrien (2 August 1952). "L'Escrime A Helsinki". Le Monde (in French). France.
  12. ^ Bontemps, Louis (3 September 1952). "Apres Les Succes de d'Oriola aux Jeux, Rendons a Cesar...". Le Figaro (in French). France.
  13. ^ "La Médaille de la Jeunesse et des Sports". le Comité Départemental de Seine et Marne de la Fédération Française des Médaillés de la Jeunesse et des Sports (in French).
  14. ^ Jump up to: a b Blanc, Eugene (March–April 1975). "Michel Alaux". American Fencing. 26 (4).
  15. ^ His notable students at the NY Fencers Club (1956–1974) included Neal Cohen, Herbert Cohen, Jeffrey Checkes, James Melcher, John Nonna, Ruth White.
  16. ^ "Alaux, Michel". US Fencing Association Hall of Fame.[permanent dead link]
  17. ^ Wallace, Kevin (March 1958). "Onward and Upward with the Arts. Salle D'Armes". The New Yorker.
  18. ^ Michel Alaux‘s articles (1948 to 1974) were published in Le Bulletin des Maitres d'Armes; L'Equipe; L'Escrime Francaise; The Fencing Master (UK); American Fencing; The Swordmaster. He served as consultant for the "Encyclopedia Americana" and other source materials.
  19. ^ Pitt, David E. (12 January 1987). "Fencing Taking Big Steps". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 November 2007.
  20. ^ Shaw, Andy. US Fencing Historian, US Fencing Hall of Fame, 2006.

External links[]

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