Michel Alaux
Encyclopedia
Maitre Michel Alaux was a French-American world renowned 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. Historically, he bridged classical
and modern Olympic fencing
, approaching the sport as an art and science. He is credited with fusing, through his teaching and writing, nationally originated techniques into an international style.
, France. There, he trained a number of foil
and épée
champions, the most illustrious being Christian D'Oriola
, the greatest French foil fencer of all times, named Fencer of the 20th Century by the FIE
, International Fencing Federation.
At the 1952 Helsinki Olympics
, Christian d'Oriola
won two Gold medal
s for Individual and Team foil, spectacularly winning all ten bouts in the Team events. The French national press Le Monde
and Le Figaro
congratulated Maitre Alaux, noting the affinity and friendship between student and teacher, both in their twenties- four years apart.
Michel Alaux was awarded two Medals of Honor 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.
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 US Nationals, Pan American, and World Championship coach. He remained head fencing master of the NY Fencers Club
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. He chaired the 1962–63 U.S. Committee which developed A Text for Defining Fencing Terms. He chaired and directed the committee which devised the official examination for the first professional diploma of Fencing Master in the US (1965).
A passionate exponent of fencing, and seen as a glamorous figure by the media, he served as fencing consultant to TV, newspapers & magazines.
He was a contributor to US, UK, and French fencing journals. He is the author of Modern Fencing (Charles Scribner's Sons
New York. 1975. ISBN 684141167).
For his contributions to sports education and culture, he was inducted into l’Ordre
des Palmes Academiques in 1962.
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". He was inducted into the US Fencing Hall of Fame
in 2006.
Fencing
Fencing, which is also known as modern fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing, is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons.Fencing is one of four sports which have been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games...
standards, and author. He was hailed as a "genius" in his field for his holistic
Holism
Holism is the idea that all the properties of a given system cannot be determined or explained by its component parts alone...
approach. Historically, he bridged classical
Classical fencing
Classical fencing is the styles of modern fencing as they existed during the 19th and early 20th century. According to the 19th-century fencing master Louis Rondelle,...
and modern Olympic fencing
Fencing
Fencing, which is also known as modern fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing, is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons.Fencing is one of four sports which have been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games...
, approaching the sport as an art and science. He is credited with fusing, through his teaching and writing, nationally originated techniques into an international style.
Bio
He graduated from the rigorous military college, le Fort Carre d'Antibes, in 1947, and immediately established himself in his club, L'Association Jean Louis in MontpellierMontpellier
-Neighbourhoods:Since 2001, Montpellier has been divided into seven official neighbourhoods, themselves divided into sub-neighbourhoods. Each of them possesses a neighbourhood council....
, France. There, he trained a number of foil
Fencing
Fencing, which is also known as modern fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing, is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons.Fencing is one of four sports which have been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games...
and épée
Fencing
Fencing, which is also known as modern fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing, is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons.Fencing is one of four sports which have been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games...
champions, the most illustrious being Christian D'Oriola
Christian d'Oriola
Christian D'Oriola was a noted French foil fencer named "Fencer of the 20th Century" by the FIE, the International Fencing Federation, in 2001....
, the greatest French foil fencer of all times, named Fencer of the 20th Century by the FIE
Fédération Internationale d'Escrime
Fédération Internationale d'Escrime is the international governing body of Olympic fencing. It was founded on November 29, 1913 in Paris, France. Today, its head office is in Lausanne, Switzerland...
, International Fencing Federation.
At the 1952 Helsinki Olympics
Fencing at the 1952 Summer Olympics
At the 1952 Summer Olympics, seven fencing events were contested, six for men and one for women.-Medal summary:-Medal table:-Participating nations:A total of 286 fencers from 32 nations competed at the Helsikni Games:...
, Christian d'Oriola
Christian d'Oriola
Christian D'Oriola was a noted French foil fencer named "Fencer of the 20th Century" by the FIE, the International Fencing Federation, in 2001....
won two Gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
s for Individual and Team foil, spectacularly winning all ten bouts in the Team events. The French national press Le Monde
Le Monde
Le Monde is a French daily evening newspaper owned by La Vie-Le Monde Group and edited in Paris. It is one of two French newspapers of record, and has generally been well respected since its first edition under founder Hubert Beuve-Méry on 19 December 1944...
and Le Figaro
Le Figaro
Le Figaro is a French daily newspaper founded in 1826 and published in Paris. It is one of three French newspapers of record, with Le Monde and Libération, and is the oldest newspaper in France. It is also the second-largest national newspaper in France after Le Parisien and before Le Monde, but...
congratulated Maitre Alaux, noting the affinity and friendship between student and teacher, both in their twenties- four years apart.
Michel Alaux was awarded two Medals of Honor by the French Government
Government of France
The government of the French Republic is a semi-presidential system determined by the French Constitution of the fifth Republic. The nation declares itself to be an "indivisible, secular, democratic, and social Republic"...
's Ministry of Sports in recognition of his contribution to fencing: Bronze, in 1949, for the World Championships
FIE World Championships in Fencing
The World Championships in Fencing is an annual competition organized by the Fédération Internationale d'Escrime or FIE, . The world championships are, after the Olympic Games, the most prominent international competition in the sport of fencing...
, followed by Gold
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
, in 1952, for the Helsinki Olympics.
In 1956, Michel Alaux was invited to the US by the NY
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
Fencers Club
Fencers Club
The Fencers Club is the oldest continuously existing organization in the Western Hemisphere dedicated exclusively to teaching and promoting the sport of fencing...
. He served three times as US Fencing Olympic coach: 1964 Summer Olympics
1964 Summer Olympics
The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Tokyo had been awarded with the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki because of Japan's...
, Tokyo; 1968 Summer Olympics
1968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
, Mexico City; 1972 Summer Olympics
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
, Munich; and several times US Nationals, Pan American, and World Championship coach. He remained head fencing master of the NY Fencers Club
Fencers Club
The Fencers Club is the oldest continuously existing organization in the Western Hemisphere dedicated exclusively to teaching and promoting the sport of fencing...
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. He chaired the 1962–63 U.S. Committee which developed A Text for Defining Fencing Terms. He chaired and directed the committee which devised the official examination for the first professional diploma of Fencing Master in the US (1965).
A passionate exponent of fencing, and seen as a glamorous figure by the media, he served as fencing consultant to TV, newspapers & magazines.
He was a contributor to US, UK, and French fencing journals. He is the author of Modern Fencing (Charles Scribner's Sons
Charles Scribner's Sons
Charles Scribner's Sons, or simply Scribner, is an American publisher based in New York City, known for publishing a number of American authors including Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Kurt Vonnegut, Stephen King, Robert A. Heinlein, Thomas Wolfe, George Santayana, John Clellon...
New York. 1975. ISBN 684141167).
For his contributions to sports education and culture, he was inducted into l’Ordre
Order (decoration)
An order or order of merit is a visible honour, awarded by a government, dynastic house or international organization to an individual, usually in recognition of distinguished service to a nation or to humanity. The distinction between orders and decorations is somewhat vague, except that most...
des Palmes Academiques in 1962.
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". He was inducted into the US Fencing Hall of Fame
USFA Hall of Fame
This is a list of the members of the United States Fencing Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame itself is on display at the Museum of American Fencing, in Shreveport, Louisiana.-1963-1978:...
in 2006.
External links
- http://www.alaux-fencingmaster.com/index.htm
- http://askfred.net/Events/moreInfo.php?tournament_id=13207