INTERVIEW with MAESTRO JOSEPH D’ONOFRIO

 

This year (2013) Joseph D’Onofrio celebrated his 65^th year of participation in fencing. Currently President and Maestro of the Fioretto Fencing club, which was established in 1982, Joseph is a passionate advocate of fencing not only as a sporting activity but also for the inherent values and principles it represents. The following is a summary of an interview held with Joseph on 1 August 2013. The thumbnail portraits of Joseph provide clear proof of his unwavering enthusiasm and love of talking about fencing.

 

At the very outset, Joseph makes the point that ‘fencing and fencers, above all, are virtually obligated to be the best in society”

 

“Fencing is a martial art but it is different from most other martial arts where life is worth nothing other than the service you render to your master and that can mean killing. The fencer is obligated to be safe and the first rule of fencing literally has been not to get hit. In fencing, life must be preserved and this immediately gives you a responsibility and gave you a choice. You don’t have to fight someone and get killed. The traditional objective of fencing is to defend yourself and then remove yourself in order to look after your group and re-position in a way that will assure you live”

Fencing is about the following fundamentals; ‘perceive, evaluate and execute’, in that order and there is no other order.

 

Joseph holds the view that aggression has no role in becoming a good fencer. Indeed, quite the contrary, “an aggressive fencer is a dead fencer. Fencing is about the following fundamentals; ‘perceive, evaluate and execute’, in that order and there is no other order.”

 

“Emotions also are your enemy. Discipline is very important in fencing. Unless you know about your emotions and use them to your end rather than act according to your emotion, you will never master the science of fencing. If you fence with fear, it is as bad as fencing to win.  Winning at all costs is not everything. I have coined a phrase, the 14-12 Syndrome”.

 

“I have seen over the years fencers lose time and time again because they overreact. Overreaction will always result in losing. You are not in control.”

 

Joseph passionately believes in the rule book printed in the year 1605 which states that fencing provides a “science and philosophy of leadership for young gentlemen”. The role of being a ‘gentleman’ is important to fencing. A fencer is a gentleman all the time, every time, but never a fool.”

 

Fencing in Australia should adopt a social responsibility than we have done so far.

 

“A fencer is a gentleman who is certain, upright, has control, dignity, self-respect and high self-esteem. You must have self-respect to respect others. But the traditional values are practically lost. Now fencing training is obligated to short-cuts. Unfortunately, in Australia, and this is getting so, worldwide, we have many wonderful people involved in fencing, but there is a problem with the cultural values of fencing. We are losing them.”

 

“We are at the crossroad in Australia. We either go forward with the opportunity to create a fencing base of young people who are thoroughly imbued with a fencing philosophy and therefore capable of contributing to society or we stay as we are and will not improve. Fencing in Australia should adopt a social responsibility than we have done so far. A culture of winners and losers is wrong.”

 

Coaches should have a thorough knowledge of the science and philosophy of fencing and the skills of movement.

 

“We are accommodating people with less knowledge of values in their head. Winning is nothing. How many times do you remember your wins? The person you are fighting is not your opponent; the person who is your opponent is you.  Fencing is designed to ensure that you are in control when put under pressure.  Coaches and organisations generally do not know the culture or philosophy of fencing. We have no tradition and no endeavour is made to seek it out. Coaches should have a thorough knowledge of the science and philosophy of fencing and the skills of movement. We have people who take up coaching, they are not-so-good at fencing but love the sport and they do a coaching course which is a few weeks. This is not enough them to learn the meaning of the ‘first position’ or the salute.

 

Fencing is 10% art, 40% in the head and 50% in the heart.

 

“Without doubt, Australia cannot reach the level of European fencing because of this lack of knowledge of the values of fencing”

 

Joseph believes “balance is important. Not just physical balance, but it also embraces focus, clear mindedness and action. Stop fencing for competition only, fence for fun.”

 

“Fencing is 10% art, 40% in the head and 50% in the heart.” [Joseph thumps his chest to emphasise this last point.]

 

I teach a fencing credo. It is ‘I am the best, but there is no one lesser than me.’

 

Does personality and temperament over-ride tradition and values? Joseph replies with an emphatic ‘no’ to this question. “Students can learn the philosophy of fencing and to overcome their ego. Otherwise, they can never be good fencers. When I was 13 I had a bad temper and I was given the choice of either being expelled or to take up fencing. I chose fencing and it assisted me in controlling my temper. It can be done. If you have a good coach you will learn to control your temper and ego”

 

“I teach a fencing credo. It is ‘I am the best, but there is no one lesser than me.’ Do you know what it means? Does it mean, are you the best, because you are better than me? No!  ‘I am the best’, means be as good as the best you can be, and by understanding, that ‘there is no one lesser than me’ puts the responsibility on you to see people come up to your level and come with you. It is better to have people at your level rather than you looking down on them. That is why a fencer is a gentleman.”

 

“There are too many egos in the sport that act to the detriment of fencing.  But, we also have some wonderful thinkers. It would be wonderful to have similar ability and similar opportunity for all”

 

Joseph acknowledges that his views run counter to many of today’s attitudes in society. “But society has become so commercialised and so unhappy and that creates negativity. Materialism has impacted on family values. There is a culture of winners and losers. We in Australia pride ourselves on our sporting prowess, but now it seems to be all about money and drugs.”

 

It is important that young people learn the traditions and philosophy of fencing.

 

“I was once criticised for not handing out trophies to all students irrespective of whether or not they deserved it. I was told that I should do the same as schools and hand out certificates to everyone, but that does not recognise properly those kids who aspire to be excellent in what they do.”

 

“We should promote values within the clubs so that people come to understand the role fencing can play in the community and in life values. It is important that young people learn the traditions and philosophy of fencing.”

 

In promoting Australian fencing, Joseph believes we should have an umbrella organisation that specifically assists in the promotion of fencing clubs. We should regionalise the clubs into zones so that each club can promote fencing in the designated region in order to attract more people to fencing. It would be great FV could assist in further training of coaches and AFF to assist the States in funding and resources for training of coaches.”

 

We ”need to do more to also provide support and recognition to ‘friends’ (volunteers) of the fencing clubs.”

 

Joseph cites his own promotional activities having carried out a number of interviews on ABC Radio and articles in the Melbourne and local press.

 

Joseph also indicates that we ”need to do more to also provide support and recognition to ‘friends’ (volunteers) of the fencing clubs.” 

 

“Fencing in Australia has two ways to go. Either we go forward or stay where we are. We seize the opportunity to have more people involved in fencing and then we will become a force to be reckoned with. In Victoria, in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s we were the powerhouse. However, other States are now doing a bit more than we do in Victoria. The other problem is that we rely upon the shoulders of a few young people and putting pressure upon them.”

 

When asked what were some of the significant contributions and events for fencing in Australia Joseph highlights the significant international careers and successes of Professor Michael O’Brien and John Fethers and the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games.

 

Joseph clearly delights in talking about fencing and his great respect for the tradition and philosophy of fencing. He equally is a person of action and perhaps the following statement best reflects the measure of the man in seeking to ensure the survival of values he so passionately believes in.

 

“I am training a wonderful group of people who can come after me to teach the same values I believe are important for fencing and for the community.”

 

Again, Joseph reiterates the importance of remembering that success in fencing comes about not from just winning medals, but because “we enjoyed fencing, and had fun with it. It built up self-esteem. You do not owe anyone anything – you do your best.”