Not long ago members of the Accademia Nazionale di Scherma [the only legal entity which can award diplomas of Maestro di Scherma and Istruttore Nazionale di Scherma in Italy] debated whether to accept the application to the exam to become Maestro di Scherma of a wheelchair-bound candidate to coach and teach a standing athlete. Since a disabled coach cannot stand, his restricted movements which translate to the student how to feel the right measure and fencing tempo was considered by some as an impediment. Others, including the undersigned, felt that the candidate had the right to be admitted to the test and exam but that no special consideration could be given to him during the test and to treat him just like everyone else. However, something had to be invented to "astound" the examining commission, something which could persuade the examining commission that the candidate could overcome his handicap and hence become a complete fencing coach.

Eventually, the candidate was admitted to the test but he withdrew before the exam preserving his right to return in front of the examining commission at a subsequent date.

I discovered recently that just behind my club there is Vassilli, an important manufacturer in Italy of systems to aid to ambulate (www.vassilli.it/pages/ita/hilo.html). This is the only company which can produce systems to keep persons in a vertical position which aside from avoiding the problems associated when one is restricted to the sitting position consents as well to move about in a vertical position even to persons who are totally paralyzed in the lower limbs.

I'm working now with the president of the company to develop a specific support system for wheelchair fencing in cooperation with Fabio Giovannini [CT of wheelchair fencing for the FIS]. Two days ago I remembered Corrado (the candidate to the test for maestro mentioned above) and so on the spot with two plastic epees, an engineer working there who kindly agreed to act as student guinea pig, myself as the wheelchair-bound coach, and Mr. Vassilli at the video-cam this is what we produced.

There are still minor details to consider but in my opinion this could be a solution to ... "astound" the members of the examining commission.

Giovanni Rapisardi

Translated by Gram

Giovanni Rapisardi