Maitre Michel Alaux (1924–1974) was a French-American fencing master who co-coached the United States Olympic fencing teams in 1964, 1968, and 1972.[1] Internationally recognized for his achievements in the sport and a regular contributor to fencing publications,[2] he has been credited with developing a holistic approach to fencing that helped to bridge the gap between classical schools and the modern Olympic fencing style as it is known today.[3]

Biography

Early life and career

Michel Alaux graduated from the military college, le Fort Carre d'Antibes,[2][4][5] in 1947, and established himself in his club, L'Association Jean Louis in Montpellier, France. There, he trained a number of foil and épée champions,[6] the most illustrious being Christian D'Oriola,[7] named Fencer of the 20th Century[8] by the FIE, International Fencing Federation.

At the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, Christian d'Oriola won two Gold medals for Individual and Team foil, winning all ten bouts in the Team events.[2] The French national press Le Monde and Le Figaro congratulated Maitre Alaux.[9][10]

Michel Alaux was awarded two Medals of Honor[11] 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.[2][12]

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 US Nationals, Pan American, and World Championship coach.[13] He remained head fencing master[12] of the NY Fencers Club[14] 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.[3] He chaired the 1962–63 U.S. Committee which developed A Text for Defining Fencing Terms.[2] He chaired and directed the committee which devised the official examination for the first professional diploma of Fencing Master in the US (1965).[15]

Seen as a glamorous figure by the media,[16] he served as a fencing consultant to TV, newspapers & magazines.[2]

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.[17] 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".[18] He was inducted into the US Fencing Hall of Fame in 2006.[19]

Footnotes and references

  1. ↑ "Michel Alaux, 51, Coached Olympic Fencers for U.S." The New York Times. 31 December 1974. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Biography". Michel Alaux, Fencing Master. Archived from the original on 15 March 2011.
  3. 1 2 Gradkowski, Richard (March–April 1975). "Michel Alaux". American Fencing. 26 (4).
  4. ↑ "Gallery". Michel Alaux, Fencing Master. Archived from the original on 5 October 2008.
  5. ↑ Mercier, Alain (April 2002). "Fencing, A Perennial French Specialty". Label France/ Magazine. French Ministry of Foreign Affairs (46).
  6. ↑ 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.
  7. ↑ Fédération Française d'Escrime, "D'Oriola". COMMUNIQUE DE PRESSE, 30 October 2007
  8. ↑ "Highlights of the Week: Week of 29 October 2007". Olympic.org – Official website of the Olympic Movement. 2007.
  9. ↑ Rommel, Adrien (2 August 1952). "L'Escrime A Helsinki". Le Monde (in French). France.
  10. ↑ Bontemps, Louis (3 September 1952). "Apres Les Succes de d'Oriola aux Jeux, Rendons a Cesar...". Le Figaro (in French). France.
  11. ↑ "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).
  12. 1 2 Blanc, Eugene (March–April 1975). "Michel Alaux". American Fencing. 26 (4).
  13. ↑ Blanc, Eugene (1975). "Preface". Modern Fencing. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. ISBN 0684141167.
  14. ↑ His notable students at the NY Fencers Club (1956–1974) included Neal Cohen, Herbert Cohen, Jeffrey Checkes, James Melcher, John Nonna, Ruth White.
  15. ↑ "Alaux, Michel". US Fencing Association Hall of Fame.
  16. ↑ Wallace, Kevin (March 1958). "Onward and Upward with the Arts. Salle D'Armes". The New Yorker.
  17. ↑ 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.
  18. ↑ Pitt, David E. (12 January 1987). "Fencing Taking Big Steps". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 November 2007.
  19. ↑ Shaw, Andy. US Fencing Historian, US Fencing Hall of Fame, 2006.
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