The McDonaldization of Fencing. The Tauberbischofsheim Coaching Method as a Turning Point in the History of Fencing

Abstract

In the early 1970s, the German fencing coach Emil Beck invented a new training model that deviated from the traditional French and Italian schools. Beck's model, named for the fencing club he established, Tauberbischofsheim, revolutionized the way fencing was taught. It was a rational, formal system based on McDonaldization - the economic consumption paradigm developed by sociologist George Ritzer. This article studies the Tauberbischofsheim training model as a turning point in the history of fencing. It analyzes the core principles of the system and the revolution it brought about. The McDonaldization paradigm applied to fencing undermined the basic tenets of fencing instruction, introducing a rational coaching plan and individualized lessons chosen from a pre-set menu. The coach became more of a guide than a trainer. For the first time, it was possible to teach fencing without being a consummate professional or an expert in the traditional instruction methods. The success of Beck's students has been unprecedented in the world of fencing.