Muriel Bower
Encyclopedia
Muriel Taitt is an American foilist, coach, and educator.
She is author of the foilist's classic textbook Foil Fencing, now in its 8th edition. In the second edition (1972), former F.I.E. President Miguel de Capriles identified her as "a sensational teen-age Pacific Coast champion before the war [who subsequently] returned to competition to win a well-earned No. 3 national rating. She is one of the small but bright cluster of California women who dominated the national fencing scene in those years".
She holds the distinction of having been accredited the first woman fencing
master in the United States, by her fencing master, the Hungarian Istvan Danosi (b.1912, d. 2005), USFA Hall of Fame
recipient.
Her first fencing master was Henry Uyttenhove, who was Douglas Fairbank Sr.'s fencing trainer. Uyttenhove was fencing master at the Los Angeles Athletic Club
, to which Fairbanks belonged. Uyttenhove was replaced by Jon Hermann, also from Belgium. Muriel was obviously Hermann's star pupil, but a serious car accident prevented her going to the 1948 Olympics (she had made the team), and she started working with Hermann as his assistant. She was going to college during this period, earning a bachelors in PE at UCLA and a Masters at USC
In the 1970s Muriel coached the California State University Northridge and has subsequently been inducted into that University's Hall of Fame (http://gomatadors.olinesports.com/halloffame.php)
Women's foil coach to the American team at the 1964 Olympic Games
fencing events in Tokyo, she managed the American women's fencing team at the World University Games, Russia, 1973, and served in protocol to fencing at the L.A. Olympic Games, 1984. She has subsequently served as West Coast Vice-President of the USFA
Coaches Association for two terms, and also as Commissioner of Western Regional Intercollegiate Fencing Championships, USFA.
She is author of the foilist's classic textbook Foil Fencing, now in its 8th edition. In the second edition (1972), former F.I.E. President Miguel de Capriles identified her as "a sensational teen-age Pacific Coast champion before the war [who subsequently] returned to competition to win a well-earned No. 3 national rating. She is one of the small but bright cluster of California women who dominated the national fencing scene in those years".
She holds the distinction of having been accredited the first woman 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...
master in the United States, by her fencing master, the Hungarian Istvan Danosi (b.1912, d. 2005), USFA 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:...
recipient.
Her first fencing master was Henry Uyttenhove, who was Douglas Fairbank Sr.'s fencing trainer. Uyttenhove was fencing master at the Los Angeles Athletic Club
Los Angeles Athletic Club
Los Angeles Athletic Club is an athletic club and private social club in Los Angeles, California, USA. It awards the John R. Wooden Award to the outstanding men's and women's college basketball player of each year....
, to which Fairbanks belonged. Uyttenhove was replaced by Jon Hermann, also from Belgium. Muriel was obviously Hermann's star pupil, but a serious car accident prevented her going to the 1948 Olympics (she had made the team), and she started working with Hermann as his assistant. She was going to college during this period, earning a bachelors in PE at UCLA and a Masters at USC
In the 1970s Muriel coached the California State University Northridge and has subsequently been inducted into that University's Hall of Fame (http://gomatadors.olinesports.com/halloffame.php)
Women's foil coach to the American team at the 1964 Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
fencing events in Tokyo, she managed the American women's fencing team at the World University Games, Russia, 1973, and served in protocol to fencing at the L.A. Olympic Games, 1984. She has subsequently served as West Coast Vice-President of the USFA
USFA
USFA may refer to:* U.S. Fire Arms Manufacturing Company* United States Football Alliance* United States Fencing Association* United States Fire Administration, a United States government agency* United States Food Administration...
Coaches Association for two terms, and also as Commissioner of Western Regional Intercollegiate Fencing Championships, USFA.