One of the most beloved and highly respected of all fencing masters, Henri J. Uyttenhove, was born in Herch-La-Ville, Belgium in 1878 and has just passed away.

His spectacular rise in European fencing circles found him, at the age of twenty-six, Head Professor of Fencing at the national Belgium Normal School of Fencing where fencing masters were taught their profession, trained and received their diplomas. Many presently living Belgium fencing masters treasure their diplomas signed by Professor Uyttenhove.

He arrived in the United States in September, 1907, and after a short stay in New York and Chicago came directly to Southern California. Mr. Frank Garbutt, President of the Los Angeles Athletic Club, immediately recognized his superb qualities and offered him the position of fencing master. He remained with the A.C. for 5 years where he was successful in building the popularity of the sport. He then opened his own private salle in Pasadena. Probably the first fencing competition held in southern California was between his Pasadena pupils and his pupils from the Los Angeles Athletic Club.
Beginning in about 1916, his services were in great demand by the motion picture industries and in rapid succession, with Douglas Fairbanks, Sr., and his pupil, he was appointed the technical director of “The Modern Musketeer”, “The Mark of Zorro”, and “The Three Musketeers”.

He returned to the Los Angeles A.C. in 1921 and remained as fencing master there until 1950 when he retired in favor of his personally selected successor, Professor Jean L Heremans. His duties also included coaching at the Hollywood Athletic Club, a subsidiary of the Los Angeles A.C.., until 1939 when he installed Duris W. De Jong as coach.

In 1922 the University of Southern California decided to make fencing one of their sports and, under his inspirational coaching, interest in fencing increased. It was from his classes at the university that fencers such as Edward Carfagno, Herman Hersum, (who is now chairman of the San Diego division), and the writer of this article were developed.

Without remuneration, and in the interest of the sport, he started classes at the University of California at Los Angeles and continued until a proper coach could be found in the person of captain of Capt. John Duff, a prominent English fencer.

A committee of Belgium fencers, headed by the late Professor Deladrier of the U.S. naval academy, recently petitioned the Belgian for award of the Legion of Honor to Professor Uyttenhove in recognition of his great contribution to the Belgian school in the United States.

Here, truly, was a maker of champions. His pure, classical form, his great ability as a teacher, his personal magnetism and above all, his innate humility and sportsmanship won him the love and loyalty with all of whom he came into contact with. Without question, here was one of the greats among fencing masters, who did much to promote the sport of fencing in this country. He will live long in our memories. His passing is a great loss to fencing.