Fencing is the art and sport of swordsmanship using blunted weapons. Fencers use one of three types of weapons—the foil, the epee, or the sabre. Fencing meets are conducted as individual or team events. However, even in team events, only two fencers compete against each other at one time.
Fencing is open to both men and women. But men and women do not compete against each other. Men’s competition may include any of the three weapons. Women use the foil or the epee in competition.
There is evidence that fencing competitions date back at least 5,000 years to ancient Egypt and Japan. In Europe, modern swordsmanship dates back to about 1400. Fencing schools became popular in Italy. Traveling Italian fencing masters spread the technique of swordsmanship to England, France, and Spain. By the late 1800’s, fencing had become part of the education of a gentleman. Fencing was one of the original sports included in the modern Olympic Games (see the Summer Games tables in Olympic Games) .
Fencers wear heavy wire-mesh masks. Thick canvas bibs protect the head and neck. Fencers also wear thick canvas or nylon jackets and knickers and a padded glove on the hand holding the weapon.
The foil
has a slender, flexible, four-sided l blade and a small, circular guard. The blade is 90 centimeters (3 feet) long. Foil fencers try to score touches or hits by touching their opponent’s torso with the point.
Foil fencers must follow a certain sequence of moves, called conventions. The fencer who first attacks has the right of way or priority in scoring. The priority ends when the defender parries (blocks) the attack or the attack is unsuccessful. The defender is then allowed to riposte (counterattack). Action continues until a fencer scores a touch or the action becomes too confused for the chief official, the referee, to follow.
If the fencer touches the opponent outside the torso area, no touch is scored and action resumes. If a fencer touches the opponent on the torso, then a touch is scored. If both fencers touch each other and the referee cannot determine who had the right of way, there is no score. Most foil bouts have a 5-minute time limit. The first fencer to score five touches wins.
The epee
has a rigid triangular blade with a bell-shaped guard. The blade is 90 centimeters long. Epee fencing has no conventions of right of way. Touches on any part of the body count. However, touches must be scored with the point of the weapon. If both fencers touch each other at the same time, both touches count. Most epee bouts have a 5-minute time limit. Five touches win the bout. Epee fencing for one touch is part of a five-sport competition called the modern pentathlon (see Pentathlon, Modern).
The sabre
has a flexible triangular blade with a guard that curves around the knuckles. The blade is 88 centimeters (2 feet 11 inches) long. In sabre fencing, touches may be scored on any part of the body above the hips, including the head and arms. Touches can be scored with the point or with one of the two cutting edges. Sabre fencing follows the same conventions of right of way as foil fencing. Most sabre bouts have a 5-minute time limit. Five touches win the bout.
Fencing organizations.
The United States Fencing Association (USFA) administers fencing in the United States. The USFA is the U.S. member of the International Fencing Federation (FIE). The FIE conducts the world championships and the fencing events of the Olympic Games. The FIE also establishes the official rules of the sport.
