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What is Fencing?
The sport of fencing is fast and athletic, a far cry from the choreographed
bouts you see on film or on the stage. Instead of swinging from a chandelier or leaping from balconies, you will see two fencers
performing an intense dance on a six-feet-by-40-feet strip. The movement is so fast the touches are scored electrically -
more like Star Wars than Errol Flynn.
The Weapons
Foil, épée and sabre are the three weapons used in the sport of fencing. While
it is not unusual for fencers to compete in all three events, they generally choose to develop their skills in one weapon.
Until recently, women were permitted to compete only in foil, but now the USFA & FIE offer national competitions for women
in épée and sabre. Women's épée was added to the World Championships in 1989 and was held for the first time at the Olympic
Games in 1996.
Foil and épée are point-thrusting weapons. Sabre is a point-thrusting as well
as a cutting weapon. The target areas differ for the three weapons, though all three are scored electrically.
Object
The main object of a fencing bout (what an individual "game" is called) is
to effectively score 15 points (in direct elimination play) or five points (in preliminary pool play) on your opponent before
he scores that number on you. Each time a fencer scores a touch, she receives a point. Direct elimination matches consist
of three three-minute periods.
Foil
The foil has a flexible rectangular blade, approximately 35 inches in length,
weighing less than one pound. Points are scored with the tip of the blade and must land within the torso of the body.
The valid target area in foil is the torso, from the shoulders to the groin,
front, back and neck. It does not include the arms, head and legs. The foil fencer's uniform includes a metallic
vest (called a lamé) which covers the valid target area on the torso and a mask with a metallic covering on the bib covering
the neck, so that a valid touch will register on the scoring machine. A small, spring-loaded tip is attached to the point
of the foil and is connected to a wire inside the blade. The fencer wears a body cord inside his uniform which connects the
foil to a reel wire, connected to the scoring machine.
There are two scoring lights on the machine. One shows a green light when
a fencer is hit, and one shows a red light when her opponent is hit. A touch landing outside the valid target area (that which
is not covered by the lamé) is indicated by a white light. These "off target" hits do not count in the scoring, but they do
stop the fencing action temporarily.
Épée
The épée (pronounced "EPP-pay"), the descendant of the dueling sword, is similar
in length to the foil, but is heavier, weighing approximately 27 ounces, with a larger guard (to protect the hand from a valid
hit) and a much stiffer blade. Touches are scored only with the point of the blade. The entire body is the valid target area.
The blade is wired with a spring-loaded tip at the end that completes an electrical
circuit when it is depressed beyond a pressure of 750 grams. This causes the colored bulb on the scoring machine to light.
Because the entire body is a valid target area, the épée fencer's uniform does not include a lamé. Off-target hits do not
register on the machine.
Sabre
The sabre is the modern version of the slashing cavalry sword, and is similar
in length and weight to the foil. The major difference is that the sabre is a thrusting weapon as well as a cutting weapon
(use of the blade). The target area is from the bend of the hips (both front and back), to the top of the head, simulating
the cavalry rider on a horse. The sabre fencer's uniform includes a metallic jacket (lamé), which covers the target area to
register a valid touch on the scoring machine. The mask is different from foil and épée, with a metallic covering since the
head is valid target area.
Just as in foil, there are two scoring lights on the machine. One shows a
green light when a fencer is hit, and one shows a red light when the opponent has hit. Off-target hits do not register on
the machine.
Right-Of-Way
One of the most difficult concepts to visualize in foil and sabre fencing
is the rule of right-of-way. This rule was established to eliminate apparently simultaneous attacks by two fencers.
In essence, right-of-way is the differentiation of offense and defense, made
by the referee. The difference is important only when both the red and green lights go on at the same time in foil and sabre.
When this happens, the winner of the point is the one who the referee determined was on offense at the time the lights went
on.
Épée does not use the right-of-way in keeping with its dueling origin - he
who first gains the touch earns the point. Or, if both fencers hit within 1/25th of a second of each other, both earn a point.
However, it is equally important to have a sound defense for épée, since the entire body must be protected from a touch.
How to Follow the Action
For those new to fencing, it is difficult to follow the lightning speed of
the fencers' actions. To become more comfortable in watching a fencing bout, focus on one fencer. The fencer being attacked
defends himself by use of a parry, a motion used to deflect the opponent's blade, after which the defender can make a riposte,
an answering attack. Thus, the two adversaries keep changing between offense and defense. Whenever a hit is made, the referee
will stop the bout, describe the actions, and decide whether or not to award a touch.
Fencers seek to maintain a safe distance from each other, that is, out of
range of the other's attack. Then, one will try to break this distance to gain the advantage for an attack. At times, a fencer
will make a false attack to gauge the types of reactions by the opponent that can be deceived in the real attack.
As you become accustomed to the speed of the game, the tactics and strategies
become more apparent, and you will gain a better understanding for the finesse and fascination of fencing!
This article is provided courtesy of the
United States Fencing Association.
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