What is Fencing?
Fencing is the art of attack and defense using a lightweight sword. It is a
graceful, fast-moving, exciting sport, and a great workout for both body and
mind. It develops agility, concentration, speed, and timing. Men, women, and
children of all ages and levels of fitness enjoy fencing. Most importantly,
fencing is safe and fun.
Benefits of Fencing
Physical
Fencing develops strong and lean muscles, promotes flexibility, provides
cardio-exercise, and enhances hand-eye coordination.
Mental
While many sports have similar physical benefits, fencing focuses as much on the
mental part of the game. Successful fencing demands the same mental output as a
game of chess with minimal time to think. Fencing was used by the United States
Air Force in the 1940s to train combat pilots in strategy and tactics. Fencing
requires focus during both instruction and free fencing.
Character Building
Anchored in tradition, fencing today maintains several of its original
courtesies. Fencers begin with a salute and end every bout with a salute and
handshake. Fencing is an individual sport, so responsibility for both actions
and results rests with the fencer.
Equipment
In fencing there are four basic pieces of equipment, the jacket, glove, mask
and weapon.
The jacket, glove, and mask are used to protect the
fencer, to ensure that he is not hurt while participating in the sport.
The Weapons
Foil, epee, and sabre are the three weapons used in the sport of fencing. Foil
and epee 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 electronically.
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 and back. It does not include the arms, neck, head and legs. The foil
fencer's uniform includes a metallic vest (called a lame), which covers the
valid target area, 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. A
touch on the valid surface will register a colored light on the scoring machine.
A touch on the non-valid surface will register a white light.
Epee
The epee (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 epee fencer's uniform does not include a lame.
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 (lame), which covers the target area to register a valid touch
on the scoring machine. The mask is different from foil and epee, with a
metallic covering since the head is valid target area.
Touches that arrive on the valid surface register a colored light on the scoring
machine. Off-target hits do not register on the machine.
(The Weapons; fromUSFencing.org,
Fencing For Parents © 2005)