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.
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 lamé) 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.
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! printed with permission from the USFA HOME
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