About Fencing
At first glance, the world of fencing can seem a little confusing. Look at some of the categories below to find some basic information on the history, weapons, and benefits of fencing.
History of Fencing
An entire history of fencing would require a book-length work, but a brief history will help explain how the modern sport of fencing has evolved from the swashbuckling seen in movies. Muriel Bower’s book Foil Fencing1 contains excellent information on the basics of fencing, and it has been used as a reference for the information on this page. According to her book, “fencing is the historic art of offense and defense with the sword”. This art has changed greatly over time.
Some of the first people to use swords were gladiators who used “short, double-edged hacking and cutting swords”. Sword blades remained large until the twelfth century, when “thinner, longer blades were developed that could penetrate the chain mail” of knights. Swords continued to alternate between large blades that could cut through armor and thinner blades that could get into the cracks in armor. Eventually, the use of armor died out, and “lighter, thinner, one-handed thrusting swords” became the weapons of choice. Because people were no longer weighted down with armor, “mobility was greatly increased”.
Fencing first began to be taught during the sixteenth century, but did not develop into a sport until the seventeenth century, “when gunpowder and firearms replaced the sword as the basic weapon”. Since that time, the goal of fencing has changed. In the past, combatants wanted to injure or kill their opponents. Now, “the objective of fencing is not to inflict injury but to demonstrate an ability to outmaneuver an opponent and to score”. Fencing is now more about skill than survival.
Another major change in fencing was the move to electronic scoring. The increased mobility of fencers also increased the speed of fencing. This speed increased “the difficulty in accurately judging touches by sight”. Electronic scoring helps alleviate this problem. Weapons are connected to wires, which in turn are attached to a scoring machine. When a fencer touches his/her opponent, the scoring machine emits a “light and buzzer”. Fencers must be judged by electronic scoring in all official competitions.
Today, the sport of fencing is regulated by several organizations. The “official governing body for fencing” in America is the United States Fencing Association, or USFA. People who are interested in fencing should consider joining USFA.
Fencing Weapons
There are three fencing weapons used in competitions today: the foil, the epee, and the sabre. Each of these weapons has slightly different goals, rules, and target areas.
Foil
The foil is usually the first weapon taught to beginning fencers “because it is considered basic to fencing”. The foil has a thin blade, a small bellguard (a circle of metal that covers the hand), and is designed to hit with the point of the blade. The valid target area for foil fencing is “the torso, from the collar to the groin lines in front, and on the back and sides from the collar to the hips. If the point lands anywhere else, it is ‘off target’ and not valid”. Foil fencing also requires right-of-way rules: a fencer must either be the first to attack or must take control by successfully defending his/her opponent’s attack for a touch to count.
Epee
The epee “is stiffer and heavier than the foil”. It has a slightly larger blade, with a larger bellguard protecting the hand, but like the foil, it is designed to hit with the point of the blade. Epee “more closely resembles dueling than any other weapon” because any area on the body is a valid target, and fencers do not have to follow right-of-way rules: whoever hits first gets a point. If both of the fencers hit each other at the same time, both fencers are awarded a point.
Sabre
The sabre blade is different from either the foil or the epee blades. It developed from curved sabres used by Turks on horseback, and was used as a “slicing or thrusting” weapon. The sabre blade is flatter than either the foil or epee blades to mimic the cutting edge of historical sabres. In sabre, the valid target area is any part of the body from the trunk up: specifically the torso, arms, and head. Like foil fencers, sabre fencers must follow right-of-way rules.
Benefits of Fencing
Fencing can be a great work out, and it also has some unique qualities. Like many sports, it “develops stamina, quick reactions, speed and accuracy of movement, and excellent coordination”. However, it “is also a mental game”. A fencer does not have to be the biggest, strongest person to win. Another highlight of fencing is the “camaraderie that tends to develop between fencers” because of the tradition of good sportsmanship. Fencers always salute each other before a bout and shake hands afterwards.
Also, contrary to what you might expect, fencing “is one of the safest sports”. All participants are required to wear protective gear, including a jacket, mask, and glove. If fencers use their gear properly and remember to warm up before fencing, they can usually avoid injury.
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Bowers, Muriel. Foil Fencing. 8th ed. Madison: Brown & Benchmark, 1997. ↩