About Fencing
Fencing is really three sports, as there are three weapons used for fencing:
Foil
Èpèe
Sabre
Each weapon has different rules and different target areas (areas on the body where a valid touch can be scored).
However, the basics of fencing are applicable to all weapons. Most fencers learn to fence all three weapons, but tend to specialize in one.
In general, the goal of a fencing bout is to score five touches on your opponent before he or she can score five touches on you. How to achieve that is where the fun occurs!
Please ask Dave or any of the veteran fencers at the club if you have any questions. We love to answer your questions! (It let's us think we're smart) :-)
FENCING WEAPONS
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Foil is a point weapon, meaning a touch (or point) can only be scored with the tip of the weapon. Foil fencing makes use of right-of-way rules. Target area for foil is the trunk of the body (no arms, legs, or head).
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Like foil, epee is a point weapon - touches are only scored with the tip of the blade. Unlike foil or saber, epee does not have right-of-way rules. The first person to land a touch gets the point. It is also the only weapon to allow double touches which award each opponant a point.
Epee utilizes a full body target area.
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Saber is the only weapon to utilize the edge of the blade. In saber, points can be scored with the tip, or with a cut. Like foil, saber fencing also makes use of right-of-way rules.
The target area for saber is everything above the waist and wrists, including the arms and head.
