The modern sport of fencing

All modern weapons use electrical scoring equipment to records hits. These are made with the point at foil and epee, and with the point and edge at sabre. Both foil and sabre share a priority rule, i.e., that you have to have priority in order to attack your opponent. Epee is based on a much simpler premise - hit without being hit!

Foil and sabre have limited targets - the torso in foil, and above the waist in sabre. At epee the whole body is target, including the feet. This makes it easier to hit your opponent - but also easier to be hit, since extending your arm to make an attack opens the arm itself to attack. Epee is akin to boxing in its timing, with feints and false attacks, counter-attacks and attacks into attacks.

Finally, the epee requires a greater load to depress the point, making the weapon closer to a dueling weapon. The weight required to depress the point is said to be that which would penetrate the skin and draw blood!

At Arena, we specialise in epee - akin to a dueling weapon, with the simplest rules, but arguably the greatest level of subtlety and variation. Epee has become the most popular weapon in recent years.

 

More about fencing...

Fencing is largely anaerobic, that is, it is made up of short bouts of fairly intense activity rather than extended periods of low level activity like swimming.

There is no physical requirement for a fencer (although being tall and left-handed does help!), and fencers can carry certain disabilities and still compete at top levels.

How safe is it?

Very! Fencing in all forms is extraordinarily safe, thanks to well-designed protective clothing. Serious accidents are extremely rare, the most common injuries being bruises, and the occasional sprains and strains associated with any active sport.

For more information on fencing, go to britishfencing.com, or a very nice American site, Fencing.net.