What is Fencing?

What is Fencing

Fencing is an Olympic sport with centuries of tradition. With the invention and widespread use of firearms in the 1400s, heavy armor and swords became impractical for people to use in combat. Swords became smaller and were worn constantly which gave rise to a school of swordplay that used the sword offensively (attack your opponent) and defensively ( blocking blows of other swords). Fencing was then used as Training for duels, which all but disappeared after World War I. Fencing then continued as a sport, with tournaments and championships. However, the footwork, techniques and many of the rules have historical roots.

There are three types of sport fencing: Foil, Epee and Sabre.

 Foil is a training weapon that teaches proper attack to critical target areas ( See diagram to the right). Foil uses a system of rules known as "right of way" where a director determines the validity of a fencing encounter.
 Epee is a style of fencing based on the traditional duel. There is no official right of way system and valid target area is the entire body of the fencer ( See diagram to the right).
 Sabre is a fencing style based on cavalry or horseback military combat. This fencing style is the only one that allows strikes with the cutting edge of the weapon. The target area is everywhere above the waist and uses the right of way rule system to determine validity of a fencing encouter ( See diagram to the right).