Fencing -- The Oldest Modern Sport  
  


 
Weapons

The modern sport of fencing has three different events:

  • foil,
  • epee (pronounced “epp-pay”) and
  • saber. 

Each has slightly a slightly different history, target area, and rules.  The foil and saber were developed more as training weapons while the epee is a descendant of weapons used in duels.  The goal in each event is to hit your opponent on the valid target without being hit.  In both foil and saber, the fencer’s valid target area is covered with a metallic cloth vest called a ‘lame’.  Points are scored when the target area is hit.  The main object of a fencing bout is to be the first fencer to score 5 points or 15 points depending on the type of bout.  Bouts are also timed so if one fencer does not reach 5 or 15 points, the fencer who has the most points when the time expires wins the bout.

Offence or Defense?


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Although the motions of fencing seem complex and the variations endless, the actions of a bout can be simplified. Either fencer may initiate an offensive action and force the opponent to defend.  The fencer initiating offensive action is called the attacker.  The fencer’s movement that blocks and attack is called a parry with the return attack following the parry called a riposte.  There is no single fencing strategy that guarantees success. Some fencers prefer offensive actions while others prefer to wait and respond with counterattacks.  Much of the movement in fencing is done to set up the proper distance and timing for the Although it does not receive the publicity attendant to football, basketball and other sports, fencing has long been established as part of the athletic programs at major Universities, including the “Big Ten,” Ivy League and all three military academies. An increasing number of institutions throughout the country are offering instruction and scholarships for college age fencers.  Fencing is an Olympic sport and has been in all the modern games.  It is one of the five sports in the modern pentathlon.