Learn to fence

THE THREE FENCING WEAPONS

Foil is a light and fast weapon. The target area is your opponents’ torso, front and back. Only hits in this area count. Foil is a ‘point weapon’ with hits scored with the point of the blade. Foil is also a ‘priority weapon’ which means you can only score a hit if you have earned the right to do so by taking priority. Priority is taken by initiating an attack or by blocking an attack with a parry then counter-attacking with a riposte (reply).

Epee is also a point weapon, but not a priority weapon. You can attack at any time and hit any part of your opponent’s body, including the mask and feet. The modern epee is closest to the rapiers that were used in duels in centuries past. While epee is the heaviest weapon and bouts tend to take longer, it is a weapon of finesse often with deft scoring touches on the opponent’s wrist and arm.

Sabre is not a point weapon as hits can be scored with any part of the blade but it is a priority weapon. As with foil, in sabre you take priority by initiating an attack or by parrying your opponent’s attack and responding with a riposte. The target area in sabre is the upper body, including the torso, arms and mask. While all fencing is energetic, sabre is particularly fast and furious – so fast that the bouts are not timed.

Scoring is done by electronic equipment hence the conductive jackets, made of woven metallic material that are worn by foil and sabre fencers. Epee doesn’t need a metallic jacket as all parts of the body are targeted.