About Fencing

1st October 2003 - Colin Fitch

Don’t know your foil from your fleche? Have a look at our brief guide...

Fencing is the modern version of the ancient art of, well, sword fighting! Nowadays, there are three separate weapons (called foil, epee and sabre), which share some characteristics but are used in differing ways. Most fencers specialise in only one or two weapons.

The Foil

Beginners at the club will normally be introduced to using the foil as a starter weapon. The objective when fencing foil is to hit your opponent’s torso with the point of your blade - hits to the arms, legs and head do not count as points nor do any contact from the side of the blade.

The Epee

Epee is similar to foil in that the tip is the only part of the blade used to gain points in a match. However, the weapon itself is slightly larger with a thicker blade and larger hand guard, which makes the epee a much heavier weapon to use. Also, the whole body is available as a target area, including the head and the feet!

The Sabre

The sabre is very different to both foil and epee, both in looks and in style. Hits no longer have to be made with the point of the weapon but can be made by any part of the blade usually in a cutting action. The guard is larger to protect the knuckles, and the blade has a thin cutting edge.

Footwork

It could be thought that using swords is all there is to the sport, but that’s not true. Footwork is as (if not more) important than bladework, as you can’t hit your opponent if you are too far away and if you are too close then you might get hit by them! The basic footwork techniques are the same for all three weapons, with emphasis on correct distance and balance.

Clothing

Safety is important in fencing, and specialist clothing is worn to avoid being skewered. The club provides kit for beginners, including masks, jackets and weapons. It is also necessary to wear a good pair of tracksuit or similar trousers to protect your legs but not so as to restrict your movement. It is recommended that a glove be worn as well as cuts on the hand are regular and can be uncomfortable without one.

Pain

Note I said “uncomfortable”... Many beginners are scared of fencing because, lets face it, having someone coming towards you trying to poke you with a sword can seem a little scary! But (unless you get your opponent really angry!!!), being hit with the sword whilst fencing is nowhere near as painful as you think it will be! Nobody should be put off by the prospect of being hit, the safety kit that is worn provides good protection for all the important bits of your body...

This is just a brief intro to some aspects of fencing, and is by no means exhaustive! To see how it really works, come along and give it a try!