Types of Fencing

There are three main types of fencing: epee, foil and saber. They differ in the size, weight and flexibility of the swords, and in the rules by which they are played. Some forms of fencing have been part of the modern Olympics since they began in 1896. All three are still played in the Games.

  1. Identification

    • The epee ("sword" in French) is heavier than its ancestral dueling sword, weighing approximately 27 ounces. Its blade can be no longer than 43.3 inches. It has a large guard and a stiff, thick blade.

      The foil descends from the lighter sword that was used by royalty when training for duels. It weighs less than 1 pound and has a blade of about 35 inches that is rectangular and very flexible.

      The saber traces its root back to the horsemen of Europe in the late 1600's. Its blade is typically an inch or two shorter than the foil and it weighs 1.1 pounds or less.

      Fencing matches take place on a playing area that is 14 meters long and 1 1/2 meters wide. Sensors on the contestants' clothing indicate electronically when a point is made.

    History

    • Sword fighting dates to ancient Egypt, though the modern sport is most closely identified with the rapier battles of the 16th century. Rapiers, like the sabers of today, had sharp edges, although thrusting was the main means of attack. They slowly replaced the English broad sword as the preferred weapons of dueling.

      The 1896 Olympics featured foil and saber contests, and epee was added in 1900. Although the last to come, epee was the first to have electronic sensors implemented, in 1936.

    Epee Rules

    • In epee fencing, touches (points) are scored with the point of the blade only and may be made anywhere on the body. The point of the foil has a spring-loaded button so that when enough pressure is made on contact--750 grams of pressure--a touch or point is made.

      Epee fencers are not required to wear a metallic lame because their entire bodies are valid targets.

      The first fencer to hit his opponent scores a point, but if both make contact within 1/25th of a second of each other, they both score.

    Foil Rules

    • Like epee, points in foil fencing are scored only with the tip of the blade, but only the area from the shoulders to the groin in front and from the shoulders to the waist in back are legal. Illegal contact stops play, though no penalty points are awarded. The button on the tips of the foils need only make contact that produces at least 500 grams of pressure for the sensors to award a touch.

      Unlike epee, foil employs the right-of-way rule to decide which fencer scores a point if they both make contact. In this case, the fencer who attacked first and hit a legal target gets a point, but his opponent does not. But if the initial attacker's first thrust is blocked and his opponent defends and makes contact, the opponent scores a point, even if the initial attacker makes subsequent contact. In the case of opponents landing touches so close together that an initial attack cannot be decided upon, neither fencer receives a point.

    Saber Rules

    • A saber can make contact with both its point and its blade, and contact can be made anywhere above the waist except the hands.

      Saber also uses the right-of-way rule. Both saber and foil also require fencers to wear a metallic lame that is wired and worn over their legal contact areas. Saber fencers wear a mask that also is wired since the head is a legal target.

      The electronic sensor used in saber fencing allows for even the slightest touch being registered as a point.