Epee Fencing Strategies

Epee is a type of sword that was developed so that duelists could injure but not kill each other. Duelists using epees would fight until first blood. The first individual to bleed would be the loser. Fortunately, today, epee is used in a much less bloody sport called fencing. The sword is heavier than the foil and lighter than the saber. The sword is also triangular in shape. It is a weapon that can only be used for thrusting. Opponents win by scoring points, often through counter-attacks.

  1. Stance

    • According to AC Fencing, epee duelists should place their weight evenly across their feet and should only have their knees bent slightly so that they can present fewer targets and so that they can move more quickly if they are attacked. Epee duelists must lunge far enough to strike the opponent while not lunging so far that the epee duelist is vulnerable and off balance if the attack fails.

    Attacking

    • Epee attacks are done through flicks or angulations. Flicks are really quick strikes that must be done without the fencer making it obvious that she is attacking. The angulation attempts to go around the opponent's epee in order to strike the opponent at an angle.

    Planning

    • Whenever an epee duelist goes to attack an opponent, the epee duelist is recommended to have a plan of attack, according to Safe Fencing Center. Even if using a defensive strategy, the epee duelist should have a plan for attack in case the opponent is not aggressive and has to be attacked.

    Riptose

    • When attacked, epee duelists deflect attacks and often try to perform a riptose. The riptose is a fast attack immediately after a parry that strikes the opponent's hand or arm. The epee duelist must deflect the attack enough to avoid having a point scored by the opponent, but not so much that a riptose is not possible.

    Openings

    • Many actions are not recommended, since the epee duelist will likely get hit if performing these actions. For instance, epee duelists should not lunge against extended arms.

    Taller Opponents

    • When attacking a taller opponent, epee duelists usually attack the opponent's weapon before going for the body.

    Counter Attacks

    • Epees are more likely to score points with counter attacks than the foil or saber. When attacked, epee duelists should counter attack by aiming at the hand or arm, since the body is difficult to hit after an attack.