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SOUTH DENVER FENCING ACADEMY |
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What Is Fencing? The sport of fencing is fast and athletic, a far cry
from the choreographed bouts you see on film or on the stage. Instead of
swinging from a chandelier or leaping from balconies, you will see two
fencers performing an intense dance on a six-feet-by-40-feet strip. The
movement is so fast the touches are scored electrically - more like Star
Wars than Errol Flynn. The Weapons Foil, épée and sabre are the three weapons used in the
sport of fencing. While it is not unusual for fencers to compete in all
three events, they generally choose to develop their skills in one weapon.
Until recently, women were permitted to compete only in foil, but now the
USFA & FIE offer national competitions for women in épée and sabre.
Women's épée was added to the World Championships in 1989 and was held for
the first time at the Olympic Games in 1996. Foil and épée are point-thrusting weapons. Sabre is a
point-thrusting as well as a cutting weapon. The target areas differ for
the three weapons, though all three are scored electrically.
Foil The foil has a flexible rectangular blade,
approximately 35 inches in length, weighing less than one pound. Points
are scored with the tip of the blade and must land within the torso of the
body. The valid target area in foil is the torso, from the
shoulders to the groin, front and back. It does not include the arms,
neck, head and legs. The foil fencer's uniform includes a metallic vest
(called a lamé) which covers the valid target area, so that a valid touch
will register on the scoring machine. A small, spring-loaded tip is
attached to the point of the foil and is connected to a wire inside the
blade. The fencer wears a body cord inside his uniform which connects the
foil to a reel wire, connected to the scoring machine.
There are two scoring lights on the machine. One shows
a green light when a fencer is hit, and one shows a red light when her
opponent is hit. A touch landing outside the valid target area (that which
is not covered by the lamé) is indicated by a white light. These "off
target" hits do not count in the scoring, but they do stop the fencing
action temporarily. Épée The épée (pronounced "EPP-pay"), the descendant of the
dueling sword, is similar in length to the foil, but is heavier, weighing
approximately 27 ounces, with a larger guard (to protect the hand from a
valid hit) and a much stiffer blade. Touches are scored only with the
point of the blade. The entire body is the valid target area.
The blade is wired with a spring-loaded tip at the end
that completes an electrical circuit when it is depressed beyond a
pressure of 750 grams. This causes the colored bulb on the scoring machine
to light. Because the entire body is a valid target area, the épée
fencer's uniform does not include a lamé. Off-target hits do not register
on the machine. Sabre The sabre is the modern version of the slashing
cavalry sword, and is similar in length and weight to the foil. The major
difference is that the sabre is a thrusting weapon as well as a cutting
weapon (use of the blade). The target area is from the bend of the hips
(both front and back), to the top of the head, simulating the cavalry
rider on a horse. The sabre fencer's uniform includes a metallic jacket
(lamé), which covers the target area to register a valid touch on the
scoring machine. The mask is different from foil and épée, with a metallic
covering since the head is valid target area. Just as in foil, there are
two scoring lights on the machine. One shows a green light when a fencer
is hit, and one shows a red light when the opponent has hit. Off-target
hits do not register on the machine. Object The main object of a fencing bout (what an individual
"game" is called) is to effectively score 15 points (in direct elimination
play) or five points (in preliminary pool play) on your opponent before he
scores that number on you. Each time a fencer scores a touch, she receives
a point. Direct elimination matches consist of three three-minute periods.
Right-Of-Way One of the most difficult concepts to visualize in
foil and sabre fencing is the rule of right-of-way. This rule was
established to eliminate apparently simultaneous attacks by two fencers.
In essence, right-of-way is the differentiation of
offense and defense, made by the referee. The difference is important only
when both the red and green lights go on at the same time in foil and
sabre. When this happens, the winner of the point is the one who the
referee determined was on offense at the time the lights went on.
Épée does not use the right-of-way in keeping with its
dueling origin - he who first gains the touch earns the point. Or, if both
fencers hit within 1/25th of a second of each other, both earn a point.
However, it is equally important to have a sound defense for épée, since
the entire body must be protected from a touch. How to Follow the Action For those new to fencing, it is difficult to follow
the lightning speed of the fencers' actions. To become more comfortable in
watching a fencing bout, focus on one fencer. The fencer being attacked
defends himself by use of a parry, a motion used to deflect the
opponent's blade, after which the defender can make a riposte, an
answering attack. Thus, the two adversaries keep changing between offense
and defense. Whenever a hit is made, the referee will stop the bout,
describe the actions, and decide whether or not to award a touch.
Fencers seek to maintain a safe distance from each
other, that is, out of range of the other's attack. Then, one will try to
break this distance to gain the advantage for an attack. At times, a
fencer will make a false attack to gauge the types of reactions by the
opponent that can be deceived in the real attack. As you become accustomed to the speed of the game, the
tactics and strategies become more apparent, and you will gain a better
understanding for the finesse and fascination of fencing!
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