Fencing

Fencing has been practiced for centuries, originally as training for the deadly combat of the duel, later for sport.

The sport of fencing is a lightning-fast battle of wits and will, 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.  Fencing is a rapidly growing sport and provided a vigorous physical and mental workout.  It develops coordination, speed, and agility as well as the additional benefits of poise and self-assurance.  Competitors strive to out-think, outmaneuver and outlast their opponents.  Appropriate for men and women of all ages for recreation or competition.  Three weapons — the foil, the sabre, and the épée — are used in fencing, and there are individual and team competitions for each.

Foil and épée are “point thrusting” weapons, while the sabre can both thrust and slash with its blade edge.  All three weapons have been modified to allow for electronic scoring.  All fencers wear protective masks and clothes.

ÉPEÉ

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.  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.

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.