FENCING … Modern Sport, Ancient Art

Fencing — the art of swordsmanship — has been practiced for centuries, originally as training for the deadly combat of the duel, later for sport. Fencing, as a sport, is becoming more and more popular because it provides such a high degree of exercise, both physical and mental. It develops coordination, speed and agility, as well as the additional benefits of poise and self-assurance.

The Italians, Spanish, and French all claim parentage for modern fencing, but throughout Europe during the Renaissance the discipline took on the aura of high art, with masters refining and passing on to a select few their secret techniques. In the 18th century, treatises appeared in print setting forth the current system of rules and scoring, and prescribing the foil, a metal mask with eye slit, and protective jacket or vest as equipment for use. The rules were intended to simulate real combat while protecting the safety of the combatants. "Conventions" were subsequently adopted to limit the target area of the body and providing for a "right of way" for attacks.

Fencing was a clear choice for inclusion in the Olympic program from 1896 onwards. At the time, the sword was still considered an important military weapon, and sword fighting remained a well-established European custom backed by centuries of tradition. In addition to the foil, contested weapons were the epee, descendent of the dueling sword, and the sabre, which evolved from the weapon of choice for cavalry troops. Fencing remains one of just six sports to have appeared in every modern Olympic Games.
In the first decades of competition, Europeans dominated, with France, Italy, Spain, Great Britain, and the Netherlands all boasting champions. Following World War II, the communist nations of eastern Europe rose to pre-eminence, with the Soviet Union, Poland, and Hungary sharing the medal stand. Aladar Gerevich of Hungary is considered fencing's greatest champion, with seven gold medals in sabre competition to his credit.

How to Watch a Fencing Match
                                 
Sport fencing uses three different weapons: foil, epee and sabre. Competitions are held for each weapon and each has a style all its own. But although each weapon has slightly different rules, the goal of the competitive fencer remains the same — to score touches on the opponent's valid target.
The bout
Most competitions are fenced using the "pool" system, with a group of fencers taking turns facing each other in Individual contests called "bouts". The bout begins with the director's command, "On guard, ready, fence!" The fencers then have six minutes to score the five touches necessary to win. If time runs out and neither fencer has scored five touches against the opponent, the fencer who has scored the most touches wins. If the score is even, the contestants continue to fence until one of them scores one more valid touch. 
Occasionally a competition will involve "direct elimination", in which men fence for 10 touches and up to 10 minutes; women fence for 8 touches and up to 8 minutes, and only the winner remains in the competition.

The strip
A bout is fenced on a playing field called the "Strip"[Piste], 14 meters long and two meters wide. Touches count only if they're scored while a fencer is on the strip and the fencer scoring the touch had the right-of-way. All bouts begin at the center of the strip and after each touch is awarded, the fencers return to the center to start the action again.
On both ends of the strip you'll see warning lines; one meter from the end in foil, two meters from the end in epee and sabre. A retreating fencer reaching the line the first time in foil, or the second time in epee or sabre, receives a warning from the director. Going off the end of the strip with both feet after the warning incurs a penalty of one touch. A fencer going off the strip on the side has to give up one meter of ground in foil, two meters in epee and sabre.
How to follow the action
Because of the speed of the game, tracking the action may at first seem difficult. It'll be a lot easier to see what's going on if you don't try to watch both fencers. Concentrate on the one making the attack. If the attacker's move is parried by the opponent's weapon, watch him or her go on the defensive to prepare for the opponent's riposte (the quick thrust after the parry) before resuming the offense.
Notice how the fencers try to maintain a safe distance from each other; how one or the other will try to "break" this distance to gain an advantage for an attack. Note how one fencer or the other will make a false attack to try to determine the opponent's reaction.
As your eyes get accustomed to the speed of the game, you'll begin to follow the tactics of each fencer. You'll begin to see the strategy, to distinguish between deception and all-out attack. And you'll be well on your way to understanding and enjoying the unique sport of fencing.
             					
The foil is the modern version of the dueling rapier. It has a flexible blade about 35 inches long and weighs about a pound. Touches are scored only with the point of the weapon, which must land on the trunk of the body — the chest, back, sides.
Scoring
The fencer's valid target area is covered with a metallic vest. When an opponent's blade hits the vest, the point . of the blade completes an electrical circuit. This causes the registration apparatus to signal a touch. A buzzer sounds and a colored light goes on, indicating which fencer has been touched. Sometimes you'll see a white light go on. This indicates that a touch has landed outside the valid target area ("off target"). The white light halts the action, but no touch is awarded.
If colored lights go on against both fencers, it's up to the director [president] to decide who scored first. This is done by determining who has "right of way." The attacker starts off with the right of way. However, if the defender parries and then assumes the offensive with a riposte (counter attack), he or she in turn gains the right of way and so on.
The first fencer to score five touches (10 touches in direct elimination events) on the opponent wins the bout.
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.

The Duel

A)  Start of the bout:	1. Beginning of each bout fencers must salute each other, as well as the officials and spectators.
2. The director begins the bout by giving the order "Engarde"
3. Each fencer takes the Engarde position in the center of the strip with his/her back foot on the Engarde line [2 meters 	     from center line].
4. The director then asks "Are you ready"
5. The director then gives the command "Fence".
6. The bout will stop on the word "halt"
B)  Scoring		1. A touch is scored when the opponent hits the legitimate target area.
2. A touch is scored when the fencer is on the attack and has the right of way
3. The right of way is awarded to the fencer that extents his/her foil arm first.
4. If the fencer crosses rear boundary with both feet a touch is awarded.
5. If the fencer steps over the side limit with one foot the bout is stopped and a warning is given.
     If it happens two times a touch is awarded.
6. A bout is 5 points and a maximum of 6 minutes.

	
The Language of Fencing:  Terms and Terminology
Most fencing terms describe the actions to which they refer. Many of the terms in common usage in this country reflects the French or Italian origins of fencing, and although much of its terminology has been adapted or translated to English, many words are European. All international fencing championships are conducted in French.
Advance A movement forward by step.	
Attack The initial offensive action made by extending the sword arm and continuously threatening the valid target of the opponent.
Attention   The starting stance of both fencers prior to the start of a duel and prior to any commands.
Beat An attempt to knock the opponent's blade aside or out of line by using one's foil against the opponent's foil.
Blade The portion of the weapon from the button to the guard.
Button or Tip The safety tip on the end of practice and sporting swords.	
Call A signal to stop the bout. If a fencer wishes to stop during a bout without danger or being hit, he or she may "call" to the director to stop the bout by quickly stamping his or her forward foot two times.
Director (Referee, President) The mediator of the fencing bout.
Disengage A simple attack that is made by leaving the line of engagement to hit in
another.  Weapons blades are not touching.
Engagement The contact of two opposing blades.
En Garde (On Guard) The fencing position; the stance that fencers assume when preparing to fence.
Feint a subtle blade movement designed to lure the opponent into making a parry.  Naerly always followed by an attack.
Foil A fencing weapon with rectangular cross-section blade and a small bell guard; any sword that has been buttoned to render it less dangerous for practice.
Four Position (Quarte)   Weapons are on the inside (right side).	
Guard (Shield)  The metal cup that protects the hand from being hit.
Handle   The portion of the weapon the fencer holds in the hand.
Jury   The four (4) officials who watch for hits in a dry fencing bout (not using electronic scoring).
Lunge An extension of the guard position made in order to reach the opponent.
Mask The protective wire helmet that is worn on the head.
Match A contest between two teams.
Parry A defensive action that deflects the attacker's blade.
Piste (Strip)  From the French word meaning "path." This is the fencing area. It may be said to resemble a path or strip because of its long, narrow shape.
Point A valid touch; the tip of the sword; the mechanical assembly that makes up the point of an electric weapon; an attack made with the point (i.e. a thrust)
Pommel The metal part at the end of the handle that fastens the parts of the foil together and also acts as a counterweight to the blade, thereby making it a balanced weapon with a French handle.
President (Director) The individual who presides over a fencing meet.
Retreat A step back; opposite of advance.
Riposte  A counter-attack made immediately after one has successfully parried the opponent’s blade.  An answering attack made by a fencer after he or she has successfully defended himself or herself.
Salute  With the weapon, a customary acknowledgement of one’s opponent and referee at the start and end of the bout.
Six Position (Sixte) Weapons are on the outside (left side).
Strip (Piste) The field of play. The strip is usually made of rubber so that fencers will not slip as they move. In an electric fencing meet, the strip may be covered with wire mesh that grounds any hits to the floor that would otherwise register as off target.
Thrust The action of hitting with an extended arm. To make a firm thrust the point is placed on the target with the action of the fingers.
Touche (Touch)  When the button/tip contacts the opponent.
United States Fencing Association The governing body of fencing in this country; renamed in 1982; formerly the Amateur Fencers League of America.
The USFA and Fencing
The United States Fencing Association (USFA) is the governing body for the sport in the U.S. It organizes and conducts competitions for all ago groups at entry level, from local events to the national championships. The USFA also sets the rules under which competitions are held in the U.S., and selects and oversees the training of junior and senior teams for all international events. The Association helps to encourage high school and collegiate fencing and provides officials for these events. To keep enthusiasts up-to-date on what's happening in fencing, a bi-monthly magazine called "American Fencing" is published.
The USFA is a non-profit organization managed by a Board of Directors elected by members around the country.
Relationship to other sports organizations
Fencing is one of the original sports in the modern Olympics, so naturally the USFA belongs to the United States Olympic Committee, and selects and prepares the Olympic and Pan American fencing teams. The Association is also a member of the International Fencing Federation, the world governing body, and maintains close ties with the National Collegiate Athletic Association, U.S. Fencing Coaches' Association, American Academy of Arms, Intercollegiate Fencing Association, National Intercollegiate Women's Fencing Association and other regional collegiate and scholastic organizations.
Joining the USFA
Membership in the USFA is open to everyone who is interested in fencing. In addition to enhancing your own enjoyment of this fast-moving sport, you contribute to an organization dedicated to supporting all areas of fencing, from local clubs to international teams. All members receive copies of "American Fencing." Contributions to the USFA are tax-deductible.
For further Information on the United States Fencing Association, please write to:  United States Fencing Association
                                                                                                                                                         1750 E. Boulder St.    Colorado Springs, CO 80909-5774