Physical Education 2 ESO

FENCING

1.- THE SPORT OF FENCING

Fencing is a sport in which two competitors fight each other using

very thin weapons.

The object of fencing is to score a point or touch by hitting your

opponent's target with your weapon before they get the scoring
touch on you, but the rules, strategies, and target areas differ with
each weapon to make the games distinct.

Fencing was one of the first sports to be played in the Olympics.

2.- THE CLOTHING

The competitors wear protective clothes, so

that they do not hurt each other. Most
personal protective equipment for fencing is
made of tough cotton, nylon or Kevlar.
 Mask (01): The fencing mask has a bib that
protects the neck. The bib should have a
high penetration resistance.

 Lamé (02): A lamé is a layer of electrically

conductive material worn over the fencing
jacket in foil and sabre fencing. The lamé
covers the entire target area, and makes it
easier to determine whether a hit fell
within the target area.

 Jacket (04): The jacket is form-fitting, and

has a strap (called croissard) that passes
between the legs.
 Plastron (05): It is an underarm protector worn underneath the jacket. It provides double protection on
the side of the armed upper arm.

 Glove (06): The armed hand is protected by a glove with a gauntlet that prevents blades from going up
the sleeve and causing injury. The glove also improves grip.

 Body cord (07): The body cord serves as the connection between a fencer and a reel of wire that is part
of a system for electrically detecting that the weapon has touched the opponent.

 Breeches (09): Breeches or knickers are short trousers that end just below the knee.

 Socks (10): Fencing socks are long enough to cover the knee; some cover most of the thigh.

 Shoes (11): Fencing shoes have flat soles, and are reinforced on the inside for the back foot, and in the
heel for the front foot. The reinforcement prevents wear from lunging.
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FENCING

3.- THE “PISTE”

A fencing match has to take place on a strip called “piste” that is 2 metres wide, and 14 metres long.

The strip or “piste”, has two lines known as the “en-garde” lines located 2 metres from the centre.
Additionally, two warning lines are located 2 metres from the end of each side of the strip that informs
players that they are about to run out of space. If a player steps off the strip, a touch will be awarded to
the opponent.

4.- THE WEAPONS

Foil
 The Foil: The foil is a lightweight weapon with a rectangular blade. It is a
thrusting or point weapon, then, fencers can only score using the tip of the
blade and are required to hit specific target areas. Foil is also governed by
the right-of-way rule, meaning that points are not always awarded to the
fencer who hits first. Instead, the point will be awarded to the fencer who
hits with priority.

Epeé
 The Epeé: The epee has a triangular blade, and is heavier than the Foil. The hand
guard is also larger than that in foil weapons. Similarly to the Foil, touches are
only scored using the tip of the blade. However, the entire body is available as a
target, including the head and limbs. The right-of-way rule does not apply to epee
fencing, meaning that whichever fencer executes a hit first, the point will be
awarded to that fencer.

Saber

 The Saber: The saber features a flat blade. Unlike foil and epee fencing, the fencer
is able to score points if he makes hits with any part of his blade. The target area
for saber fencing includes the torso above the waist, the head and arms, but
exclude the hands and anything below the opponent’s waist. Similar to foil fencing,
the right-of-way rule applies.
Parts of a weapon:
HAND GUARD
TIP

BLADE

GRIP
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FENCING

5.- THE COMPETITION: SPORTMANSHIP AND THE RULES

Before the bout:

Both participants have to enter the “piste” fully dressed,
with exception of the mask, stopping at the “en-garde lines”
from which they will start the match.

Additionally, before the bout starts, both fencers are

required to “salute” each other and the referee, and failure
to do so might result in disqualification.

After the salutes are completed, the referee will call out and both
fencers have to put on their masks, and adopt the en-garde stance.
Next, the referee will ask if the fencers are ready.

The bout:
Fencers remain facing the direction of their opponent and are not to leave the strip during the bout. The
referee halts play when an action is completed, and determines each time which fencer won a touch
until a winner is determined.
In regular or “poule” competition between two fencers, the bout continues until one fencer has scored 5
touches, and in the direct elimination round of a tournament, it can go to 15 points.

When the bout is over, both fencers return to their starting lines, remove their masks, salute each other,
and approach to shake hands. Good sportsmanship maintains the dignity of the sport.

The RIGHT-OF-WAY or PRIORITY rule:

Priority or right of way is the decision criterion used in foil and
sabre fencing to determine which fencer receives the touch, or
point, when both fencers land a hit within the same short time-
frame (less than 1 second). Here are the ways to gain the
priority:
- start an attack
- parry or evade an attack
- establish a 'point-in-line‘: your arm is extended with weapon
pointing at the target area of the opponent.

6.- A FENCING PHRASE

A ‘fencing phrase’, is an uninterrupted exchange of blade actions consisting of offensive or defensive

movements. The referee will call for a phrase to be halted if a ‘touch’ has been scored meaning an
opponent has been hit, a rule has been broken, or if the bout has become unsafe or too messy for the
referee to follow.

Example a) of a “phrase”: (1) Attack + (2) Parry, Riposte + (1) Parry, Riposte (Touché).
Example b) of a“phrase”: (1) Attack + (2) Counteratack + (1) Parry, Riposte, + (2) Counter-Riposte (Touché).
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FENCING

7.- THE TECHNICS: POSITIONS, ACTIONS AND GUARDS

HOW TO MOVE
 To “advance”: Step forward.

 To “break ground”: Step back.

 “Lunge”: Long step forward to reach further in one movement.

 “Flèche”: Fast short run. The purpose of the flèche is to attack

the opponent and to reach him or her by means of a quick,
short run.

Lunge Flèche

“EN-GARDE” POSITION
The position that the fencer has to take before the match
begins is the “en-garde” stance. This stance happens after
the salute has been made. With the feet still in the ‘L’
position – also known as the attention position.

“PARRY”
This defense action is the most frequently used, where the
fencer deflects the opponent’s blade. It also involves a
retreat and a riposte, with the latter being a quick
responsive thrust forward (Parry-riposte).

The different guards are numbered, and coincide with the

parry numbers
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FENCING

7.- THE TECHNICS: POSITIONS, ACTIONS AND GUARDS

THE GUARDS IN SABER