Enquiries to: info@salleursafencing.co.uk

Fencing weapons (top to bottom): Sabres, foils, epees. Foil and epee can be used with two main different types of handles: French (which looks like a sabre handle) and pistol grip. (Illustration from allstar-fencing.co.uk)

The fencing weapons

The modern sport of fencing uses three types of weapons: FOILS, SABRES and EPEES.

(Picture from english.people.com.cn)

Foil and epee are thrusting weapons and you can score with them if you touch your opponent with the point. Sabre is a cutting and thrusting weapon: most hits are scored with the edge of the blade. All three weapons can be used with an electric scoring box, or without it: fencing 'steam'.

Basic rules

The three weapons are different not only by how the look like, but how they can be used properly.

First of all, the target areas are different:

In SABRE you can hit almost anywhere above the waist, including the head, back, chest and arms. Only the hands are not target area. (Watch a video of sabre fencing)

In FOIL you are aiming at the upper body, without the arms, hands and the head. Chest and back are target areas. (Watch a video of foil fencing)

EPEE is the weapon that wants it all: every inch of your body is target: head, back, chest, legs, arms, feet and hands as well. (Watch a video of epee fencing)

Secondly, there is the idea of the 'right of way'.

SABRE and FOIL are so-called conventional weapons, where the person starting an attack HAS PRIORITY over the other fencer. This means, that if your opponent attacks you, you must defend yourself first, THEN you can hit him. If you think about it, it is logical: you must be safe first before you can do anything else. This also helps keep fencing beautiful and elegant: fencers must think and act, and not just waggle their swords against you! If you attack, you can be sure to score a valid hit if your opponent just sticks his arm out to stop you, without touching your blade.

EPEE again, is different... Whoever hits first, will score the point. The trick is, that speed is not enough! If you attack, you must make sure that you don't expose any target area, because points can be given double: if you both hit, you both score (which can be dangerous if you are 4-3 down in a match up to 5 hits!).

The fencing area

Fencers move forwards and backwards on a long, thin area called a 'piste'. This is how a piste looks like (photo from nzsia.co.nz):