WHAT IS FENCING?

The study and teaching of the use of the sword has a long history.  As early as the 1300s, systematic instruction in how to use swords as military weapons was being taught in European countries.  In the 1500s the first widely distributed instructional textbooks were published, fencing started to develop along national lines, and the first organized societies of teachers of fencing emerged, spurred by the transition of the sword from purely a weapon of war into a symbol of social status and an essential means of self-defense.  In the 1800s the general disappearance of dueling as a way to settle disputes among gentlemen led to a revival of fencing as a sport.  Since the first modern Olympic games in 1896 (founded through the efforts of Pierre Baron de Coubertin, a fencer), fencing has developed steadily as a modern sport.  Today fencers compete in local and state tournaments, college team competition, state and sectional championships, United States National Championships, the World Championships, and the Olympic Games.  At the 2004 Olympics, US women sabre fencers earned the first Gold and Bronze medals awarded for Women's Sabre Fencing, and the US foil fencers placed fourth in the Men's Foil Team event, a strong showing that reflects the recent growth in the sport in the US.   

Fencers compete today in three weapons:

Foil - originally developed as a training weapon for the gentleman's small sword, the foil is a light (weight under 500 grams) weapon with a 35 inch blade.  At foil, the target is the fencer's torso, and touches are scored by hitting the target with the point of the weapon.  Rules govern right of way, based on who initiates the attack, determining which fencer's attack has the priority for scoring a touch, or point.

Epee - the modern dueling sword, the epee was used in that role as late as the 1950s.  The epee is a heavier weapon with a relatively stiff blade.  The epee target is the entire body, and touches are scored by hitting the target with the point of the weapon.  In epee whoever hits first scores.

Sabre - descended from the cavalry sabre and the dueling sabre of the late 1800s, the sabre scores hits on the fencer above the waist, including the arms and head, with both the point and cutting movements with the blade.  Like in foil, touches in sabre are awarded by who has the right of way.

Men and women both fence all three weapons, and many tournaments are fenced as mixed competitions.  In addition, a strong national age group program is designed to develop young people as fencers from an early age.  Fencing is also a wheelchair sport, with wheelchair competition as part of the North American Cup circuit and National Championships.

Fencing is one of the safest of modern sports.  Fencers wear uniforms designed specifically to protect them against injury in the case of a broken blade.  Although fencers suffer the normal strains and minor injuries common to any sport, serious injuries are almost unheard of. 

As an almost completely amateur sport (the only body of professional fencers are the professional fencing coaches, the Moniteurs, Prevot, and Masters), there is a wide range of opportunities for participation as a fencer, competition official, and volunteer administrator.

SKILL DEVELOPMENT:

At all three weapons fencing requires the development of both fine motor and tactical skills.  A solid foundation of excellent technique is an absolute necessity for those fencers who wish to become champions.  The Salle has a five level Skills Program that provides each fencer a roadmap of the skills and knowledge needed to develop at each level of competition.   

AGE GROUP FENCING:

Amateur fencing has a strong age group development program designed for young fencers.  Young fencers can compete at state and national Junior Olympics championships and at age group meets at the Summer Nationals.  A number of vendors provide equipment sized appropriately for younger fencers.  The Salle welcomes fencers in any of the youth age groups:

• Youth 10 (ages 6-10)
• Youth 12 (ages 9-12)
• Youth 14 (ages 11-14
• Cadet (under 17 for the season and under 16 for the Summer Nationals)
• Junior (under 20 for the season and under 19 for the Summer Nationals)

WHEELCHAIR FENCING:

Starting in the 1970s in the United Kingdom, fencing has developed as a modern sport for wheelchair athletes.  Wheelchair bouts are fought with the wheelchairs fixed in place by a regulation frame, and with the fencers within arm extension distance of each other.  At all three weapons this leads to very rapid swordplay.  Accommodations are made within the rules to allow participation on a level basis by athletes with a variety of disability.  We encourage wheelchair athletes who want to participate in a very competitive sport to consider fencing with us.