USA Fencing rulebook
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WEAPONS
Foil, épée and saber are the three weapons used in the sport of fencing. While it is not unusual for fencers to compete in all three events, they generally choose to develop their skills in one weapon.
Foil and épée are point-thrusting weapons. Saber is a point-thrusting as well as a cutting weapon. The target areas differ for the three weapons, though all three are scored electrically.
Foil and épée are point-thrusting weapons. Saber is a point-thrusting as well as a cutting weapon. The target areas differ for the three weapons, though all three are scored electrically.
FOIL
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The foil has a flexible rectangular blade, approximately 35 inches in length, weighing less than one pound. Points are scored with the tip of the blade and must land within the torso of the body.
The valid target area in foil is the torso, from the shoulders to the groin, front and back. It does not include the arms, neck, head and legs. The foil fencer’s uniform includes a metallic vest (called a lamé) which covers the valid target area, . A small, spring-loaded tip is attached to the point of the foil and is connected to a wire inside the blade. The fencer wears a body cord inside his uniform which connects the foil to a reel wire which is connected to the scoring machine. When an opponent’s tip hits this vest, the tip depresses and completes an electrical circuit. This sets off a light and a buzzer on the scoring machine against the one who is hit. A colored light signifies that the valid target (the metallic vest) was hit; a white light signifies that the hit landed outside the target area. When a light comes on, the referee halts the bout — even though no point is awarded for an off-target hit. If colored lights go on for both fencers, the referee must decide who gets the point based on “right of way.”
Foil fencing is “conventional”, meaning that it is subject to strict rules of right of way as to when one may attack and when one should defend. These conventions extend back four centuries and continue to make foil a fascinating pursuit today. The goal of standard foil fencing is to score touches on the opponent’s valid target area within the context of the right of way.
The valid target area in foil is the torso, from the shoulders to the groin, front and back. It does not include the arms, neck, head and legs. The foil fencer’s uniform includes a metallic vest (called a lamé) which covers the valid target area, . A small, spring-loaded tip is attached to the point of the foil and is connected to a wire inside the blade. The fencer wears a body cord inside his uniform which connects the foil to a reel wire which is connected to the scoring machine. When an opponent’s tip hits this vest, the tip depresses and completes an electrical circuit. This sets off a light and a buzzer on the scoring machine against the one who is hit. A colored light signifies that the valid target (the metallic vest) was hit; a white light signifies that the hit landed outside the target area. When a light comes on, the referee halts the bout — even though no point is awarded for an off-target hit. If colored lights go on for both fencers, the referee must decide who gets the point based on “right of way.”
Foil fencing is “conventional”, meaning that it is subject to strict rules of right of way as to when one may attack and when one should defend. These conventions extend back four centuries and continue to make foil a fascinating pursuit today. The goal of standard foil fencing is to score touches on the opponent’s valid target area within the context of the right of way.
EPEE
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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. Epee fencing is “unconventional”, meaning that there are no rules as to when one may attack and when one should defend. Of the three weapons, it is the one closest to actual combat.
Unlike foil and sabre, there is no need for a special metallic vest or jacket as the entire body is valid target. 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 a colored light and a buzzer on the machine against the one who is hit. Because the entire body is a valid target area, the épée fencer’s uniform does not include a lamé. Off-target hits do not register on the machine.
There is no “right of way” in epee. The fencer who hits first receives a point and if both fencers hit at the same time, (within 1/25th of a second), both receive a point. Otherwise, the fencer who scores five points first or is ahead when time runs out wins the bout.
Unlike foil and sabre, there is no need for a special metallic vest or jacket as the entire body is valid target. 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 a colored light and a buzzer on the machine against the one who is hit. Because the entire body is a valid target area, the épée fencer’s uniform does not include a lamé. Off-target hits do not register on the machine.
There is no “right of way” in epee. The fencer who hits first receives a point and if both fencers hit at the same time, (within 1/25th of a second), both receive a point. Otherwise, the fencer who scores five points first or is ahead when time runs out wins the bout.
SABer
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The saber is the modern version of the slashing cavalry sword, and is similar in length and weight to the foil. It has a flexible Y- or I-shaped blade and a wrap-around guard The major difference is that the saber is a cutting weapon as well as a thrusting weapon (use of the blade). The target area is from the bend of the hips (both front and back), to the top of the head, simulating the cavalry rider on a horse. Touches may be delivered in any of three ways: with a thrust utilizing the point, with a cut utilizing the leading edge of the blade, or with a counter-cut utilizing the last one-third of the back edge of the blade.
Saber fencing, like foil, is “conventional”, meaning that it is subject to strict rules as to when one may attack and when one should defend. The combination of conventionality and three different modes of attack make saber a fast and complex weapon of choice. The goal of saber fencing is, as in foil fencing, to score touches on the opponent’s valid target area within the context of the right of way.
The saber fencer’s uniform includes a metallic jacket (lamé), which covers the target area to register a valid touch on the scoring machine. The mask is different from foil and épée, with a metallic covering since the head is valid target area.
When an opponent’s blade hits the jacket, with either the point or the edge, an electrical circuit sets off a light and a buzzer on the scoring machine against the one who is hit. The colored light signifies that a valid target (the jacket or mask) was hit. Unlike the foil, there is no “off-target.” Anytime a light comes on, the referee halts the bout and awards, if appropriate, a point. If the colored lights go on for both fencers, the referee must decide which fencer will receive the point based on “right of way.”
Saber fencing, like foil, is “conventional”, meaning that it is subject to strict rules as to when one may attack and when one should defend. The combination of conventionality and three different modes of attack make saber a fast and complex weapon of choice. The goal of saber fencing is, as in foil fencing, to score touches on the opponent’s valid target area within the context of the right of way.
The saber fencer’s uniform includes a metallic jacket (lamé), which covers the target area to register a valid touch on the scoring machine. The mask is different from foil and épée, with a metallic covering since the head is valid target area.
When an opponent’s blade hits the jacket, with either the point or the edge, an electrical circuit sets off a light and a buzzer on the scoring machine against the one who is hit. The colored light signifies that a valid target (the jacket or mask) was hit. Unlike the foil, there is no “off-target.” Anytime a light comes on, the referee halts the bout and awards, if appropriate, a point. If the colored lights go on for both fencers, the referee must decide which fencer will receive the point based on “right of way.”
