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| '''Fencing''' is any system of systematized offense and defense with the sword, most commonly used to denote those systems of European origin. Today it can be considered in the sense of a ] or a modern Olympic ]. | '''Fencing''' is any system of systematized offense and defense with the sword, most commonly used to denote those systems of European origin. Today it can be considered in the sense of a ] or a modern Olympic ]. | ||
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| === Foil === | === Foil === | ||
| The modern foil is descended from |
The modern foil is descended from the training weapon for the ], a lighter version of the ] that was the common sidearm of the eighteenth-century gentleman. (Rapier and even ] foils are also known to have been used but thay were very different in terms of weight and use.) It is a light weapon, with a flexible, quadrangular blade, that scores only with the point. (In modern sport fencing, which makes use of eletrical scoring appratus, one must hit the opponent with the tip of the blade, with a force of at least 0.5 Newtons.) | ||
| The valid target area at foil is limited, due to it having evolved from the |
The valid target area at foil is limited, due to it having evolved from the time when fencing was practiced with limited safety equipment. Hits to the face were dangerous, so the head was removed from valid target. The target was then further reduced to only the trunk of the body, where the vitals are located. | ||
| === Épée === | === Épée === | ||
| The modern épée is the closest weapon to an actual classical duelling épée |
The modern épée is the closest weapon to an actual classical duelling weapon that is used in modern fencing. Following the great social revolutions of the late eighteenth century, gentlemen no longer commonly wore swords, and so the épée, carried to the field of honor in a case, was developed as a means of settling disputes. The épée is a long, straight and relatively heavy sword, with a triangular, relatively inflexible blade and a large, round, bell-shaped guard. | ||
| Like the foil and smallsword, the épée is a point weapon. In electric fencing, in order for a point to register, one must hit the opponent with the point, registering at least 0.75 Newtons of force. Classical fencers sometimes use a point d'arret, a three-pronged attachment that will actually catch the opponent's jacket. | |||
| The reason for the large guard is that the hand is valid target, as is the rest of the body. |
The reason for the large guard is that the hand is valid target, as is the rest of the body. Since double-hits are a possibility--and, since there is no right-of-way (see below), épée fencing tends to be conservative in the extreme. | ||
| === |
=== Saber === | ||
| The modern saber is descended from the classical North Italian duelling saber, a far lighter weapon than the cavalry saber. The method and practice of saber fencing is somewhat different from the other weapons, in that they are edged weapons. In modern electric scoring, a touch with the saber, point, flat or edge, to any part of the opponent's valid target (head, torso, or arm) will register a hit. Classical fencing, naturally, has more stringent requirements. | |||
| Sabres are radically different from the other weapons, in that they are edged weapons. There is no need to hit the opponent with any force at all - simply contacting your blade (the side or the point) to anywhere in the target area is sufficient to register a hit. As such, sabre fencing tends to be faster than épée or foil. | |||
| ⚫ | The target area originates from dueling sabre training. To attack the opponent's leg would allow him to "slip" that leg back and attack one's exposed arm or head given that the higher line attack will outreach the low line (there is a classic example of the leg slip in Angelo's "Hungarian and Highland Broadsword" of 1790). The target area is from the waist up. Similar right of way rules exist for sabre as they do for foil. | ||
| The modern saber is descended from the classical North Italian duelling saber, a far lighter weapon than the cavalry saber. | |||
| ⚫ | The target area originates from |
||
| == Right of Way == | == Right of Way == | ||
| The |
The "right of way" principle in foil and saber is that the first person to attack has priority. Simply put, if one is attacked, one must defend oneself before counterattacking - rather than attempting to hit one's opponent even at the risk of being hit oneself. Attacks can be made to fail either by bad luck, mis-judgement or by action on the part of the defender. ]ing (redirecting the attack with the blade) causes priority to change and for the defender to have the opportunity to attack. For instance, if one fencer attacks, and the other immediately counter-attacks into the attack, and each hits the other, the first fencer's attack is considered successful, while the second is considered to have misjudged. If, however, the second fencer parried the first attack and then responded with an attack of their own, they would have taken the right of way away from the first fencer. It would then be incumbent on the first fencer to defemd his- or her-self. | ||
| Attacks can be made to fail either by bad luck, mis-judgement or by action on the part of the defender. ]ing (blocking the attack with the blade) causes priority to change and for the defender to have the opportunity to attack. | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | In modern sport épée, both fencers will register a hit if they contact within a certain time of each other. Then the president must decide who had right of way at the time of the hits, and therefore who gets a point. If the president cannot tell, then they will declare the touches null, and restart the fight from where it stopped. | ||
| It has been suggested that, foil being a teaching tool, right of way may derive from a salle exercise aimed at developing conservative and defensive tactics rather than suicidal attack, important when training for the duel. | |||
| == Protective Clothing == | == Protective Clothing == | ||
Revision as of 21:03, 10 April 2003
Ger:Fechten Ital:Scherma Span:Escrima
Fencing is any system of systematized offense and defense with the sword, most commonly used to denote those systems of European origin. Today it can be considered in the sense of a martial art or a modern Olympic sport.
Modern and Classical Fencing
The modern sport of fencing can be traced back to 1913, with the foundation of the Federation Internationale d'Escrime (FIE) in Paris. The purpose of the FIE is to codify and regulate the practice of the sport of fencing, particularly for the purpose of international competition. Prior to this, international sportive competitions had taken place, notably between rival French and Italian masters.
From the perspective of the twenty-first century, we can see the foundation of the FIE as the definitive break between the "sportive" tradition of fencing, which aims to train athletes to win at a competition with often arbitrarily defined rules, and the older, "classical" tradition of fencing, that seeks to preserve training with the sword as a means of self-defense and for the formal duel.
The Weapons
In both its modern and its classical guise, fencing consists of three different weapons: foil, épée and saber. All but Women's Saber (which will make its debut at the 2004 Olympic Games)are represented at Olympic-level competition. Additionally, in classical academies, one will often find historical fencing weapons, such as grand canne and rapier and dagger, being taught.
Foil used to be the first weapon taught to beginners, because the techniques of foil teach, in abtract form, the fundamentals of fencing. Additionally, in the past, women were only allowed to fence foil, and the lightness of the weapon made it easier to handle by children. Today, while it is advisable to gain at least a fundamental grasp of foil, fencers often begin with any of the three weapons.
Foil
The modern foil is descended from the training weapon for the small-sword, a lighter version of the rapier that was the common sidearm of the eighteenth-century gentleman. (Rapier and even longsword foils are also known to have been used but thay were very different in terms of weight and use.) It is a light weapon, with a flexible, quadrangular blade, that scores only with the point. (In modern sport fencing, which makes use of eletrical scoring appratus, one must hit the opponent with the tip of the blade, with a force of at least 0.5 Newtons.)
The valid target area at foil is limited, due to it having evolved from the time when fencing was practiced with limited safety equipment. Hits to the face were dangerous, so the head was removed from valid target. The target was then further reduced to only the trunk of the body, where the vitals are located.
Épée
The modern épée is the closest weapon to an actual classical duelling weapon that is used in modern fencing. Following the great social revolutions of the late eighteenth century, gentlemen no longer commonly wore swords, and so the épée, carried to the field of honor in a case, was developed as a means of settling disputes. The épée is a long, straight and relatively heavy sword, with a triangular, relatively inflexible blade and a large, round, bell-shaped guard.
Like the foil and smallsword, the épée is a point weapon. In electric fencing, in order for a point to register, one must hit the opponent with the point, registering at least 0.75 Newtons of force. Classical fencers sometimes use a point d'arret, a three-pronged attachment that will actually catch the opponent's jacket.
The reason for the large guard is that the hand is valid target, as is the rest of the body. Since double-hits are a possibility--and, since there is no right-of-way (see below), épée fencing tends to be conservative in the extreme.
Saber
The modern saber is descended from the classical North Italian duelling saber, a far lighter weapon than the cavalry saber. The method and practice of saber fencing is somewhat different from the other weapons, in that they are edged weapons. In modern electric scoring, a touch with the saber, point, flat or edge, to any part of the opponent's valid target (head, torso, or arm) will register a hit. Classical fencing, naturally, has more stringent requirements.
The target area originates from dueling sabre training. To attack the opponent's leg would allow him to "slip" that leg back and attack one's exposed arm or head given that the higher line attack will outreach the low line (there is a classic example of the leg slip in Angelo's "Hungarian and Highland Broadsword" of 1790). The target area is from the waist up. Similar right of way rules exist for sabre as they do for foil.
Right of Way
The "right of way" principle in foil and saber is that the first person to attack has priority. Simply put, if one is attacked, one must defend oneself before counterattacking - rather than attempting to hit one's opponent even at the risk of being hit oneself. Attacks can be made to fail either by bad luck, mis-judgement or by action on the part of the defender. Parrying (redirecting the attack with the blade) causes priority to change and for the defender to have the opportunity to attack. For instance, if one fencer attacks, and the other immediately counter-attacks into the attack, and each hits the other, the first fencer's attack is considered successful, while the second is considered to have misjudged. If, however, the second fencer parried the first attack and then responded with an attack of their own, they would have taken the right of way away from the first fencer. It would then be incumbent on the first fencer to defemd his- or her-self.
In modern sport épée, both fencers will register a hit if they contact within a certain time of each other. Then the president must decide who had right of way at the time of the hits, and therefore who gets a point. If the president cannot tell, then they will declare the touches null, and restart the fight from where it stopped.
Protective Clothing
The clothing which is worn in modern fencing is made of tough cotton, nylon or kevlar. It includes the following items of clothing:
- Figure hugging jacket, covering groin and with strap which goes between the legs
- Half jacket (plastron) which goes underneath the jacket and provides double protection on the sword arm side
- Glove, which prevents swords going up your sleeve and causing injury, as well as protecting the hand
- Breeches (knickers), knee length
- Knee length socks
- Mask, including bib which protects the neck
This is all intended to prevent serious injury (anything worse than a small cut or a large bruise).
The Practice of Fencing
Fencing takes place on a strip, or piste, with 2 fencers, facing one another. The piste is between 1.5 and 2 metres wide, and 14 metres long. Opponents start in the middle of the piste, 4 metres apart, in the en garde position.
A president, or director, or referee, presides over the fight, called a bout. His/her duties include keeping score, keeping time (if there is no other time keeper), allocating hits and maintaining the order of the bout. He/she stands to the side of the piste, watching the bout.
The aim of each competitor is to hit the opponent on their valid target area, and timing those hits so that they are not also hit according to the rules for the weapon they are using.
Electronic scoring equipment
Electronic scoring is used in all major national and international, and most local, competitions. Additional clothing is required for foil and sabre. Foil fencers wear a conducting vest which covers the torso and groin. Sabre fencers wear a conducting jacket, sleeve and mask. In both weapons, the fencers' weapons are also wired. When a fencer scores a touch on an opponent, this completes an electric circuit which sets off a buzzer and notifies the referee that a touch has been scored. The referee is, in theory, free to observe right-of-way and need not have side judges present to determine whether a touch in fact occurred.
In épée, the fencers carry special weapons with compressible tips. When a touch is scored, the tip of the épée compresses, completing the circuit and signalling a touch. Since target area is the entire body, the fencers do not wear special clothing. However, the strip itself must be grounded, to prevent a touch from scoring when the tip of an épée hits the strip (as opposed to striking the opponent's toe, for example).
Fencers and fencing masters
- Aldo Nadi, gold and silver medalist in the 1920 Summer Olympic Games, well-known fencing master, and author of the classic text, "On Fencing".
- Italo Santelli, the fencing master who revolutionized sabre fencing with the "Hungarian" style in the 1920s.
- Georgio Santelli, Italo's son, founder of the Santelli salle in New York City.
- Laszlo Szabo, the Hungarian master who defined a system for developing coaches
- Imre Vass, who produced the definitive guide to ép&eacue;e fencing
- Peter Westbrook, bronze medalist in the 1984 Summer Olympic Games, 13-time US National Men's Sabre Champion, author of "Harnessing Anger"
- Sharon Montplasir
- Janice Romary
- Iris Zimmerman
- Felicia Zimmerman