Fencing

What is Fencing?

Fencing can be very complicated. I fence Saber, but there are other types like Foil and Épée. In foil, its the lightest of all 3, points are scored with only the tip of the foil and the target is from the hip up - excluding the arms and head. In Epee, its the heaviest of the three, points are scored with only the point of the sword and the target is the entire body. In Sabre, about as heavy as a foil, points are scored with the point and the sides of the sabre, the target is from the waist up-excluding the hands. I personally don’t know whatsoever anything about Foil and Épée fencing. I am going to try to describe as much as I can about Saber fencing as possible. In sabre, it is generally easier to attack than to defend. It all depends on the right of way. Basically, the right of way is determined by considering which fencer attacked first. There are many ways to get the right of way.

In fencing, the strip (also known as the “Piste”) is the playing area. The strip is about 14 meters long and is about 1.5 - 2 meters wide. There are hash marks on the last two meters of the strip, which are called the warning lines. The warning lines are supposed to warn the fencer before he/she backs off the end of the strip. The Strip is also marked at the centre and at the "en garde" lines, located two metres either side of the center line.

My Very First Tournament

There are two types of people that you would compete against.  There are the screamers and the criers.  I am a crier.  At fencing tournament's it can get very hectic.  At my first big competition, I was very overwhelmed and didn't know what to expect at all.  I just sat there, waiting for the judge to call my name.  All I heard was loud screams and cries from every part of the room.  When I was called up for my first match (also known as a "Bout") I was freaking out.  All I could hear was my heart thumping like crazy.  I stared at my opponent as I saluted them and the judge. Next thing you would hear is "Ready… Fence!" It's like a race. Waiting for the gun to go off.  

I remembered my component was a girl that kept charging at me and screaming.  That probably was the scariest thing I had every experienced in my life.  I had won my first bout.  In fact, I had won all of them except for one.  I had tied for 3rd on my very first fencing competition.  I had never been so happy about a sport in my life.  This had all been last year.  The funny thing is, is that i'm fencing in the same competition this weekend.  Wish me luck.

Keywords:

Advance- To take a fencing step forward

Retreat- To take a fencing step back

Lunge- One way to deliver an attack