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Fencing

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This article is about the sport. For the structures for dividing property, and the process of erecting them, see fence. Also distinguished from stage fencing, the practice of representing armed combat on stage or screen and academic fencing or mensur, a form of ritualised combat practiced by some German student fraternities. For other meanings, see fence (disambiguation). For definitions of the fencing terminology used in this article, see the glossary.
Russian Ivan Tourchine and American Weston Kelsey fence in the second round of the Olympic Men's Individual Épée event at the Helliniko Fencing Hall on Aug. 17, 2004.

In the broadest possible sense, fencing is the art and science of armed combat involving cutting, stabbing or bludgeoning weapons directly manipulated by hand, rather than shot or thrown (in other words, swords, knives, pikes, bayonets, batons, clubs, and so on). In contemporary common usage, fencing tends to refer specifically to European schools of swordsmanship and to the modern Olympic sport that has evolved out of them.

Etymology

From the Middle English fense, c. 1330, ultimately deriving from the Latin defendere "ward off, protect," from de- "from, away" + fendere "to strike, push". [1]

First used in writing as a verb in reference to swordsmanship by Shakespeare, in The Merry Wives of Windsor (1598): "Alas sir, I cannot fence." [2]

The history of fencing

See also Historical European Martial Arts

Fencing can be traced at least as far back as Ancient Egypt. The earliest known depiction of a fencing bout, complete with practice weapons, safety equipment, and judges, is a relief in a temple near Luxor built by Rameses III around 1190 BC. [3] The Greeks and Romans had systems of martial arts and military training that included swordsmanship, and fencing-schools and professional champions were known throughout medieval Europe, the earliest surviving record of Western techniques of fencing is the manuscript known as MS I.33, which was created in southern Germany c. 1300 and today resides at the Royal Armouries in Leeds. Throughout the Middle Ages, masters continued to teach systems for using the sword (together with other weapons and grappling) to noble and non-noble alike. The wearing of the sword with civilian dress (a custom that had begun in the late fifteenth century on the Iberian Peninsula) gradually gave rise to a new system of civilian swordsmanship based more on the thrust than on the cut, with the aim being to keep the adversary at a distance with the point, and slay him there. This gave rise to sixteenth- and seventeenth-century systems of using the rapier and the seventeenth and eighteenth century smallsword. Though swords ceased to be an article of everyday dress after the French Revolution, they continued to be used in warfare and to resolve disputes of honour in formal duels through the nineteenth century and into the twentieth.

Though agonistic competition in fencing is as old as the art itself, the modern sport of fencing originated in the first Olympic games in 1896. The first few years of fencing as a sport were chaotic, with important rule disagreements among schools of fencing from different countries, notably the representatives of the French and Italian schools. This state of affairs ended in 1913, with the foundation of the Fédération Internationale d'Escrime (FIE) in Paris. The stated purpose of the FIE is to codify and regulate the practice of the sport of fencing, particularly for the purpose of international competition. The foundation of the FIE is a convenient breaking point between the classical and the modern traditions of fencing.

Fencing philosophies

There are many different autonomous directions in contemporary fencing:

Sport fencing

Sport fencing is also known as Olympic fencing. This is the sort of fencing seen in most competitions (including the Olympic Games). It is conducted according to the rules laid down by the FIE (the international governing body), which are roughly based on the conventions of fencing as it was developed as a martial art and gentlemanly accomplishment in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Due to technical developments and ideological disagreements, these rules are subject to frequent revisions and amendments.

Classical fencing

Classical fencing. This type of fencing generally attracts people who feel that contemporary sports fencing has strayed too far from its martial arts origins. A growing body of fencing masters continue to teach the more martial forms of the Classical period as handed down from their masters' masters. Some practitioners also often try to reconstruct old European systems of armed combat, while others only advocate a return to an earlier set of conventions in sport fencing.

Historical fencing

Historical fencing is a type of historical martial arts reconstruction based on the work of historical texts and traditions. Historical fencing can include longsword, single-handed cutting swords, pole arms, rapier and many other forms. Only a few fencing masters still exist who have been taught and continue to teach these weapons and techniques in an unbroken lineage (that is, a system that has been passed from master to student through the centuries).

SCA fencing

SCA fencing is the form of historical fencing conducted by members of the SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism). Generally it aspires to a pre-1600s form while still using modern fencing weapons and safety gear disguised to pass as period clothing.

Stage fencing

Stage fencing (l'escrime artistique) is a type of fencing that seeks to achieve the maximum theatrical impact. Fights are, generally, choreographed, and fencing actions are somewhat exaggerated. It is not an exclusive preserve of actors and stuntmen - some people do it as a hobby.

Academic fencing

Academic fencing or mensur is a German student tradition. The combat, which uses a type of cutting saber known as the schlager, uses sharpened blades and takes place between members of different fraternities in accordance with a strictly delineated set of conventions, using special protective gear. The ultimate goal is the development of personal character; there is no "winner" or "loser," but rather the object is to show coolness and proper deportment in the face of a sharp blade.

The weapons

In both its modern and its classical guise, fencing consists of three different weapons: foil, épée and sabre. These three weapons had become standard by the late nineteenth century and all are represented at Olympic-level competition. Additionally, in classical academies, one will often find historical fencing weapons, such as canne, bâton, main-gauche or rapier and dagger, being taught.

Foil used to be the first weapon taught to beginners, because the techniques of foil teach, in abstract 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 for children. Today, while it is still adviseable to gain at least a fundamental grasp of foil before proceeding with either of the other two weapons, fencers, especially those who intend to fence sabre, often begin with any of the three weapons.

Anatomy of the weapons

While the weapons fencers use differ in size and purpose some basic parts of the weapon remain constant throughout the disciplines. The pommel, a weighted piece of metal at the end of the handle, holds the blade and handle together while providing a counter-balance to the weight of the blade (in actual combat situations, the pommel could also be used as a bludgeon). The grip can be one of several types: French, Italian (mostly seen in classical fencing), a hybrid of these two known as the Spanish grip (now illegal in FIE competition), or the orthopedic or pistol grip (the most common in FIE competition).

Italian grip

Italian grip

The Italian grip, though the earliest to develop, is rarely used today in sport fencing, but is common amongst classical fencers. Its advocates say that it has most of the French grip's agility with a much greater degree of power and stability. The Italian grip consists of a straight handle, a crossbar (the quillions), and two rings. The fencer's fingers actually rest upon the ricasso, which is part of the blade. This not only gives great security, but great sensitivity.

French grip

Electric French Grip

The French grip is contoured to the curve of the hand and reached its modern form in the late nineteenth century. Compared to the other primary grip used in modern sport fencing, the pistol grip, the French is thought to have greater speed and maneuverability, but lesser strength and stability. The French grip also allows the fencer to "post", holding the grip towards the base, called the pommel, instead of correctly holding the weapon near the bell guard. This gives the fencer a longer and more deceptive range while lessening speed, manueverability, strength and stability.

Spanish grip

The Spanish offset is a hybrid of the French and Italian grips. It resembles a French grip with two orthopedic aids coming from the top and bottom, which serve the same purpose of the quillions of the Italian grip.

Pistol grip

The pistol grip (otherwise known as the anatomical or orthopedic grip), originally developed for a nineteenth-century Belgian master who had lost fingers in a tram accident, contours entirely to one's hand and is held much like a pistol, hence the name. This grip became popular amongst sports fencers in the late twentieth century because of the way it complemented the agility and athleticism of competitots - albeit, as critics allege, at the cost of blade sensitivity finesse. There are several types of pistol grips, such as the basic Visconti (which is what most people refer to as a pistol grip), the American, Belgian, and Russian. The various pistol grips all provide a somewhat firmer hold for the user of the weapon than would be possible with the French grip. This endows the user with a more stable grip on the weapon.

Foil

The modern foil is descended from the training weapon for the small-sword, the common sidearm of the eighteenth-century gentleman. However, it has long since been altered to be similar in length to the épée (averaging 35" or 890 mm). (Rapier and even longsword foils are also known to have been used but they were very different in terms of weight and use.) It is a light weapon, with a tapered, flexible, quadrangular blade, that scores only with the point. In modern sport fencing, which makes use of electrical scoring apparatus, one must hit the opponent with the tip of the blade, with a force of at least 4.90 newtons (500 grams-force).

File:Foilfen.gif
A foil fencer. Valid target (the torso) is in black.

The valid target area at foil is limited, due to its origins in a time when fencing was practised 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. A touch which lands on an invalid target stops the bout, but no point is scored.

During the 1980s, partly due of the introduction of the pistol grip, a technique was developed known as "flicking," a move with which the fencer whipped his/her blade in such a manner that it bent almost to a square angle in midair, the point hitting the opponent only afterwards. If executed properly, this move has the ability to bypass most classical parries, and to hit in unusual or difficult places (such as the back). This technique is contoversial, in that it departs from traditional, classical style fencing. To circumvent the flick, in 2005 the FIE changed the "depression timing" of the tip. This caused most "flick touches" to be no longer detected by the scoring machines, thus favouring more classical, straight thrusts.

Foil is often seen as the most "mental" of the three weapons. Its limited target area makes it difficult for the attacking fencer to score, so complicated attacks (or defenses against the same) must often be planned well in advance of the attack's actual delivery. Thus, many people compare foil fencing (or fencing generally) to a sort of physical chess match.

Épée

File:Epeefen.gif
An Épée fencer. Valid target (the entire body) is in black.

The modern épée is the closest weapon to an actual classical duelling weapon that is used in modern fencing, descended from the French duelling sword of the 19th and 20th centuries. The épée is a long, straight and relatively heavy sword as compared to the foil, with a triangular or V-shaped, less flexible blade and a large, round, bell-shaped guard.

Like the foil, the épée is a point weapon. The reason for the large guard is that the hand is a valid target, as is the rest of the body. Since double-touches are a possibility — and, since there is no right-of-way (see below) — épée fencing tends to be more conservative in style than the other weapons. In electric fencing, in order for a point to register, one must hit the opponent with the point, registering at least 7.35 newtons (750 grams-force) of force. Classical fencers sometimes use a point d'arret, a three-pronged attachment that will actually catch the opponent's jacket.

Sabre

File:Saberfen.gif
A sabre fencer. Valid target (everything from the waist up, including the arms and head) is in black.

The modern sabre is descended from the classical northern Italian duelling sabre, a far lighter weapon than the cavalry sabre. The method and practice of sabre fencing is somewhat different from the other weapons, in that the sabre is an edged weapon. In modern electric scoring, a touch with the sabre, point, flat or edge, to any part of the opponent's valid target (head, torso, or arm) will register a hit.

Unlike foil and épée, in modern sport sabre, the crossover is not allowed. This rule change was made so that referees would not have to try to determine right of way when both fencers simply fleched, or ran at each other. However, recently some sabre fencers have been using a technique known as the "flying lunge", or "flunge" for short. This attack starts like a fleche, but the fencer pushes off from the ground, and flies forward. The legs almost cross at the high point of the jump, but then the front leg is brought forward to catch the fencer.

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 excluding the hands. Right-of-way applies, much as it does to foil.

A common misconception concerning the origin of sabre's target area is that the legs are removed as targets due to sabre's origin as a cavalry weapon. Essentially, this line of reasoning goes, the legs of a horseman were not a valid target in war, since cutting the leg of a man riding a horse would not stop that man from continuing his charge. This myth has largely been refuted and several older texts demonstrate low sabre parries to protect the mount's flanks and the fencer's legs. For more information on this topic consult Christoph Amberger's book "A Secret History of the Sword".

Right of way

The "right of way" principle in foil and sabre is that the first person to properly execute an attack has priority. An "attack" is defined inconsistently by modern fencing directors: most use a newer definition which sees one fencer extending his or her arm as an attack, but a few still adhere to the classical principle that an attack is not established until the arm is fully extended. Either way, 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. This is the basic principle of right-of-way. Attacks can be made to fail either by bad luck, misjudgement or by action on the part of the defender. A properly executed parry (deflecting the incoming attack with one's own blade) causes priority to change and the defender has the opportunity to attack (riposte). The original attacker must parry the defender's riposte before attacking again. However, if the parry is ineffectual (malparry), if the riposte misses, or the defender hesitates before riposting, the attacker can continue his attack (this can be called a remise, a reprise or a redoublement) without himself parrying. None of these actions (remise, reprise or redoublment) has the right of way so if the defending fencer hesitates that will be called a counterattack and will receive the touch.

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 his own (or if he had counter-attacked and managed to avoid being touched), they would have taken the right of way away from the first fencer. It would then be incumbent on the first fencer to defend him - or her - self.

When electrical scoring equipment is used in the modern sports of foil and sabre, (there is electrical epee scoring as well) both fencers will register a hit if they contact within a certain time of each other. Then the referee must decide who had right of way at the time of the hits, and therefore who gets a point. If the referee cannot tell, then he will declare the touches null, and restart the bout from where it stopped.

Double hits are possible in épée as well, but only if both fencers contact within a very short timeframe (40 milliseconds, or 1/25th of a second). In this case, both fencers will receive a point.

Right-of-way in foil and sabre exists to force the fencers to fence in a manner consistent with sharp-weapon fencing. A fencer being attacked with a sharp weapon would not be very likely to simply launch a simultaneous attack in hopes of splitting the "point" (thus killing both fencers). Instead, fencers attacked with a sharp weapon would be likely to ensure their own safety with a good defense before counterattacking.

Protective clothing

Equipment of a right-handed épée fencer:
1. Jacket
2. Glove
3. Body wire
4. Épées
5. Breeches
6. Mask
7. Plastron
Not pictured: socks and shoes

The clothing which is worn in modern fencing is made of tough cotton or nylon. Kevlar was previously used but found insufficiently durable. The complete fencing kit includes the following items of clothing:

  • Form-fitting jacket, covering groin and with strap (croissard) which goes between the legs
  • Half jacket (plastron) which goes underneath the jacket and provides double protection on the sword arm side and upper arm. It is required to not have a seam in the armpit, which would line up with the jacket seam and provide a weak spot.
  • Glove, with a cuff that prevents swords going up the sleeve and causing injury, as well as protecting the hand and providing a good grip
  • Breeches (knickers), which are a pair of pants. The legs are supposed to hold just below the knee.
  • Knee-length socks, which cover the rest of the leg.
  • Mask, including a bib which protects the neck
  • Plastic chest protector, mandatory for female fencers to provide protection for the breasts. While male versions are also available, they were until recently primarily worn by instructors, who are hit far more often during training than their students; since the change of the depression timing (see above), these are increasingly popular in foil and épée, for they protect the users chest better than the plastron. Plastrons are still mandatory, though.

Traditionally, the uniform is white in colour. This is primarily to assist the judges in seeing touches scored (black being the traditional colour for masters), but rules against non-white uniforms may also have been intended to combat sponsorship and the commercialization of the sport. However, recently the FIE rules have been relaxed to allow coloured uniforms. The colour white might also be traced back to times before electronic scoring equipment, when the blades were sometimes covered in soot or coloured chalk to make a mark on the opponent's clothing.

  • Fencing Masters wear a heavier protective jacket, usually reinforced by plastic foam to endure the numerous hits an instructor has to endure.
  • Sometimes in practice, masters wear a protective sleeve or a leg leather for protection of their fencing arm or leg.

The practice of fencing

Fencing takes place on a strip, or piste, with two fencers facing one another. In modern fencing, the piste is between 1.5 and 2 meters wide, and 14 meters long. There are designated points on the fencing strip; there is the en-garde line (this is where the fencers start), the center line, the two meter warning lines and the end of the strip. Prior to starting a bout it is required for fencers to salute each other as well as the director. Fencers technically must also salute the audience, but this is often not enforced. Some fencers choose to salute various other things (e.g. God). The fencer's salute has traditionally consisted of the blade going vertically before the fencer saluting with the bell guard at face level and back to en garde position, however, in recent fencing, a great deal of variance has emerged, with some fencers merely raising the blade toward their salutee, while others have incorporated elaborate motions, such as flourishes or crossing motions. Opponents start in the middle of the piste, 4 metres apart, in the en garde position.

A referee (formerly called president of jury, or director) presides over the contest, called a "bout." The referee's duties include keeping score, keeping time (sabre is usually fenced untimed because it moves very quickly), keeping track of right-of-way, awarding points and maintaining the order of the bout. Often, another person will keep score or time. He or she stands on one side of the piste, watching the bout.

There are many types of modern fencing bouts, but in the two most common formats, the first fencer to score either 5 or 15 touches is declared the winner.

Modern fencing also includes the addition of cards/flags (or penalties). In foil and sabre, yellow cards are awarded for bodily contact between opponents - the penalty going to the aggressor. Two yellow cards equals one red card, and a touch for the opponent. Black cards can mean disqualification and are given out for overtly aggressive actions such as beating one's opponent with the pommel of the sword as well as breaches of protocol such as failure to salute.

It is also possible to fence "in the round," meaning that the bout takes place in a circular or square area instead of on a strip, and fencers can circle in addition to moving forward or backward. This style of fencing is mostly practised today by the SCA and does not exist in FIE tournaments.

Footwork

The most commonly used footwork is the advance and retreat. Other types of footwork include the cross-advance and cross-retreat.

Generally, feet are placed a shoulder-width apart at right angles to each other. The front foot (the right foot for a right-handed fencer, the left foot for a left-handed fencer) faces the opponent, and the back foot faces to the left (or to the right for a left-handed fencer). The fencer's knees should be slightly bent to allow for more mobility. The feet are reversed if one is left-handed. This allows for fairly easy advances and retreats, while allowing the side of the torso to face the opponent. This makes one's target area less open to attack by the opponent. This is called the en garde, or on-guard, position.

To execute an advance, the front foot is moved forward, landing with the heel and rolling forward. Then the back foot is raised and moved forward so that the fencer returns to the en garde position. The process is reversed for a retreat. During this process, the back foot does not move forward of the front. However, in a cross-advance (also known as a cross-step advance or crossover advance), the back foot moves forward of the front, and then the front foot is moved forward so that the fencer returns to the en garde position. The reverse is called a cross-retreat. These steps allow the fencer to gain or close distance more quickly, but it is not as stable or as versatile as a standard advance or retreat.

Variations and portions of the above movements can also be used by themselves. For example, a check-step forward is performed by moving the back foot as in a retreat, then performing an entire advance. This maneuver can trick your opponent into thinking you are retreating, when in reality you want to close distance.

Other footwork actions include the appel (French for "call"), which is a stomp of the front foot; and the jump (also know as a balestra), which is a small jump forward used in conjunction with a variety of attacks.

Good footwork is essential to the performance of a fencer. Although fencing is the sport of bladework, it is very much a game of distance, and having superior footwork can easily determine the outcome of a bout. Even expert fencers almost always include a session of footwork drills in their practice sessions, some more so than bladework exercises.

Electronic scoring equipment

Electronic scoring is used in all major national and international, and most local, competitions. At Olympic level, it was first introduced to épée in 1936, to foil in 1957, and to sabre in 1988. There are, however, still traditionalists within the fencing community who have fundamental objections to the practice (discussed later on in this section).

The central unit of the scoring system is commonly known as "the box". In the simplest version both fencers' weapons are connected to the box via long retractable cables. The box normally carries a set of lights to signal when a touch has been made. (Larger peripheral lights are also often used.) In foil and sabre, because of the need to distinguish on-target hits from off-target ones, special conductive clothing must be worn. This includes a jacket of conducting (lamé) cloth (for both weapons) and (in the case of sabre) a conducting mask and cuff (manchette).

Recently, reel-less gear has been adopted for sabre at top competitions, including the Athens Olympics. In this system, which dispenses with the spool (by using the fencer's own body as a grounding point), the lights and detectors are mounted directly on the fencers' masks. For the sake of the audience, clearly visible peripheral lights triggered by wireless transmission may be used. However, the mask lights must remain as the official indicators, as FIE regulations prohibit the use of wireless transmitters in official scoring equipment, to prevent cheating. Plans for reel-less épée and foil have not yet been adopted because of technical complications.

In the case of foil and épée, hits are registered by depressing a small push-button on the end of the blade. In foil, the hit must land on the opponent's lame to be considered on-target. (On-target hits set off coloured lights; off-target hits set off white lights.) At high level foil and épée competitions, grounded conductive pistes are normally laid down to ensure that bouts are not disrupted by accidental hits on the floor. In sabre, an on-target hit is registered whenever a fencer's blade comes into contact with the opponent's lamé jacket, cuff or mask. Off-target hits are not registered at all in sabre. It has been proposed that a similar arrangement (non-registration of off-target hits) be adopted for foil. This proposal is due to be reviewed at the 2007 FIE Congress. In épée the entire body is on-target, so the subject of off-target hits does not arise (unless you count the hits which miss the opponet etirely and land on an ungrounded section of the floor - needless to say doing so on purpose is considered cheating). Finally the competitors weapons are always grounded so hits agains an opponent's blade or coquille do not register.

In foil and sabre, despite the presence of all the gadgetry, it is still the referee's job to analyse the phrase and, in the case of simultaneous hits, to determine which fencer had the right of way.

"Electric" fencing has not been without its problems. One of the most talked about has been the registration of glancing hits in foil. Traditionally, a valid, "palpable" hit could only be scored, if the point were fixed on the target in such a manner, as would be likely to pierece the skin, had the weapon been sharp. However, the electric foil point (the push-button on the end of the blade) lacks directionality, so hits which arrive at a very high angle of incidence can still register. In the 1980s, this lead to a growing popularity of hits delivered with a whip-like action (commonly known as "the flick"), bending the blade around the opponent's parry. Many saw this as an unacceptable deviation from tradion. In fact, the disputes over the flick grew so bitter that a number of traditionalist advocated (and still continue to advocate) complete abandonment of electronic scoring as something detrimental to fencing as an art. In 2004-2005 the FIE brought in rule changes to address such concerns. The dwell time (the lenght of time the point has to remain depressed in order to register a hit) was increased from 1 millisecond to 15 milliseconds. This change has been rather controversial. While it has not eliminated the flick altogether, it has made it technically trickier thereby denting its popularity. However, there have been some serious problems with apparently "palpable" hits not registering. Moreover, the imperative to make clear "square-on" hits has lead to a number of unforeseen results, which, it has been argued, have made foil less rather than more classical. The following have been reported:

  • Unwillingness to attack, leading to long periods of inactivity and loss of certain visually striking (but risky) manoeuvres;
  • Loss of popularity of the more sophisticated and technically demanding compound actions;
  • A rise in the number of renewed offensive actions (at the expense of counter-ripostes) delivered with a decidedly unclassical pumping action;
  • A rise in the number of counterattacks with avoidance (at the expense of ripostes);
  • Increased popularity of unorthodox "cowering" on-guard positions among young fencers;
  • Hard hitting.

Having said that, every one of the above claims is a subject of dispute.

In sabre, the inadequacy of existing sensors has made it necessary to dispense with the requirement that a cut must be delivered with either the leading or the reverse edge of the blade and that, once again, it must arrive with sufficient force to have caused an injury, had the blade been sharp (but not to actually injure your opponent with a blunt weapon!). At present, any contact between the blade and the opponent's target is counted as a valid hit. Some argue that this has reduced sabre to a two-man game of tag; others argue that this has made the game more sophisticated.

The other serious problem in sabre (universally acknowledged as a problem) is that of "whip-over". The flexibility of the blades is such that the momentum of a cut can often "whip" the end of the blade around the defender's parry. The low success rate of parries (compared to other weapons) is seen by many as impoverishing the tactical repertory of the weapon. In 2000 the FIE brought in rule changes requiring stiffer blades. This has improved matters but not eradicated the problem altogether. There has been talk of making the sabre guard smaller, in order to make attacks on preparation and counterattacks easier and thus slow down the momentum of the attack, giving the defender more of a chance.

Finally, the cut-out times deserve a mention. The cutout time is the maximum time allowed by the box between two hits registering as simultaneous (if this time is exceeded, only one light will appear). In épée this time is very short: 40 milliseconds. This means that, so far as human perception is concerned, the hits really do need to arrive at the same instant. In foil and sabre, where priority rules apply, the cutout times are considerably longer (hunderds of milliseconds). This was a source of two problems:

  • Double lights are a frequent occurrence, making refereeing difficult. Too many decisions are disputed.
  • Once again, the attacker gains an unreasonable advantage. It is possible to execute a long marching attack with only a hint of an arm extension, clearly inviting an attack on preparation, which is then followed by a delayed trompment.

For those reasons, in 2004-2005 the FIE slashed the cut-out times for foil and sabre from 750 milliseconds to 350 milliseconds and from 350 milliseconds to 120 millisends respectively. While these changes were controversial at first, the fencing community now seems to have accepted them. Some concerns remain at sabre, where immediate renewals frequently "time out" indirect ripostes.

Non-electronic scoring

Prior to the introduction of electronic scoring equipment, the president of jury was assisted by four judges. Two judges were positioned behind each fencer, one on each side of the strip. The judges watched the fencer opposite to see if he was hit.

When a judge thought he saw a hit, he raised his hand. The president (referee or director) then stopped the bout and reviewed the relevant phases of the action, polling the judges at each stage to determine whether there was a touch, and (in foil and sabre) whether the touch was valid or invalid. Each judge had one vote, and the president had one and a half votes. Thus, two judges could overrule the president; but if the judges disagreed, or if one judge abstained, the president's opinion ruled.

Épée fencing was later conducted with red dye on the tip, easily seen on the white uniform. As a bout went on, if a touch was seen, a red mark would appear. Between the halts of the director, judges would inspect each fencer for any red marks. Once one was found, it was circled in a dark pencil to show that it had been already counted. The red dye was not easily removed, preventing any cheating. The only way to remove it was through certain acids such as vinegar. Thus, épée fencers became renowned for their reek of vinegar until the invention of electronic equipment.

National governing bodies

Italy In Italy, the sport of fencing is governed by the Federazione Italiana Scherma (FIS). The organization's website is located here: Federazione Italiana Scherma.

France In France, the sport of fencing is governed by the Federation Francaise d'Escrime (FFE). The organization's website is located here: Federation Francaise d'Escrime.

Hungary In Hungary, the sport of fencing is governed by the Magyar Vívószövetség (MVSz). The organization's website is located here: Magyar Vívószövetség

New Zealand

In New Zealand, the sport of fencing is governed by Fencing New Zealand (FeNZ)

Mexico

In Mexico, the sport of fencing is governed by the Federacion Mexicana de Esgrima (FME). Clubs affiliate to each state's association, who are affiliated with the FME.

United States

In the United States, the sport of fencing is governed by the United States Fencing Association (USFA).

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, fencing is governed by the British Fencing Association (BFA). The 'Home Nations' of Wales, England, Northern Ireland and Scotland have their own governing bodies under the auspices of the BFA: Welsh Fencing, England Fencing, the Northern Ireland Fencing Union and Scottish Fencing respectively.

Collegiate fencing

Colligiate fencing has existed for a long time in the US. Some of the earliest programs came from the Ivy League schools, but now there are over a hundred fencing programs nation wide. Both clubs and varsity teams participate in the sport, however only the varsity teams may participate in the NCAA championship tournament. Due to the lack of schools in fencing, the teams actually fence inter-division (teams from Division III schools to Division I), and all divisions participate in the NCAA Championships. In 2005 Notre Dame edged out Ohio State to win the championship.

Collegiate fencing tournaments are "team tournaments" in a sense, but contrary to what many people expect, collegiate meets are not run as 45-touch relays. Schools compete against each other one at a time. In each weapon and gender, three fencers from each school fence each other in five-touch bouts. (Substitutions are allowed, so more than three fencers per squad can compete in a tournament.) A fencer's individual results in collegiate tournaments and regional championships are used to select the fencers who will compete in NCAA championships. Individual results for fencers from each school are combined to judge the school's overall performance and to calculate how it placed in a given tournament.

High school fencing

The practice of competitive fencing on the high school level is considered a small, local sport of the North Eastern region of the United States, particularly in New Jersey. The majority of schools in these areas do not have fencing programs, and it is traditionally run at only some schools. The sport of fencing is considered rather costly on the high school level, as many competetive high school teams are of private academies, who strive to excel at the sport through use of recruiting programs and talent scouts.

Instead of fencing for a school at this level, most fencers choose to fence for a club, and may only fence at a school part time.

Notable modern fencers and fencing masters

  • Christian d'Oriola, 4 times world champion, 2 olympic titles plus many team titles
  • Péter Fröhlich, Hungarian master and Olympic coach
  • Aladar Gerevich - Hungarian sabreur who is the only athlete to win the same Olympic event six times.
  • Sergei Golubitsky, World foil champion three consecutive times
  • Pavel Kolobkov, Russian World Champion and Olympic Champion
  • Viktor Krovopouskov - a Soviet sabreur, four-time Olympic Gold medalist
  • Ju-Jie Luan, Chinese fencer and coach, gold medallist for Women's Foil at the 1984 Summer Olympic Games
  • Edoardo Mangiarotti of Italy has won more Olympic titles and World championships than any other fencer in the history of the sport.
  • Aldo Nadi, gold and silver medallist in the 1920 Summer Olympic Games, well-known fencing master, and author of the classic texts, On Fencing and "The Living Sword".
  • Nedo Nadi, Aldo's brother and winner of 6 Olympic Gold medals
  • Vladimir Nazlymov - Soviet sabre fencer/coach, 10-time world champion, three-time Olympic Team Gold medallist (1968, 1976, 1980). Twice named the world's best sabre fencer by the International Fencing Federation. Currently, head fencing coach of The Ohio State University fencing team.
  • Boris Onishchenko, Russian modern pentathlete, individual silver medallist and team gold medallist in 1972, disqualified in 1976 for using a rigged weapon.
  • Mark Rakita - a Soviet sabreur, Olympic Gold medalist, David Tyshler's pupil and a highly successful coach in his own right (pupils include Victor Krovopouskov and Victor Sidjak)
  • Alexander Romankov
  • Italo Santelli, the fencing master who revolutionized sabre fencing with the "Hungarian" style in the 1920s.
  • Giorgio Santelli, Italo's son, founder of the Santelli salle in New York City, coach to 5 U.S. Olympic teams, legendary fencing teacher, Olympic gold medallist.
  • Viktor Sidjak - a Soviet sabreur, four-time Olympic Gold medalist
  • László Szabó, the Hungarian master who defined a system for developing coaches and wrote the defining Fencing and the Master, the only direct student of the legendary Italo Santelli to write of what he learned. Teacher of Olympic and World champions.
  • David Tyshler - a member of the first generation of internationally successful Soviet fencers, best known for his achievements as a coach, one of the great theorists of the Soviet school of fencing
  • Imre Vass, who authored the definitive guide to épée fencing
  • Bela Valter, Hungarian master and Olympic coach
  • Francis Zold (1904-2003), Hungarian fencing master and a legendary promoter and teacher of fencing in the post-war US; a student of Italo Santelli, he served as captain of the Hungarian fencing team at the London Olympics in 1948. He emigrated to the United States following the Soviet invasion of Hungary in 1956 and worked as a fencing coach at a number of colleges and universities, including the University of Southern California and Pomona College in Claremont, CA. He died in 2003 at the age of 99.

Notable United States fencers and fencing masters

  • Albert Axelrod, bronze medallist in the 1960 Summer Olympic Games in Foil
  • Daniel Bukantz, Olympian, U.S. Foil Fencer, Member of the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
  • Gay Jacobsen D'Asaro, 1976, 1980 Olympian U.S. Women's Foil Fencer (now Gay MacLellan)
  • Michael D'Asaro Sr.
  • Csaba Elthes, legendary coach to 6 U.S. Olympic teams, immigrated from Hungary
  • Fred Linkmeyer
  • Michael Marx 5 x Olympian, Epee and Foil Coach, National Champion
  • Helene Mayer
  • Sharon Monplasir
  • Sada Jacobson, bronze medallist in the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Sabre; first American female to be ranked #1 in the world, and the second American ever to be ranked #1 in the world.
  • Ed Korfanty, U.S. National women's sabre team coach, formerly Polish national coach, coach to 7 x Jr. World Sabre Champion Mariel Zagunis, 2004 Cadet Sabre champion, Caitlin Thomas, coach to 2000 and 2005 U.S. World Champion sabre team. Coach to 2004 Olympic Gold medallist Mariel Zagunis. 2002 and 2003 World Veterans Champion in Men's sabre.
  • George S. Patton, General and U.S. Army Master of the Sword. Designer of the M1913 Cavalry Saber. 1912 Stockholm Olympics in the first modern pentathlon competition (Ranked 1st in fencing - 8th overall).
  • Janice Romary, 1948, 1952, 1956, 1960, 1964, 1968 Olympian U.S. Foil Fencer
  • Keeth Smart, first American to be ranked #1 in the World, member of 2004 gold medal US Men's Sabre team at World Cup
  • Peter Westbrook, bronze medallist in the 1984 Summer Olympic Games, 13-time US National Men's Sabre Champion, author of Harnessing Anger, founder of the Peter Westbrook Foundation, teaching and helping youth through sport.
  • Mariel Zagunis, gold medallist in the first ever Women's Sabre event at the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Sabre; first American woman to win gold; first American to win gold since 1904

Notable classical or historical fencers and fencing masters

See also

Governing bodies
Other sites

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