Along with foil and epee, the saber is one of three styles of sport fencing you can compete in. Each fencing style is defined by the type of sword used. Saber fencing is rooted in the sword fighting methods employed by horse cavalry. The saber's sharp point and curved cutting edges made it an effective weapon against the exposed upper bodies of enemy horsemen.
Sword
A saber, or sabre, is a sword with cutting edges as well as a point you use for thrusting. Your saber may have a maximum weight of 500 g. The overall length of a fencing saber may not exceed 105 cm with a maximum blade length of 88 cm. A saber must have a bell-shaped guard to protect your sword hand when you are fencing.
Equipment
International Fencing Federation (FIE) rules state that you must wear a protective plastron or vest when fencing. Additional protection is provided by a fencing mask, gloves and padded clothing. For scoring purposes in saber competition you must also wear a conducting lama or jacket and a body cord attached to your saber and by wire to the scoring indicator. Since the head is a valid target, your mask must also be able to conduct electricity.
Scoring
Points are called touches in fencing. To score a touch in saber fencing you must make contact with your opponent using the point or edge of your sword. Touches count if they are from the waist up, excluding the hands. The concept of "right of way," which originated with foil fencing, also applies to saber. The right of way rule means you may score only if you attack first or avoid your opponent's attack and take control of the action. When you make a touch, an electric signal is sent to the scoring indicator which activates a red or green light to indicate which fencer scored. In cases of simultaneous contacts or "double touch," the referee determines which fencer has the right of way and so gets credited with a touch.
Format
Most fencing competitions follow the format for Olympic saber fencing. There are three rounds of three minutes each in a fencing bout, for a total of nine minutes. However, if you or your opponent scores eight touches in the first round before time is up, the round ends. If one fencer scores a total of 15 touches before regulation time expires, the bout ends and that fencer is the winner. Otherwise, the fencer with the most touches at the end of all three rounds wins.
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