The three competitive fencing disciplines are foil, epee and sabre. The ancestry of each sword can be traced to a related weapon that was developed and used for practice, dueling or combat. Each weapon requires a different style of fighting and has different valid target zones on an opponent's body.
Competition Rules
Fencing bouts take place on a "strip" or "piste" that is 14 m long and 2 m wide. Fencers must be on the strip to score a point by touching an opponent with the sword in a designated body target area. If both feet of one fencer leave the strip, a penalty point is awarded to the opponent. Fencers win by scoring five touches in a competition's initial pool rounds. In direct elimination rounds, it requires 15 touches to win.
Right-of-Way
Foil and sabre competitions are subject to rules of right-of-way. This means the first competitor to threaten an opponent by extending an arm, pointing the weapon at his target and moving toward a target, has priority in the eyes of the judges. The defending fencer must first parry the attack, or survive a missed attack, before counterattacking with a riposte. If a defender responds to an attack by counterattacking and both fencers strike simultaneously, the one with right-of-way will be awarded the point.
The Foil
The flexible foil blade weighs a bit more than 1 lb. and is just short of 3 feet long. It is derived from the court sword and originally was used for training. In competition, points are scored only when the tip of the blade touches the torso of the opponent.
The Epee
The epee is derived from a rapier or dueling sword. Its triangular blade is shorter, around 27 inches in length, and not as flexible as that of the foil. Usage is similar to that of a foil in that only the tip of the epee can score a point in competition. Valid target areas include not just the torso but any point on an opponent's body, from head to toe.
The Sabre
The sabre is a modern version of a cavalry sword. Its blade is triangular, like that of an epee. Sabre users can score with the tip of the blade, but usage differs from epee and foil in that a strike with the sabre's edge can score a point also. Valid targets are the torso, arms and head.
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