The room echoed with the tension of anticipation. Both fencers faced each other across the piste with locked eyes. The air hummed with the promise of victory as they stood, focused and determined, their eyes fixed on the prize: first place in the 2024 World Cup.
The referee’s voice sliced through the silence, commanding them into position. “En garde, prêts, allez!” The words hung in the air for a split second before both fencers surged forward and lunged towards each other with their blades outstretched. After a blur of movements, one fencer emerged victorious with a decisive touch. The winner ripped off his mask, tossing it aside in triumph as the room erupted with applause.
Fencing is a sport of grace, skill, and speed. Although not commonly in the spotlight of modern-day sports, fencing was once an important form of combat and training. Today, fencing serves as a memento of the sports’ physical prowess, mental agility, and ancient history.
The earliest recorded evidence of sword fights dates back to 1190, in Ancient Egypt, according to Britannica. In Luxor, a relief in a temple built by Ramses III depicts a practice bout of two swordsmen using covered sword points, shields, and masks to fence. Similarly, the Persians, Babylonians, and Greeks used swordsmanship as a pastime to occupy troops physically and mentally. In the Middle Ages, the Roman gladiators practiced a rudimentary form of the art today, using it to train gladiators and legions. In the 14th and 15th centuries, Italian and German fencing masters split the sport into three different weapons: epeé, foil, and saber.
They began to mold fencing from an unregulated combat pastime into a regimented, orderly sport, according to the Olympics. By the 15th century, guilds of fencing masters had formed throughout Europe, especially in France. Proper “gentlemen’s dress” became popularized by the French in the late 17th century, which gave rise to similar swordsman fashion throughout Europe, according to Britannica.
Over the centuries, fencing has developed into the Westernized form practiced today with two opponents, one referee, and three different weapon types. Each weapon shares the same basic set of rules, such as the length of the strip, scoring technology, and basic gear. However, each weapon has a different subset of rules that influence the speed, length, and style of the match, according to the Alberta Fencing Association.
In the past, fencing was a medieval, even ancient, sport where opponents would fight with large swords, chainmail armor, and shields. Today, fencers use lightweight nylon or kevlar jackets that protect the torso, face, arms, and legs from being pierced by the blade. Especially after an accident resulting in a fencer’s death at the 1981 World Championships, safety precautions for gear were drastically changed and heavily enforced, according to the Academy of Fencing Masters.
Additionally, metal masks and hard plastic chest covers protect the face and chest from impacts. Before rules were established, fencing matches would last indefinitely. USA Fencing distinguishes that now, matches last up to 5 or 15 points, with a time limit of three and fifteen minutes, respectively.
Fencers fence on a piste, which is a strip of valid playing area 14 meters long and 1.5 meters wide, according to Britannica. Both opponents fence on the piste while the referee stands off to the side to judge the match. Due to the heavy French influence on the sport, referees use French terms to guide and explain the match, such as allez, riposte, touché, prêtz, and en garde.
To track the touches on each fencer, a complex electrical system is used. The scoring machine is usually on the side of the piste, in view of the referee and fencers. Mountains Fencing Club details that both fencers are attached to a wire that runs from the blade to a reel. When the weapon makes contact with the target area on the opponent, a signal runs from the blade to the reel, signaling the scoring machine to display a colored (red, green, or white) light. Based on where the opponent is hit, the referee can judge if the point is valid or not.
Each weapon has a different niche of speed, strategy, and technique. Each weapon’s fencing style is so different that some consider each to be a different sport.
Epee, where the whole body can be hit, uses a heavy, stiff blade descended from the dueling sword, according to USA Fencing. Because the whole body is a valid target area, epee imitates a real duel. However, this also makes epee a competition of careful strategy and patience, resulting in longer, slower matches.
Foil, which uses a lighter blade, only has the torso as the valid target area. The smaller target area requires fencers to have more precision and strategy to attack the opponent. Points are scored with the tip of the blade, so even more precision is required. Because of the extremely flexible blade, modern foil fencers can attack the opponent in unique ways, such as using the “flicking” technique.
Sabre, similar to foil, uses a light, flexible blade and includes the torso, arms, and face as the valid target area. However, unlike foil, sabre fencers can score with the edge of the blade, simulating the slashing cavalry sword, according to USA Fencing. The ability to slash the upper body of the opponent makes sabre extremely aggressive and quick, with points being scored only in a matter of seconds.
Rooted in history, the sport of fencing has evolved over centuries to become what it is today. Although fencing was not always the structured, orderly sport seen today, it served as training for gladiators and troops, entertainment for kings, and simulated combat for civilians. Fencing’s transition from a form of military training to a refined sport was notably marked by the establishment of rules and styles during the Renaissance. However, fencing has still retained its requirement for physical prowess, mental agility, and honorable conduct among opponents, making it a significant and important part of the sports world.
