Fencing

De la riposte en tierce de pied sur le coup de tierce. Plate, 24.
Publish'd according to Act of Parliament. Feb. 1763.

Fencing is a really cool sport which unfortunately doesn't get much recognition. Although it has been an Olympic sport since the first modern Olympics in 1896, it is rumored that the IOC is thinking about removing it because of its unsuitability for television (fencing is very rapid and can be confusing if you don't know what to watch for). Of course, if the broadcasters wanted, it would be relatively easy to educate viewers on what to watch for, and in fact fencing could become very popular. What's happening in figure skating is not exactly obvious, but it has become popular through the use of diagrams and animations to show what maneuver is being done. Fencing could likewise be demonstrated, and everyone could enjoy the sport. That's my $0.02, anyway.

The following information is a reprint of Westside's World of Fencing Facts, from the Westside Fencing Center:

Early History of Fencing

An Egyptian bas-relief sculpture found in the Temple of Medinet Habou, dated almost 12 centuries B.C.E. illustrates a fencing competition organized by Ramses III to celebrate is military victory over the Libyans. A referee, four judges and an audience watched the contestants attack each other with copper or bronze swords, using them like clubs, with their faces protected by masks.

After that, the sport of fencing apparently is unmentioned for more then 2,500 years. In this time, the Greeks and Romans used iron weapons by slashing and clubbing their opponents. The warrior with the best arms, heaviest blade, and strongest armor was usually the only one left alive at the end. Contrary to the American media's portrayal of armored warriors, the fighters were able to move very well within their armor, and there is written record of men training to be able to mount and dismount horses while running and in full armor.

By 1000 C.E. the Vikings began forging weapons from meteorite ore, because they found that the "steel" was tougher, more flexible, and generally superior to any of the softer metals which they had used in the past. The also believed that the meteorites were a gift from the gods, and therefore that their weapons were blessed. Also around that time, similar discoveries were made in the East.

With the introduction of firearms in the Battle of Crecy in 1346, the value of heavy armor decreased, since the projectiles penetrated even double armor. Armies started to shed their heavy armor, replacing it with light armor, a gun and a light sword. As guns became effective from increasingly great distances, swords' role in battle became minor, and their role in duels became more important. A man of wealth had at all times to be ready to accept another's challenge to a duel to either defend his reputation or his property. In addition, fashion required a sword to be worn. The rapier was the best sword to wear (The word "rapier" is from the Spanish "espada ropera," meaning"sword worn with clothing," as opposed to one worn with armor or a uniform. This differentiated the rapier as a gentleman's weapon.) Since the rapier was relatively light compared with the earlier clubbing-style swords, the techniques for thrusting, parrying, and the evasion of the opponent's parries necessitated excellent training — and no amount of money was too much to spend on a man's reputation and ego — so the fencing masters came about. The 1400s begat fencing schools across England, France, Germany, Italy and Spain in response to the huge demand for training in lethal skills, responsible for thousands of noblemen's deaths.

The first modern reference to sport fencing mentions French noblemen wrapping the tips of their blades with ink-dipped linen so as to leave a mark on their opponent's uniform when they scored a touch. That's why the white uniform is used. (The New York Fencers Club's foil team wore purple velvet uniforms in the 1890s that showed white chalk marks.)

Although gunpowder was invented in China around 1000 C.E., it was only used for religious purposes. Its belligerent qualities were developed in Europe. The original mixture of saltpeter, sulfur and charcoal didn't have the strength to fire a projectile until they figured out how to purify nitre. The first gunpowder, called serpentine powder, was a coarse meal, and real explosive power was really only achieved when the process of corning grains of powder was discovered in the 15^th century.

Rules of Fencing

The USFA (United States Fencing Association) rule book states that the strip may be made of cork, wood, rubber, metal, metal mesh, linoleum, earth, plastic, or a compound with a metal base. The width of the strip is between 1.8 and 2.0 meters; its useful length is 14 meters, with 1.5-2.0 meters added on to allow a fencer who crosses the rear limit to retreat over an even and continuous surface. the strip is deliberately confined so that combatants are forced to confront each other honorably, as their predecessors did.

The scoring lights have helped to confuse audiences for years, and helped to embarrass people who applaud at the wrong time. Here, then, is (hopefully) a clarification. The colored lights are for valid hits, and the white lights are for foul hits. Foul hits, similar to foul balls in baseball, stop the play but do not affect the scoring. The lights on the left are for the fencer on the left, and vice versa. Often, even though a touch is awarded by the lights, it is not awarded by the referee, because of complicated rules and situations determined by the referee. The official makes a broad gesture indicating a touch.

The Weapons

Foil

Etymology: the word foil comes from the French "refouler," meaning "to turn back," referring to the blunted tip that was introduced by teachers to avoid serious injuries during lessons. Everywhere else in the world, the foil is called the fleuret, French for "little flower" because of the leather bulb's (which used to be placed over the tip) resemblance to a flower bud.

The foil is the modern version of the small sword, and the rules are intended to simulate a duel to the death. Therefore, the torso is a valid target front and back due to the presence of the vital organs. Touches have to be made with at least a pound of pressure to count. The arms, head and legs are foul.

The convention of the right-of-way determines which fencer has the priority to score a touch. The fencer who begins extending his or her arm first has the priority (right-of-way) until a hit is scored or until the opponent blocks or parries. The defender now takes over the right-of way until a hit or a parry. Sawing or whacking your opponent with the side of the blade can be painful, but never scores any points.

Épée

Etymology: épée is the modern equivalent of the rapier or dueling sword.

It evolved during the 1800s when the small sword ceased to be worn. The blade is the same length as the foil's (35"), but the blade is stouter and stiffer than saber and foil blades, and the "forte" or thick of the blade is grooved to "let the blood drain away" — hence the name blood groove. The target is the whole body, including clothing and equipment. To illustrate this, once it happened that a furious fencer stepped out of his shoe. The opponent struck the shoe, and was awarded a touch, since he made the hit before the referee called "Halt!"

Épée tournaments simulate the "Duel of Honor" and were historically stopped after one touch had been scored, to simulate the first drawing of blood. These competitions were always held outdoors to resemble the duels at dawn or dusk. In the 1930s épée bouts were changed to five touches, and also were moved indoors. All touches must be made with at least 1.5 pounds of pressure; the fencer who hits first wins the touch. If both fencers touch at the same time, both score a point.

Saber

First mentioned in 1686, the saber became widely known during the 1700s by the Hungarian Light Horsemen (Housan or Hussars), who adapted the weapon from the Turks. Although the "cavalry" saber was a heavy weapon, the competitive saber is, oddly enough, the lightest modern fencing weapon. Attacks can be delivered with the edge or with the point, and an attack with right-of-way has priority over one without. The target area is limited to the space above a horizontal line drawn between the top of the folds formed by the thighs and the trunk of the fencer while in the en garde position.