Fencing

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Olympic fencing in 2004
Olympic fencing in 2004

Fencing is a sport that involves two people with swords. The aim is to score hits. There is also a referee.

Contents

[edit] Weapons

[edit] Foil

A foil fencer.  Valid target is in red.
A foil fencer. Valid target is in red.

The foil is a light and flexible weapon, originally developed in mid 17th century as a training weapon. 'Hits' can only be scored by hitting the valid target area with the point of the sword. The target area is the torso.








[edit] Épée

An Épée fencer.  Valid target is in red.
An Épée fencer. Valid target is in red.

The épée is the heaviest of the three weapons. To score a hit, the push-button on the end of the weapon must remain fully down for 2-10 milliseconds, and must arrive with a force of at least 7.35 newtons.








[edit] Sabre

A sabre fencer. Valid target is in red.
A sabre fencer. Valid target is in red.

The sabre is the "cutting" weapon, with a curved guard and a triangular blade. However, in modern electric scoring, a touch with any part of the sabre, (point, flat or edge, as long as it is on target) will register a hit. The target area in sabre is everything from the waist up, except for the hands.








[edit] Uniform

Fencers wear a uniform to avoid injury. They wear mask of black mesh with a bib. Also, a jacket, short pants and a sort of half-a-shirt (called a underarm protector or plastron), all of white fabric. They must also wear socks that cover their legs. Women must wear a chest protector. These are collectively called "whites."

[edit] External links

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