The Fencing Weapons

As stated previously, each weapon incoporates different rules regarding what portion of the weapon can score, valid target area, and wether the weapon follows right-of-way.

I simplified the explanation of each of these topics.  For an indepth study of each topic please consult the documentation section of this web site for the USFA rulebook, or the bibliography of books written by much more competent instructors and authors

Valid Scoring Portion of the Weapons:

The Foil and Epee allow for thrust touches made only with the point of the blade.  A technique exists for flicking the point of the blade in an arc, allowing the point to come down and touch an opponent without using a direct thrust.  In fact experienced fencers may often throw these flicks over an opponents shoulder/head landing the point in the back.  However, current USFA rules call for making this maneuver much more difficult utilitzing changes to the electronic scoring machines and mechanics of the electical weapon tips.  The Sabre allows for point attacks as well cutting strokes using the full length of the blade.

Valid Target Area for Each Weapon:

The valid target are for the foil consists of the entire torso (front and back) excluding the arms/hands, legs/feet, and head.  The Sabre increases this target area to the entire upper portion of the body from the hips up.  Sabre allows hits and cuts to the arms, hands, and head.  Epee increases the target area again to include the entire body (front and back).  From the tip of the toe, to the top of the head.

Right-of-Way with Each Weapon:

Foil and Sabre obey Right-of-Way.  While the basics of determining right-of-way seem simple, perfecting the ability to make good calls aludes some of the best fencers.

In the simplist form, a fencer A gains Right-of-Way by

• When the opponent (Fencer B) does NOT already posses right-of-way (through initiating a valid attack prior to Fencer A, or already established point-in-line)

• Fencer A begins the straightening of the arm with the point threatening valid target

• Fencer B lies within advance lunge distance

Fencer B may react by avoiding the attack, or deflecting the blade.  Either response passes right of way from Fencer A to Fencer B.  Fencer A may now react in the same fashion to regain right-of-way.

Since only one fencer posses right-of-way at any time, only one fencer may score at any one time.  A fencer may score without right-of-way only in the case that the other fencer outright fails in their attack (misses or pauses during the attack).

Epee on the other hand does NOT utilize right-of-way.  The first fencer to touch the opponent gains the point.  However, any touches landing within 40 milliseconds count as simultaneous and scored as a touch for both fencers.

Weapon	Attack Type	Target Area	Right-of-Way
Foil	Point Thrust Only 500 grams pressure required Infinitly small tip travel required	Torso (front and back) excluding arms, legs, and head	Yes
Sabre	Point Thrust Or Blade Cut Infinitely light pressure required	Entire upper torso from hips up including arms and head.	Yes
Epee	Point Thrust Only 750 grams pressure required at least 1 mm travel required by tip.	Entire Body	No

Written 9-12-99 by David K. Grant
free to distribute if :

• credit to author included

• email me (dkgrant@calpoly.edu) of URL location where posted

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