by Emma Fryer

Created on: January 06, 2007   Last Updated: May 03, 2007

The sport of Fencing undoubtedly began with sword fighting in medieval times, and evolved into a way of defending one's honor when the gun was introduced to war, making swordplay for victory obsolete.

In modern fencing, there are three different swords. The first, Foil, has a hilt, the second, Epee, uses a foil sword, and the third, Sabre has a hilt and a finger guard that loops over the fingers and connect at the end of the handle.

Fencing remains on a strip, with five lines across it, two at both ends, three feet from the strip's end, as a warning to the fencers that if they continue, they will end up off the strip, making the point null and void. There is another in the middle of the strip, and two about ten feet from the center where the fencers start. there is always someone to call the points, announcing if it is simultaneous, or whose point it is. the fencer requires a Mask, protecting the face and head, a lemme (protective jacket) Also knickers, extending to the knees, knee high socks, padded over the shins, special shoes, a protective glove, and a chest guard or cup(for men, a cup.)

In foil, a lemme (a protective jacket, sometimes with wires woven in for "electric" that alarms a sensor when hit by the blade) extends over the chest only, as that is the only area considered valid for a point if the opponent's blade hits it. the correct starting position for foil is with legs positioned with front(right) straight facing forward, the back(left) bent slightly with the foot facing out the left arm extended behind, bent with the hand facing forward.

In Epee, you start in the same position as Foil, however, the lemme extends to the groin and arms, all of the body is considered fair game for one point. Epee is known to be a quicker sport, though it requires less movement across the strip.

Sabre is totally different, with a lemme covering the chest, arms, and extending to the groin. this is all the area meriting a point.the correct position is the same as foil, except the left arm remains behind the back for protection.

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