by Cory Davison

Created on: May 05, 2009   Last Updated: May 09, 2009

Fencing is a combat sport, and as a combat sport, it requires protective gear. There are five basic pieces of protective clothing, which are made of either cotton or nylon. There are other pieces of protective gear in addition to these, but their use is entirely their discretion.

Jacket - The jacket is a long-sleeved uniform that covers the torso from the neck to the groin. There is a small strap that extends from the groin area of the jacket called a croissard. The collar is also reinforced to protect against strikes to the neck.

Plastron - The plastron is a one-armed vest worn underneath the jacket. The plastron's main function is to protect the fencer's upper arm as well as his upper torso on his striking side. This is important as his side is unprotected when raising his sword.

Breeches - The breeches are simply a pair of pants that extend to just below the knee. This protects the fencer from blows to the thigh. The breeches are worn with knee-high socks to cover the legs entirely.

Glove - A glove is to be worn on the fencer's sword-hand. This protects his fingers and part of his forearm against strikes from his opponent. The glove features a gauntlet that protects the prevents their opponent's sword from sliding up their sleeve.The glove also provides the fencer with a better grip.

Mask - The mask is the strongest part of the fencer's gear. The mask is made up of a wire mesh, although some modern masks feature an entirely see-through visor. The mask is accompanied by a thick neck protector. FIE regulations state that the mask must be able to withstand a force of up to 1600 Newtons (359.7 pounds).

Chest Protector - A chest protector is only mandatory in women's fencing, although it's use in men's fencing is optional. However, they are commonly used by fencing instructors, whose gear must withstand a great deal of abuse. It is made of plastic, and is worn underneath the plastron. The chest protectors have become much more popular as of late in foil style fencing, as it decreases the possibility of a registered hit (In foil fencing, hits are registered by the pressing of a button located on the sword).

While fencing equipment is traditionally white, recent changes in FIE regulations have allowed the use of any color. Despite the color changes, the gear remains the same, as does the purpose: to protect your body from harm while engaging in the fine art of fencing.

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