Fencing Facts & Worksheets

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Most parents enroll their children in art classes, dance and voice lessons, and sports to cultivate their skills. The most common sport they bring their kids to are basketball, soccer, swimming, baseball, and tennis. But are you familiar with fencing? Fencing is an Olympic sport that involves two competitors, called fencers, who engage in a simulated sword fight using three different types of weapons: the foil, épée, and sabre. Fencing is a combination of strategy, agility, and skill. Each weapon has its own rules and target areas.

See the fact file below for more information on Fencing, or you can download our 34-page Fencing worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

WHAT IS FENCING?

• Fencing, which involves sword fighting, is a combat sport enjoyed by people of all ages.
• It is a physical sport as well as a mental sport because fencers learn to develop strategies against their opponents who have different skill levels and physical abilities.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF FENCING

• Fencing is believed to have emerged from the combat and self-defense used in swordsmanship, boxing, and wrestling.
• Carvings of fencers found in a temple near Luxor around 1190 BC showed that swordplay already existed for many years.
• Teachers of sword fighting schools were paid by the rich to create treatises or books about their system of fighting.
• Royal Armouries Ms. I. 33 or the Tower manuscript is the oldest surviving treatise on western fencing, stored at the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds, England.
• From 1400 onwards, there was an increase in the number of sword-fighting treatises that survived from across Europe.
• Most of its users were for the knighthood and the nobility. 
• In 1471, Diego de Valera published the very first manual of fencing with heraldry as its focus.
• In 1532, Francisco Román published Tratado de la esgrima con figuras, in which a more mathematical approach to fencing was introduced, and that started a new tradition in Spanish fencing.
• In 1582, the seminal treatise De la Filosofía de las Armas y de su Destreza y la Aggression y Defensa Cristiana by Jerónimo Carranza was published.
• Around 3,000 years ago, swordsmanship, used for combat and wars, was first seen in Egypt and even developed various techniques.
• It also became popular in ancient Greece, especially for civilian and military purposes.
• The Greeks developed the first fencing schools and made several styles of swordsmanship. In contrast, the fencing masters in Italy in the 16th century developed three fencing styles, which are all still practiced today.
• The fencing masters, namely Filippo Vadi, Achille Marozzo, and Ridolfo Capo Ferro, were influential people who were significant in the development of fencing.
• They also pioneered several techniques and different rules, which are still used in fencing today.
• One of the published works of Filippo Vadi was De Arte Gladiatoria, which contains comprehensive illustrations on how to fence using various techniques and weapons.
• Opera Nova, a book by Achille Marozzo, is considered one of the most significant sources of Renaissance swordsmanship.
• His book had illustrations of different techniques and descriptions of armored and unarmored combat during the period.
• Ridolfo Capo Ferro’s Gran Simulacro dell’Arte e dell’Offesa di Spada e Sciabola, contained Baroque swordsmanship.
• It composed of techniques and Baroque swordsmanship principles.
• In the 17th century, French classical fencing emerged when King Louis XIV decreed the requirement of the French nobility to train in the rapier.
• Under his order, the “belle Épée” was also exclusively used and continued until the late 1800s, as other weapons were allowed too.
• In 1670, one of the earliest schools that taught military skills and self-defense, called France’s “École des Maîtres d’Armes” (School of Swordmasters), was established.
• In the 18th century, the members of French society taught the art of sword fighting to others in Parisian salons.
• With this, the Academy of Arms in 1725, whose Head Master was Joachim-Napoléon Murat, was established and was recognized as the national school for French fencing.
• Joachim-Napoléon Murat was also King Louis XVI and his family’s fencing teacher.
• Another significant fencing school was built in 1763 by Domenico Angelo.
• He was the first person to create rules for the modern fencing.
• His school emphasized weapon handling and footwork, which are significant to have an advantage during combat.
• His students were also taught how to disarm the opponents using their blades.
• Swordsmen needed to train for combat in a nonfatal way, therefore considering fencing a sport.
• In the 18th century, fencing turned into a sport led by Domenico Angelo.
• Domenico Angelo was the first to give significance to the health and sporting benefits rather than its purpose as a killing art.
• His influence changed the perception of people to fencing from being an art of war to a sport.
• As fencing advanced, its combat characteristics slowly faded until the rules of the sport existed.
• In 1880, the first-ever regularized fencing competition was at the inaugural Grand Military Tournament and Assault at Arms at the Royal Agricultural Hall in Islington.
• The Tournament consisted of a series of competitions with the soldiers and army officers.
• The Amateur Fencers League of America, founded in 1891 by New York fencers to promote and support fencing, is the oldest organization for fencing in the United States.
• They also created the first standardized regulations for American fencing and developed foil, saber, and epee as competitive weapons.
• In 1896, the Amateur Gymnastic & Fencing Association was responsible for creating the official fencing rules in Britain.

EPEE, FOIL, SABER

• Epee, foil, and saber are three disciplines in fencing.
• Foil was believed to have started from military fencing, epee was from swordsmanship duels, and saber was from cavalry.
• Each of them has unique targets, rules, and characteristics.

FOIL

• Among the three weapons, foil is the lightest, weighing 500 grams at max, and the best recommended for most beginners.
• It has a rectangular blade no longer than 90 cm long.
• It is the most common and is also known as a thrusting or point weapon.
• It is designed to bend upon impact, to lower the risk of injuries.
• In foil fencing, the right-of-way rule is used.
• This means that the point does not always go with who hits first but will be given to the fencer who hits with priority or someone who appropriately executes the attack.
• A foil fencer gets to score only when he hits his opponent’s torso and the back of the opponent’s waist with the blade tip.
• Off-targets such as the hands, feet, head, and neck are not counted, and no points will be given.
• It requires better techniques and strategies because it is lighter and has fewer targets than the two disciplines.

EPEE

• Unlike the foil, the epee has a wider target area.
• It is heavier than the foil as it can weigh a maximum of 770 grams.
• It is almost similar to the foil, but the epee has a triangular blade.
• The fencer scores a touche when the tip or blade of his weapon touches the head, limbs, or torso of his opponent.
• Only stabs are allowed during the match, and the fencers must be highly skilled to intercept the attacks because the whole body can be the target area.
• The challengers switch back and forth between attack and defense.
• Among the three disciplines, epee has the slowest pace, and the right-of-way rule does not apply.
• A point is awarded to the fencer who first executes a hit with the minimum required impact.

SABER

• Soldier’s sword is another term used to refer to saber.
• A fencer can score if he can make hits with any part of his blade.
• During the competition, thrusting and cutting the opponent is allowed.
• It has a flat blade and weighs a maximum of 500 grams.
• The target area can be everywhere as long as it is above the waist, such as the head, arms, and armpits, excluding the hands.
• This discipline requires a large scale of movements and fast and strong attacks.
• One winning strategy is to focus on the footwork and a quick response to strategy changes.
• The right-of-way rule is also practiced in saber fencing.

MATCH

• The objective of fencing is to strike the opponent while avoiding being hit.
• To record the scores, the swords of the players are electronically sensitive.
• Body parts where scores can be awarded are connected by a body cord to the scoring box.
• When a strike is detected, a sound will prompt, and a light will illuminate.
• They compete on a piste, a fencing strip about 46 feet long and 6 feet wide.

EQUIPMENT

• Protective gear must be worn by all fencers.
• The fencer wears a mask and helmet with a tough mesh at the front and strong enough to repel the weapon.
• Fencers also wear fencing jackets, pads, and a glove on the other hand.
• The hilt is the part of the blade that the fencers hold onto.
• It also includes the guard, grip, and pommel.
• Lamé is the electric conductive jacket worn by fencers that generate score hits electronically.
• Plastron is the underarm garment required for all fencers to wear in a bout.
• Breeches or knickers are below-the-knee trousers that are usually worn with suspenders or braces. 
• The breeches must overlap 10cm with the jacket.
• For female fencers, a chest protector is worn.
• Sometimes, male fencers use it too.

RULES

• The fencers must salute each other and the referee at the start and end of a match. 
• Not being able to do so can make the winner lose a point or can result in the suspension of the loser.
• Covering the target zone with the hand, foot faults, or barging with the opponent can cause penalties at the referee’s judgment.

BASIC TECHNIQUES

• Three main moves are used in fencing.
• Lunge is a basic attacking move where the sword arm is fully extended, and the back leg remains the same as the front leg moves forward.
• Parry is a defense technique where the fencer blocks his opponent’s lunge.
• In a parry, the blade is the only thing that moves, and the arm is kept as straight as possible.
• Riposte is a technique used to counterattack the parry.

Fencing Vocabulary

• Allez 
  • A French word that means “go.” It is used when the referee is about to start the bout.
• Assault
  • In fencing, it refers to a friendly game where the scores may or may not be considered.
• Bout
  • It is similar to an assault, but the scores are kept.
• Avertissement
  • It is a warning given for a small violation. It is also known as a yellow card.
• Black Card
  • It is given to a fencer with a serious violation. With a black card, the fencer is already considered expelled from the game or the tournament. Sometimes, it is also given to unruly spectators.
• Red Card
  • It is given to a fencer when he has committed violent actions during a point.
  • Not only will he be given a red card, but a point will be awarded to his opponent.
• En-garde 
  • A French word that means on guard is used by the referee to signal the fencers to get to their positions.
• Corps-à-corps
  • It is bodily contact between the fencers considered an illegal move in foil and saber fencing.
• Pret
  • It is the French term for ready. It is one of the words being mentioned by the referee prior to the start of a bout. The referee mentions en-garde, pret, and allez.
• Jury
  • It is made up of four people who watch the bout to monitor for the hits and touches manually.

FAMOUS FENCERS

Aladar Gerevich

• He is regarded as the greatest Olympic swordsman ever. 
• A Hungarian fencer known as the best fencer in the history of modern-day Olympics, having won 10 medals in the Olympic Games.
• Aladar Gerevich was the only athlete in history to win six times in the same event.

Edoardo Mangiarotti

• He was an Italian Olympic fencer who was considered one of the greatest fencers of all time. He won 39 Olympic titles and World championships, more than any fencer in the history of fencing.

Valentina Vezzali

• A woman fencer representing Italy is considered the third-best fencer in Olympic history.
• She is also the only Olympic fencer to have won three individual foil medals in three consecutive Olympic Games.

Katrina Lehis

• She is an Estonian native fencer who is considered one of the most famous in the world of fencing.
• She was named the Female Fencer of the Year by the Estonian Fencing Federation from 2018 to 2020.

Fencing Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Fencing across 34 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Fencing. Are you familiar with fencing?

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

1. Fencing Facts
2. The Truth About Fencing
3. Did You Know?
4. Foil, Epeé, or Saber
5. Get Ready With Me!
6. Knowing Your Weapon
7. Game Day
8. Name That Fencer
9. En-garde! Pret?
10. What Are You Saying?
11. Who Am I As A Fencer?

Frequently Asked Questions

What is fencing?

Fencing is a combat sport that involves the use of swords, known as foils, épées, or sabres. It is a highly tactical and strategic sport where opponents engage in one-on-one duels, aiming to score points by making valid hits on their opponent while avoiding being hit themselves.

What are the three primary weapons in fencing?

1. The three primary weapons in fencing are the foil, épée, and sabre.

• Foil: The foil is a light, flexible weapon with a small, blunted tip. In foil fencing, touches are scored by hitting the opponent’s torso area with the tip of the weapon.
• Épée: The épée is a heavier weapon with a larger guard and a blunt tip. In épée fencing, touches can be scored by hitting any part of the opponent’s body with the tip, and the entire body is a valid target.
• Sabre: The sabre is a weapon with a curved blade and a flat cutting edge. In sabre fencing, touches can be scored by hitting the opponent’s head, torso, or arms with the cutting edge or the tip of the weapon.

What are the different types of hits in fencing?

Fencing recognizes three types of hits:

• Touché: A touché refers to a successful hit made by one fencer on their opponent, resulting in a scored point.
• Remise: A remise occurs when a fencer continues their attack immediately after a failed attempt, without withdrawing the weapon.
• Riposte: A riposte is a counterattack made by a fencer who successfully parries their opponent’s attack.

What is the role of the fencing strip or piste?

The fencing strip, also known as the piste, is a long, narrow playing area where fencers compete. It is typically a 14-meter-long and 1.5-2-meter-wide strip marked with boundary lines. The strip serves as a designated area for fencers to engage in their bouts while providing clear boundaries for movement and safety.

What are the different target areas in fencing?

The target areas in fencing depend on the weapon being used:

• Foil: In foil fencing, the target area is restricted to the torso, specifically the area above the waist and below the neck, including the front and back.
• Épée: In épée fencing, the entire body is a valid target. Hits can be scored on any part of the opponent’s body.
• Sabre: In sabre fencing, the target area includes the head, torso (including the arms), and the front and back of the opponent. Hits made on these areas can score points.

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Link will appear as Fencing Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, July 12, 2023