Weapons of the Game
"Fencing is one of the four sports which has been featured at every modern Olympic Games."
FOIL: "The Training Weapon"
Once dueling became available to the "common man", schools emerged throughout Europe. Students of the art found that through more concentrated study of distance and tactics, only one weapon was needed for the skilled swordsman, and the smaller sidearm disappeared. To enhance training, a lighter weapon for one's principle fighting hand was fashioned from rolled steel foil. Known as "the foil", this easily handled weapon was most frequently used in fencing schools to practice with fellow students or take lesson with one's fencing master. Consequently, special rules were put in place to reward the best tactics, precision and logic. Those rules included a target area of only lethal consequences (that is, the torso only, front and back). Because adequate facial protection was difficult in the 17th century, the head is not valid target area.
Foil's Rule
Because the game of foil was originated to reward the best technique, tactics and logic, special rules of "right of way" were developed. These rules help to equalize inherent disadvantages between two fencers, such as height differences. Fencers are awarded points based on who executed the best offense or defense in theory as well as in practice. In this way the smartest fencer, not necessarily the biggest or the strongest, wins the game!
EPEE: "The Original Dueling Weapon"
The "epee" is the modern derivative of the original dueling weapon, the rapier. Epee is the most popular weapon in fencing throughout the world although it is common for fencing masters to require students to learn foil first. Epees are the heaviest of all three weapons. Target area is the entire body, front and back. Whomever hits his opponent first scores a point and if both fencers hit at the same time, both fencers score.
The Popularity of Modern Epee:
Epee is an event played all over the world. Its popularity lies in the fact that players can hit their opponents anywhere on the body to score as long as he/she hits first! Fencers can only hit with the point. They will not score with the length of the blade. Historically, rapiers were point weapons as well. Epee fencers must hit their opponents with at least 750 grams of pressure in order for the electronic sensors to count the touch!
SABRE: "The Cavalry Weapon"
Originally fought on horseback, this weapon was presented to members of the king's cavalry. Soldiers would race toward one another at full gallop from opposite ends of the battlefield. The sabre is a cutting weapon. Traditionally, vintage sabres are sharp for the full length of one side and 1/3 of the back side. Modern fencing sabres allow the athlete to use all of both sides. Target area is everything from the waist up excluding the hands. Target area is directly influenced by sabre's history of horseback dueling. Any cut lower than the waist may injure a soldier's horse but might not disable the attacker. Modern sabre fencing is just as fast paced as it has ever been historically and the event is known for its very high level of athleticism!
Sabre's Rules of "Right of Way"
As sabre developed from its horseback origins, some elements persisted. Athletes continued to run, full speed, at one another. As it became a world-wide event, the pressure to win and the lack of physical danger only encouraged the mindless charging. Eventually, the same rules of "Right of Way" ,as used in foil, were incorporated to reward the more technically skilled fencer. Regardless, sabre remains the fastest, most ruthless and athletically taxing of the three weapons!