what does a fencer use

Full Answer

What does a fencer wear?

What does a fencer wear? Fencers wear specialized, head to toe, protective clothing. This gear includes a uniform , a steel mesh mask with ballistic padding, protective socks, shoes, and a leather glove for the sword arm only. Because fencers wear so much gear, its important to have well fitting, quality equipment.

What is the purpose of fencing?

Fencing is a sport in which two competitors fight using 'rapier-style' swords, called the foil, the épée, and the sabre; winning points are made through the contact with an opponent. Fencing was one of the first sports to be played in the Olympics.

How are others used defensively in fencing?

Others are used defensively, to protect against a hit or obtain the right of way. The attacks and defences may be performed in countless combinations of feet and hand actions. For example, fencer A attacks the arm of fencer B, drawing a high outside parry; fencer B then follows the parry with a high line riposte.

What equipment do you need to be a fencer?

For electric scoring, a fencer must have a lamè that covers the torso and arms, a special metal mask, a metal overglove for the weapon hand, a body cord, and an electric sabre. Like foil, the electric sabre system is a closed circuit that opens when a touch or slash is landed.

What weapon does a fencer use?

There are three fencing blades used in Olympic fencing - the foil, épée and sabre - each of which have different compositions, techniques and scoring target areas.

What do fencers usually wear?

All fencers require a jacket, a mask, a glove, trousers or knickers, white stockings, flat-soled shoes, a body cord, and a weapon with which to bout. In sabre and foil, fencers additionally require a mask cord and a lamé made of conductive material, which is worn over the jacket.

What equipment do you need to do fencing?

For example, for any weapon, you will need a full fencing uniform, which includes pants, a jacket, and an underarm protector. However, if you want to fence saber, you'll need a saber electric jacket, a saber glove, and also a saber, all of which are different from the equipment used for the other two weapons.

What is fencing clothing called?

In fencing, a lamé is an electrically conductive jacket worn by foil and sabre fencers in order to define the scoring area (which is different for each weapon). Foil lamés, although traditionally a metallic grey, are becoming more and more popular in an array of colors.

Why do fencers scream?

Before modern technology during non-electric fencing competitions, fencers would often yell as a way to attract the attention of the referee. This was a way to persuade the judge to give the point to the yelling fencer. As time went on and technology improved, some of the theatrics continued to remain effective.

What is a fencing mask called?

Masks exist for each kind of fencing: epee, foil, and saber. Most beginners start with an epee mask for non-electric (or “dry”) fencing and similar beginner classes. Upgrading to an electric foil or sabre masks happens when the fencer becomes more competitive or starts practicing using the electric scoring systems.

What are fencing pants called?

knickersBreeches - This is the name given to the short trousers worn to just below the knee. (Also called knickers or fencing pants.) Disengage - Evasive action in which the fencer avoids the opponent's attempt to take their blade. Engagement - Contact between the fencers' blades - often as the prelude to an attack.

What is a male fencer called?

The informal term sabreur refers to a male fencer who follows the discipline; sabreuse is the female equivalent.

Does fencing hurt?

Yes, injuries in fencing happen; however, they are mainly pulled or strained muscles, bruising, or sprains. With the proper training, warm-ups, stretching, etc., these injuries can all be prevented and minimized. After all, these same injuries happen while children play on the playground.

What armor do fencers wear?

Foil. In foil fencing, a foil may target the torso (including back), neck and groin but not arms and legs. All the foil fencers wear a jacket that covers all the targeted areas, which is also called a lame.

Why do fencers wear all white?

Instead of actually drawing blood, fencers would wear white uniforms and fence with foiled weapons (real weapons that had been blunted for the purpose of practice). These “foils” had red chalk at the tip of the blade, which would leave a mark on the white jacket - signifying first blood, or a touch.

Why is fencing not popular?

Yiman believes the main reason that fencing is less popular than other sports is because of the tremendous amount of equipment needed to compete (there are three layers of torso protection alone for foilists and sabreists), and the high cost of owning that equipment.

What armor do fencers wear?

Foil. In foil fencing, a foil may target the torso (including back), neck and groin but not arms and legs. All the foil fencers wear a jacket that covers all the targeted areas, which is also called a lame.

What are fencing pants called?

knickersBreeches - This is the name given to the short trousers worn to just below the knee. (Also called knickers or fencing pants.) Disengage - Evasive action in which the fencer avoids the opponent's attempt to take their blade. Engagement - Contact between the fencers' blades - often as the prelude to an attack.

Why do fencers only wear one glove?

In the age of duels, competitors would issue a challenge by throwing down their glove or gauntlet. We joke that this is the reason that modern fencers only wear one glove – because we would already have thrown the other glove at the opponent before starting the bout.

What is a fencers chest shield called?

Chest protector. A chest protector, made of plastic, is worn by female fencers and, sometimes, by males. Fencing instructors also wear them, as they are hit far more often during training than their students. In foil fencing, the hard surface of a chest protector decreases the likelihood that a hit registers. Lamé

Competitive fencing

Fencing is governed by Fédération Internationale d'Escrime (FIE). Today, its head office is in Lausanne, Switzerland. The FIE is composed of 145 national federations, each of which is recognised by its state Olympic Committee as the sole representative of Olympic-style fencing in that country.

History

Fencing traces its roots to the development of swordsmanship for duels and self defense. Fencing is believed to have originated in Spain; some of the most significant books on fencing were written by Spanish fencers.

Weapons

There are three weapons in modern fencing: foil, épée, and sabre. Each weapon has its own rules and strategies. Equipment needed includes at least 2 swords, a lamé (not for épée), a white jacket, underarm protector, two body and mask cords, knee high socks, glove and knickers.

Equipment

Most personal protective equipment for fencing is made of tough cotton or nylon. Kevlar was added to top level uniform pieces (jacket, breeches, underarm protector, lamé, and the bib of the mask) following the death of Vladimir Smirnov at the 1982 World Championships in Rome.

Techniques

Techniques or movements in fencing can be divided into two categories: offensive and defensive. Some techniques can fall into both categories ( e.g. the beat). Certain techniques are used offensively, with the purpose of landing a hit on your opponent while holding the right of way (foil and sabre).

Universities and schools

University students compete internationally at the World University Games. The United States holds two national level university tournaments including the NCAA championship and the USACFC National Championships tournaments in the US and the BUCS fencing championships in the United Kingdom.

Other variants

Other variants include wheelchair fencing for those with disabilities, chair fencing, one-hit épée (one of the five events which constitute modern pentathlon) and the various types of non-Olympic competitive fencing. Chair fencing is similar to wheelchair fencing, but for the able bodied.

Examples of fence in a Sentence

Verb a house with a fenced -in yard He stole watches and fenced them on the street.

Legal Definition of fence

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What is a saber fencer?

Unlike the foil or epee, a fencer using a saber has the unique opportunity to be able to slash at an opponent. Out of the three weapons, the saber is typically the fastest and most aggressive, with each exchange lasting a fleeting moment before the point is decided. Emulating its roots of being a weapon used by cavalrymen, it is weapon designed for thrusting and slashing. Simulating the target areas that cavalrymen would aim for during battles, a saber fencer has the entire upper body region available for an on-target strike. This includes the mask and arms, unlike the foil. Due to the valid slashing motion utilized in this style, the saber has a longer hilt that protects the hand better.

What is an epee in fencing?

The fencing epee is the newest style incorporated into modern fencing. During the 19th century when dueling for honor was still an integral part of society, laws changed so that the government enforced a “first blood” rule to minimize casualties. Therefore, it became more important to emphasize light touches on any part of the body rather than going for the heavy body blows that a foil fencer typically targets. From the ashes of necessity, the epee was born.

What is the oldest fencing weapon?

The most balanced of the three, the fencing foil has its beginnings in sword-play practice in 1700’s France. It is the oldest of the weapons and typically the first style that beginners learn before potentially branching out. Light and flexible, the foil is a thrusting weapon designed to puncture rather than slash. While beginners tend to practice with a “French-grip” in order to hone better finesse and control with the blade, this grip does not provide much power. Conversely, there is the “Pistol-grip” which provides a better grip and power for the user.

What is the right of way in a fencing saber?

Like fencing with the foil, the fencing saber also utilizes the rule of “Right of Way”. This means that there is an attacker and defender at any given moment. Priority is given to the person who attacks first. However, if the attack fails, then the defender has an opportunity to become the attacker. In such a fast-paced environment, these lightning quick exchanges may make it difficult to determine who had priority, and thus, even with electronic equipment, a referee is there to determine who gets awarded the point.

What is the right of way in foil fencing?

Whoever is on the offense has the “Right of Way” and if both fencers were to score simultaneous hits on each other, the person who is judged to be on the offensive by the referee will be awarded the point. Although this rule was originally instituted to help increase the chances of survival during duels centuries ago, the “Right of Way” has become an integral part of fencing with a foil in the modern age.

What do fencers wear?

Fencers wear specialized, head to toe, protective clothing. This gear includes a uniform , a steel mesh mask with ballistic padding, protective socks, shoes, and a leather glove for the sword arm only. Because fencers wear so much gear, its important to have well fitting, quality equipment. Equipment that is poorly made or ill-fitting will impede the athlete's movement and maybe not protect him or her at all.

How is fencer rank determined?

There are 3 events per season, per age category. A fencer's rank will be calcula ted by the average of his performance in those three events. One can also increase one's ranking by placing in the top 32 of any World Cup competition.

How long is a fencer's field?

Fencers compete on their very own field of play called a "piste" or "strip". A strip is 14 meters long (about 42 feet) and 2 meters wide (about 6 feet). Fencers begin the match in the center of the strip, behind the on-guard lines.

How many fencers are in a USFA tournament?

Competitions can be open to anyone as well. In a standard USFA competition, each fencers is placed in a seeding "pool" of 5-7 fencers. Placement is determined by a fencer's national rank or USFA skill rating. Often there are anywhere from 4 to 20 pools of fencers that will happen simultaneously on different strips in the tournament. Each fencer fences everyone else in the pool. Based on a fencer's performance in the pool, he/she will be seeded into a complete table of all event competitors. The fencer who had the best performance will fence the fencer who did the worst. The second best athlete from the pools will fence the second worst and so forth and so on. This insures (theoretically) that the two best fencers in the room will square off for the final bout. These bouts in the table are usually matches to 15 and are single elimination. The average fencer will have between 6 and 10 matches in a tournament. The winner may have up around 17 matches depending on the number of total competitors. Fencers do not fence off for third. Third place is always tied.

Overview

Equipment

Most personal protective equipment for fencing is made of tough cotton or nylon. Kevlar was added to top level uniform pieces (jacket, breeches, underarm protector, lamé, and the bib of the mask) following the death of Vladimir Smirnov at the 1982 World Championships in Rome. However, Kevlar is degraded by both ultraviolet light and chlorine, which can complicate cleaning.
Other ballistic fabrics, such as Dyneema, have been developed that resist puncture, and which d…

Competitive fencing

History

Weapons

Techniques

Universities and schools

Other variants