About Fencing
Fencing is a tactical sport. It combines both athletic ability with mental ability, as while you duel it is also a mind game against your opponent as you try to predict you opponent's next move while you prepare your own attack. The goal of the sport is to score a touch against your opponent. There are three types of weapons in the sport: foil, epee, and saber, which each have a unique set of skills, rules and equipment. At Milton, we only fence epee. All practice and competition weapons are blunt, and protective clothing and masks are wore at all times.
Common Tactics:
Fencing can be broken down to very simple components.
- En garde position: the fencer’s resting stance. It allows minimal exposed target area without compromising movement.
- Advance: a step forward.
- Retreat: a step backward.
- Lunge: the most basic and quintessential attack. It consists of extending your sword arm while pushing off your back leg.
- Attack: an offensive and threatening action directing towards an opponent.
- Parry: moving your opponent’s blade away from target area.
- Riposte: an attack followed immediately after making a parry.
- Remise: an attack followed immediately after making an attack.
Gear and Equipment
Protective Gear:
- Knickers
- Jackets (right/left/back zipper)
- Gloves (right/left)
- Cotton plastron (right/left)
- Chest protector (women only)
- Mask
- Socks (provided by MHS)
- Shoes (for beginner, any sport shoes are sufficient)
Weapons and equipment:
- Electric epee (pistol/French grip)
- Body cord
A second epee and an extra body cord are highly recommended, particular at tournaments.
We have some pre-owned gear and equipment for sale at a discount price. Email miltonhighschoolfencingclub@gmail.com for questions.
How does a usual fencing tournament go?
An individual fencing tournament is broken down into two main parts: the pools and the direct elimination. In the pools, fencers are broken down into pools (around 6-7 people) and fence against everyone in their pool through 3-minute, 5-point bouts. Their performance in the pools will determine their seedings for the direct elimination. Direct elimination is conducted just like any other sport – fencers must defeat their opponent in order to move on. These bouts are 15-point bouts broken down into 3 3-minute periods. Last one standing is crowned champion of the tournament!
Team fencing tournaments also exist. Pools and direct elimination function similarly to individual tournaments. However, instead of everyone for themselves, a team of 3 fencers individually fence against each member in an opponent’s group, swapping out with each other after attaining a certain amount of points. The team must collectively earn 45 points (depending on the tournament) to win against the other team.