FENCING FROM THE HEART

You also need passion to fence. Practicing on a daily basis is crucial. You can't get read about the parries and try to use them in a bout. Equipment may be expensive, but it is worth it if you are committed to this sport.

PSAL RULES AND REGULATIONS

If you want to fence in your high school, there are some rules you must follow.

-NO FLECHING
-NO CROSSING FEET

These are only allowed in fencing clubs outside of school. Experienced fencers can do these moves more effeciently, so it would be unfair to the other fencers if psal allowed these moves.

MORE SABRE PARRIES

Here are some more parries. High parries can be used to hit the helmet.

HIGH PARRY 3

PARRY 4

PARRY 5

HIGH PARRY 5

PARRY 6

HIGH PARRY 6

SABRE PARRIES

The diagram below shows useful cuts and parries for sabre.

PARRY 1



PARRY 2



PARRY 3

CORRECT AIMING

Each parry is used to hit a specific area of the torso in foil. The same parries can be used in epee, but it will be easier to hit another area just incase you miss the torso. In sabre, cuts and slashes are used instead. 

HOW TO PRACTICE

Once you get a blade, you could practice parries, cuts, and beats on your own. You don't need an opponent to practice footwork as well.

By using the diagram above, you can easily practice parries on your own.



MORE FOOTWORK

                       
Instead of just advancing or retreating, more experienced fencers can do a double advance/retreat to gain more distance. Double retreated while the other person advances towards you is a smart move. As you double retreat, you can parry riposte.

FOOTWORK

Advance : a movement forward by step, cross, or balestra.

 

Retreat : step back; opposite of advance.

 

Fleche : an attack in which the aggressor leaps off his leading foot, attempts to make the hit, and then passes the opponent at a run. 

 

Lunge : an attack made by extending the rear leg and landing on the bent front leg.

 

Balestra : a forward hop or jump, typically followed by an attack such as a lunge or fleche.

Practicing footwork helps build stamina and helps gain control of the strip.

 

MORE MANEUVERS

Doublé : an attack or riposte that describes a complete circle around the opponent's blade, and finishes in the opposite line.

 

In Quartata : an attack made with a quarter turn to the inside, concealing the front but exposing the back.

 

Flying Parry or Riposte :a parry with a backwards glide and riposte by cut-over.

 

Flick : a cut-like action that lands with the point, often involving some whip of the foible of the blade to "throw" the point around a block or other obstruction.

 

The first three can be mastered after a couple of practices, but the flick requires a lot of practice and a strong arm. It is a very useful move though. 

DIFFERENT PARRIES

There are many parries and being right-handed or left-handed can determine which parries are most useful to you. The video above will show you which parries are most beneficial to each hand. 

After you parry, you must remember to riposte, which is an attack made immediately after a parry of the opponent's attack. 

IMPORTANT TERMS

Now that all your equipment is ready, there are some terms every fencer must know...

Bout : an assault at which the score is kept.

En Garde : also On Guard; the fencing position; the stance that fencers assume when preparing to fence.


Black Card : used to indicate the most serious offenses in a fencing competition. The offending fencer is usually expelled from the event or tournament.

Attack : the initial offensive action made by extending the sword arm and continuously threatening the valid target of the opponent.

Lunge: an attack made by extending the rear leg and landing on the bent front leg.
 
Beat : an attempt to knock the opponent's blade aside or out of line by using one's foible or middle against the opponent's foible.

Parry :  a block of the attack, made with the forte of one's own blade.

Once you understand and master the terminology, you will look like this....well, without the actual fence in between.

EQUIPMENT...Part 3

Lame's are used for touch detection. The blades are connected to wires, which are also connected to the lames and scoring box. In epee, lames are not used because any area of the body can be touches.

Gloves are used for all types of fencing. Only one glove is required and it worn on the hand you fence with.

EQUIPMENT...Part 2

Okay it's pretty obvious that both male and female fencers have to protect their private areas. It is required for guys to wear a jockstrap and for girls with wear a chest protector, which looks like this...

Now that that's covered, let's move on to helmets. This helmet can be used for both foil and epee...

But the sabre helmet looks a bit different...

Since the blade can only hit the torso and helmet, there are strips of metal on the helmet to detect the touch.

EQUIPMENT...Part 1

Yeah, you can't fence looking like this. If you try to look sexy while you fence, you might die.

                                        

You need to wear a bunch of  equipment while you are fencing. All three styles require a jacket, knickers, and long white socks.

Just like what that dude is wearing. Please ignore the giant legs in the picture.

 A plastron must be worn underneath the jacket for extra protection. It goes on the side where the fencer is holding the weapon.

WEAPONS

Each style requires a different blade.

A foil has a rectangular cross-section blade and a small bell guard. Beginners usually begin with foil.

An epee has a with triangular cross-section blade and a large bell guard.

A sabre has a flat blade and knuckle guard, which is used for cutting or thrusting actions.

FENCING! FOIL, SABRE, OR EPEE

There are three styles of fencing and the rules differ for each one. It takes time for a fencer to decide what style they prefer to fence. A person's build and skill are both factors in determining what will that person fence.

FOIL: Touches, in other words points, are only given if the tip of the weapon hits anywhere from the torso to the waist.

SABRE: Touches are given if the weapon hits anywhere from the head to the waist. Slashing is allowed in saber. Therefore, touches are given if the sides of the blade hit you.

EPEE: Touches are given if the tip of the weapon hits any part of the body.