A historic Olympic sport, fencing has been part of the Olympic programme since 1896. Here are the differences you need to know between the three fencing weapons.
Having become a sport of elegance and strategy under the impetus of French, Italian and German fencing masters, fencing is divided into three distinct weapons: the sabre, the épée and the foil. Each of these weapons has its own characteristics, techniques and rules. Fencing is a historic Olympic sport, which was already part of the Olympic programme at the Athens Games in 1896, never to leave it again. The women’s event was included from 1924, and the Paris Games.
The sword
The sabre is a cutting and thrusting weapon, meaning that hits can be made with the edge, back, or tip of the blade. Unlike the foil and epee, cutting blows are permitted. The sabre is the fastest of the three weapons, requiring great responsiveness and greater agility. The valid surface for hits with the sabre is limited to the entire body above the belt, including the head and arms.
One of the peculiarities of sabre is the rule of priority. When a fencer attacks, he has priority until the attack is parried or he hits. This rule makes sabre assaults particularly dynamic, where initiative is inevitable. Sabre matches are therefore often very fast, with exchanges of great intensity.
The sword
The épée is the heaviest of the three weapons and is distinguished by being the only weapon where the entire body constitutes a valid surface, including shoes and mask. Each touch must be made with the tip of the blade. There is no priority in épée, the first fencer to touch scores the point, or both fencers score simultaneously if they touch at the same time.
This lack of priority makes sword fighting very tactical and strategic, as fencers must constantly assess the risks of each attack and the opponent’s movements. The sword thus favors patient and precise fencers, able to seize opportunities without rushing.
The foil
The foil, a thrusting weapon like the épée, is designed for training and practicing dueling fencing. However, it has specific rules and a limited valid surface. Hits are only valid on the trunk (bust, shoulders and neck), excluding the arms, legs and head. As with the sabre, the foil uses the priority rule to determine who scores in the event of simultaneous hits.
Foil requires great precision and refined technique. Fencers must master the art of parries and ripostes, as well as feints to deceive their opponent. The reduced valid surface increases the importance of positioning and timing, making foil a very technical discipline.
Differences
The differences between sabre, épée and foil are present not only in the rules and surfaces valid in competition. Sabre, with its rapid attacks, favors speed and aggression. Épée favors patience and precision. Foil, with its reduced valid surface and its priority rules, requires technical mastery and great finesse. These differences offer fencers a variety of choices to express their skills and their physical or technical and strategic preferences.