Fencing

FENCING

By Sarina Bouvier

WHAT IS FENCING?

Fencing is the sport of fighting with swords.

It has historical roots in Italy and France.

There are three common schools of fencing; Epee, Sabre, and Foil.

It is now practiced all over the world, and low-key tournaments are common.

HISTORY OF FENCING

Fencing as it is practiced today was developed during the renaissance in Italy. It was added to and improved upon by the French.

Professional dueling went out of style after WW1, and suffered another sharp decline after WW2.

Fencing was one of the original sports in the Olympics. It is still commonly practiced all over the world for fun, fitness, and tournaments.

TYPES OF FENCING

There are three primary forms of fencing; Epee, Sabre, and Foil

Foil is the most well-known form of fencing; the object is to score by hitting the opponent with the tip of the blade. Side-touches do not count

Epee uses a heavier, sturdier weapon than sabre and foil; otherwise, it is very similar to the foil style, with a few technical differences

Sabre does not rely on only scoring with point touches; any part of the sword can be used to score a hit

TERMINOLOGY

Many of the phrases used in modern fencing are French, reflecting the influence of France on the evolution of fencing as it is known today.

A common phrase is “En garde, pret, alle,” which roughly translates to “Ready, set, go,”

The area where the fencing occurs is called the piste, which translates in English to track.

Piste

HOW FENCING HAS IMPACTED ME

I am something of a late beginner at learning how to fence; lots of the other kids in my class have been fencing for years, or since they were very young. I only began last year.

I like fencing because it’s one of the few sports I am good at. Because I have asthma, it’s difficult for me to keep up when it comes to sports like soccer or hockey.

Fencing is good for me because it relies on precision and choosing the right time to move, rather than brute force and endurance.

This sport made it possible for me to be active in a way that didn’t make me feel like I was constantly suffocating.

CONCLUSION

Fencing is a fun, active sport with interesting roots.

It helped me to believe that I could be good at a sport, because for once, I wasn’t the slowest one in the group.

Fencing has helped with my self-confidence and made me happier with my life overall; I look forward to Tuesday nights eagerly.