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Fencing is a fast and athletic competition that evolved out of historical swordsmanship
and military training. Today's top fencers train long and hard to be the best they can be,
both physically and mentally. The modern sport of fencing has three different events: Foil,
epee, and saber.
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The Foil, the modern version of the court sword, has a flexible rectangualar blade
and is approximately one yard in length and weighs just over one pound. Touches are
scored with the tip of the blade and must land on the torso of the body to be counted.
Touches that land outside the target area (legs, arms, or head) stop the action, but
do not score points. In scoring, precedence is given to the fencer who starts the attack.
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The Epee, the decendent of the dueling sword, has a stiff, triangular blade and a large
guard to protect the hand. It weighs slightly more than a pound and a half. Points can
only be scored with the tip of the blade. The entire body, from the tip of the toes to
the top of the head, is valid target. Epee scoring is unlike that of foil and saber.
If both fencers attack and hit valid target, both can score a point, not just the fencer
who attacks first.
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The Saber decended from the cavalry sword. The major difference between saber and the other
weapons is that touches can be scored using the edge of the blade as well as the tip. The
target area in saber is from the waist up, simulating the cavalry rider on a horse. Scoring
in saber is similar to foil scoring in that the fencers who attacks first has precedence.
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This page last modified on Aug 26, 2008 at 11:32
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