dEscrime

dEscrime is a term that occasionally appears in writing as a stylized or erroneous form of escrime, the French word for fencing. In standard usage, the sport is referred to as escrime in French and fencing in English. The term does not designate a distinct sport within contemporary sport governance, though it may be encountered in historical or linguistic discussions.

Escrime encompasses three weapons: foil, épée, and sabre. Each weapon has its own blade, target areas, and set of rules, and competitors wear protective clothing and use electronic scoring to register valid touches. Equipment generally includes a mask, jacket, plastron, glove, and the weapon; foil and sabre use a lamé jacket that completes the scoring circuit.

The history of fencing traces back to military training and dueling traditions, with the modern sport taking shape in Europe during the 18th and 19th centuries as techniques, rules, and safety equipment were standardized. The sport is governed internationally by the Fédération Internationale d'Escrime (FIE) and by national federations. Fencing has been a regular part of major international competition for well over a century, including the Olympic program, with events for all three weapons evolving over time.

Rules and scoring vary by weapon. Foil and sabre use the concept of right of way to determine which fencer receives the point for a given touch, while épée awards points based solely on valid touches to the designated target area without right-of-way considerations. Target areas differ: foil targets the torso, sabre targets above the waist, and épée targets the entire body. Protective gear and electronic scoring systems ensure safety and accuracy across competitions.