fencing

Fencing is a sport of combat in which two competitors use swords to score points by making contact with the opponent in accordance with weapon-specific rules. Modern fencing focuses on the three weapons foil, épée, and sabre, each with its own scoring system, target areas, and right-of-way conventions. The sport grew from historical European dueling practices and was formalized in the 19th century. It is practiced worldwide and is an Olympic discipline.

Equipment includes a protective mask, jacket, glove, and plastron (under-jacket protection), with a chest lamé used for foil and sabre to define the valid target area. Weapons are light, rigid blades with electrical contacts: foil is a flexible blade sparking on the torso, épée is solid and targets the entire body, and sabre is cut-and-thrust with a valid upper-body target. Scoring is conducted by electronic sensors and officials, with en garde, ready, fence, and touch adjudicated during bouts. Foil and sabre employ right-of-way rules to determine priority for a touch; épée has no priority and both fencers can score simultaneously.

Competitive fencing occurs in clubs and schools under national associations and the Fédération Internationale d'Escrime (FIE), which governs international rules and world championships. Training emphasizes footwork, distance control, blade work, and parry-riposte combinations, along with conditioning and strategy. Etiquette emphasizes safety, sportsmanship, and respect for opponents.