miekkailuvälineet

Miekkailuvälineet refers to the equipment used in the sport of fencing. The primary components include the weapon, protective clothing, and the target area. In modern Olympic fencing, there are three weapon categories: foil, épée, and sabre, each with specific characteristics and rules governing valid hits. Foil and épée are thrusting weapons, while sabre is a cutting and thrusting weapon.

Protective gear is essential for safety. This includes a mask to protect the face and head, a jacket, breeches, and gloves made of durable, cut-resistant material. A chest protector is also worn, and a plastron, a protective underarm garment, is mandatory for foil and sabre fencers. Conductive lamé jackets are used in foil and sabre to register hits electronically on the scoring apparatus.

The target area, the part of the body where a valid hit can be scored, differs for each weapon. For foil, it is the torso. In épée, the entire body is the target. For sabre, the target includes the upper body from the waist up, and the arms and head. Electronic scoring systems are used in most competitive fencing, with wires connecting the weapon and the fencer's lamé to a reel that transmits signals to the scoring box, indicating valid and invalid touches. The quality and maintenance of these miekkailuvälineet are crucial for both performance and safety.