Eklavya Sports School

FENCING

Fencing is a sport that involves two competitors using blunted swords, called foils, to attempt to touch each other with the tip of their weapon. The sport is popular worldwide and is an Olympic event. Fencing requires a combination of physical skill, strategy, and mental agility. It is often referred to as “physical chess” due to the strategic nature of the sport. The sport of fencing has a long history, dating back to ancient times. It was originally developed as a form of combat training for soldiers, but over time it evolved into a competitive sport. Fencing has three different disciplines: Foil, Epee, and Sabre. Each discipline has its own set of rules and techniques.

THE PRACTICE OF FENCING REQUIRES:

THE COGNITIVE SPHERE, because it is necessary to integrate the rules of safety and the conventions of combat that determine the priorities and the surfaces to be reached
THE MOTOR SPHERE, because gestures and movement are what give the reality of the game

THE PSYCHOLOGICAL SPHERE, because there is an opposition to accept, a relationship of respect towards the other that goes through confrontation..
THE PSYCHOMOTOR SPHERE, because due to a very special coordination, priority rules are applied.

EQUIPMENT AND SPORTS FACILITIES -FOIL

FOIL weighs 500 gr; it has a thin and light blade.
Considered a study weapon for learning technical procedures.
Conventional weapon, priority that does not allow "simultaneous touch."
Blade with rectangular section 90 cm long, total weight 500 g, max. 110.
Guard = must have a circumference between 9.5 - 12 cm.
The handle = can be: straight (used in the process of learning technical procedures), orthopedic "pistol" (in the process of improvement).
Armed arm in the guard position - sixt (hand supination position).
Valid surface – trunk, only on blade. (vest with metallic fabric).
Hitting areas: top line (sixt, quarter); bottom line (octave, seventh).

EQUIPMENT AND SPORTS FACILITIES -SABER

SABER is the only weapon in which the blows are executed with the blade, counter-blade, and tip.
Conventional weapon (striker has priority).
Weight – 500 g / total length of 105 cm.
Blade – has a triangular section and is flexible.
The handle is straight.
Guard - is concave in shape and protects the hand holding the sword with the point up.
The valid surface consists of: trunk, arms, and head.
Armed arm in guard position – third (3rd hand position, in pronation).
Valid area: upper body (from the belt up) on the blade only. (vest coat with metallic fabric).

EQUIPMENT AND SPORTS FACILITIES -EPEE

EPEE is considered the noble weapon of fencing (the weapon used in a duel).
The rules - remain the closest to those of the duel, without convention and priority.
Weight - 770 gr / length 110 cm.
Guard waist - 13.5 cm / 3-5 cm in depth (protective role).
Handle - can be: straight or orthopedic (pistol).
Valid surface - full body shots, carried with the tip.
The position of the armed arm in the guard – sixt (supination position of the hand).
Hit zones: top line (sixth and fourth) or bottom line (seventh, octave, first, second).

THE COMPLETE COMPETITION EQUIPMENT

Fencing jacket or blouse
Plastron or thin
Chest protectors
Glove
Pants
Socks
Special sneakers
The mask
Weapon
The metal jacket or blade, which coincides with the valid surface (sword and foil)
The body wire, which connects the gun and the reel cable
Mask thread (sword and foil)
Gun bag

Two metres from each end of the piste is a warning line, and the warning zone in the last two metres of the piste is often coloured differently
Two metres either side of the centre line are two en garde lines, where fencing starts at the beginning of every fight and after each successful hit is scored
A bout starts with the fencers in the en-garde position, 4 metres apart.
A referee stands opposite the piste, facing the scoring box, in order to judge the bout.

FENCING AREA - PISTE

The electrical equipment signals by a sound and by activating a lamp every time a valid (colored lamp) or invalid (white lamp) surface has been touched by the weapon. The referee is needed to determine priority, to watch out for technical equipment errors and to check and validate the correct touches.

RULES OF REFEREEING

At the start of every new point, both fencers must stand behind their respective en garde lines. The referee stands on the outside of the piste, level with the centre line; these positions are taken at the beginning of every fight, and after a successful hit has been awarded.
“En garde” – to ask both fencers to come to their positions.
“Are you ready?” – say “no” if you’re not.
If there are no objections from either fencer at this point, the ref will say one of any of the following: allez, fence, fight, play!
Whenever the bout needs to be stopped, the ref will say “halt.”

COMPETITION SYSTEM

Direct elimination table (TED), fencers enter the table according to their group results, eliminating each other until the last one, « the winner »
The athlete who reaches 15 points first wins. The duration of the assault is 3 X3 minutes (3 minutes fighting and 1 minute break between rounds). In case of a tie, the group rule is followed. Lower time rules and maximum points may be established for novice athletes in eliminations

SECURITY RULES

No one takes off their mask without the teacher's permission
Before each exercise or assault, check if the masks are in good condition and well fixed
Before the exercises begin, the weapons are distributed by the teacher when each student has the suit and mask
No one is to take the weapon without the teacher's permission
During explanations or breaks, waiting will be done with the tip of the foil pointed towards the ground
The activity stops if a mask falls
No contact between weapons is tolerated outside of attacks or parries
Don't point the gun at someone who doesn't have a mask on
Correct closure of fencing blouses is checked