This is a guide for those new to or just starting foil fencing. The purpose of this post is for you to walk away with a solid understanding of the basics. I recommend you find your local fencing club and sign up there for lessons, this is the best way to learn and excel in the sport. But if you want a head start or a more thorough understanding of the basics, this is the post for you.
How it works:
A generalized overview of foil fencing: Two fencers compete in a match or “bout”, to a target score of fifteen points or “touches”. The first fencer to reach the target score wins. The bout consists of three, three minute periods, in-between is a break which is one minute long, after the last 3 minute break the person with the most touches wins. If the score is tied at the end of the 3rd period it goes into a one minute sudden death period where the first touch wins. In foil there is a unique element called right of way (ROW). I will explain it in more detail later, but for now think of “right of way” as the tie breaker. If two fencers both hit each other the fencer with right of way gets the touch. Another key component to a bout is the referee, the referee serves as the judge to determine who scored the touch based on ROW. The referee also signals when to start and stop fencing (via a variety of words and hand signals: more on this later), and if necessary catches technical issues (if a foil breaks, or a mask clip breaks). Lastly, the referee makes the final decision on which fencer gets the touch.
The starting position for all fencing is called “En Garde”. To achieve this position take your dominate leg and put its heel to your non dominate leg’s heel, have your dominate leg’s foot point forward and your non dominate leg’s foot point to the side. Next take a step forward with your dominate foot, your heels should be aligned and shoulder length apart, your weight should be centered and you should be balanced. Your other arm (the one that is not holding the foil), should be kept out of the way, because it can cover target which results in a penalty (yellow card). So either put the non foil holding arm out behind you, hold it wrist bent out to the side or just let it sag down. I suggest watching the pros for some ideas: Daniele Garozzo, Race Imboden, Gerek Meinnhardt, Mohamad Hamza and Ryan Choi all are good examples. When it comes to hand positioning as long as it is out of the way, do what is most comfortable for you.
The target area for foil is the silver part called the Lamé (La-May), it covers the chest and back, think of it as waist and up, neck down. An important note is masks come with a bib which is electronic and can be scored on.
The equipment necessary to fence is the following: chest protector (this is a plastic guard with straps that helps protect your chest), a body cord (a electric cord that enables your foil to register hits), a jacket (a white jacket that goes over the chest protector), a mask (this is your face protection), a mask cord (which will be clipped to the bib of the mask and makes sure it can register hits), a glove (to cover and protect your sword hand), and a foil (the weapon used to stab your opponent). If you want “Olympic Foil” has a good video on putting on the gear: “How to Put On Fencing Gear Step-by-step (Beginners’ Guide), if you are looking for a visual.”
In the bout fencers can apply a variety of techniques to gain touches, in addition to blade work there is also footwork (to mainly control the distance), tactics: a short series of actions used to achieve a strategic aim. As well as timing, knowing when to attack, retreat or defend is just as important as bladework. I will talk about the basics of each in the next post.
I hope you can now walk away with a clearer or deepened understanding of the basics, and have learned something valuable.
Until next time.
-Fuzzy
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