| Fencing
is a modern Olympic sport and a martial art that combines
fun healthy exercise, elegant physical technique, tactical
gamesmanship and mental concentration. It is a lifetime sport
that is safe, recreational and challenging competitively.
Fencing for many Americans is as thrilling as baseball, basketball
or football. Fencing, like most martial arts, maintains its
traditional values of etiquette, honor, and respect.
Three
Weapons are used in modern fencing: foil,
epee and sabre. Each weapon has its own unique character
comprising specific valid target areas, variations of technique,
unique tactical games and specific rules of play. A Referee
conducts the fencing "bouts" by determining the
action and then awarding the "touch" (the term
for when a fencer strikes the valid target surface). Standard
fencing bouts are fenced to five touches. The first fencer
to gain five touches against his/her opponent wins the bout.
Bouts are fenced on a rectangular playing field (called
the "strip") 18 meters long and two meters wide.
All three weapons in modern competition are scored with
electric equipment, In electric fencing, and depending
on the weapon, a specific target may be covered by a metallic
material in order for scoring machines to register a valid
touch. It is common to see an incredible range of fencing
styles and techniques at a fencing tournament. Fencing is
an exciting, challenging sport for all ages! |
