​The Alvin Fencers  Club

FENCING

A far cry from the choreographed bouts portrayed on film, the sport of fencing is dynamic, fast and athletic. .​

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The sport of fencing is a uniquely classic sport. It has a history, drama, romance, style, art, plus all of the advantages of an active physically demanding sport. Mentally it is mind consuming, allowing not a moment’s break, it is simultaneously physical chess and nano-second poker.

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So what is fencing all about? Well, in a nutshell, fencers can compete with any of three weapons: a foil, an epee, or a sabre (all of which have blunt tips and no sharp edges). Each weapon has a different appearance and weight, and scoring with each requires touches to a different target area.For example, an epee fencer can score with a touch anywhere on the body, head to toe, while a foil fencer can only score with a hit to the torso. Foil and epee points (called touches) can only be scored with the tip of the blade, while a sabre fencer can score a touch by striking with the tip or cutting with the edge of the blade.

 

But regardless of the choice of weapon, the protective clothing and mask make fencing far safer than traditional sports.