Foil
Foil is traditionally the first "weapon" (or discipline) taught to the fencing student.
The modern foil was developed in the middle 17th Century. Prior to this date, fencing practice used older swords in which the tips had been blunted (or "foiled"). The foil was created as a device to aide fencing practice, the object being to master the use of the civilian weapon of that era, the smallsword. The smallsword possessed no edge, but a needle-sharp point.
These swords were used in Duels of Honor, often to the death.
As a result of this heritage, the rules of foil fencing evolved such that one must thrust with the tip (or button) in order to score a point. As well, the thrust must be made to the torso. The arms and legs are not target, because in the era of the duel, a thrust there would not incapacitate one's opponent. The head is also considered "off-target," a legacy of the early years of foil practice before the invention of the fencing mask.
