Fencing

Fencing is a fast, strategic combat sport where two opponents use bladed weapons to score points by touching specific target areas on each other. Fencers wear protective gear, including masks and padded jackets, and compete on a narrow strip called a piste. There are three main weapons—foil, épée, and sabre—each with its own rules about valid target areas, how points are scored, and how the weapon is used. A bout begins with both fencers facing each other, and the referee signals when to start and stop action.

Points are awarded when a valid touch is made according to the weapon’s rules, and electronic scoring equipment is commonly used to register hits. Bouts are usually fenced to 5 points in pool rounds or 15 points in direct elimination, or until time runs out. Basic rules include maintaining proper distance, not turning your back to your opponent, and obeying right-of-way rules in foil and sabre, which determine who earns the point when both fencers hit at nearly the same time. Fencing emphasizes speed, precision, strategy, and mental focus, making it both physically and intellectually demanding.