The foil, the modern version of the dueling rapier, has a flexible rectangular blade, approximately 35 inches in length, weighing less than one pound. Points are scored with the tip of the blade and must land within the torso of the body. The valid target area in foil is the torso, from the shoulder to the groin, front and back. It does not include the arms, neck, head and legs. A small, spring-loaded tip is attached to the point of the foil and is connected to a wire inside the blade.
The fencer wears a body cord inside his uniform which connects the foil to a reel wire, connected to the scoring machine. There are two scoring lights on the machine. One shows a green light when a fencer is hit, and one shows a red light when her opponent is hit. These "off target" hits do not count in the scoring, but they do stop the fencing action temporarily.
The epee pronounced "EPP-pay" , the descendent of the dueling sword, is similar in length to the foil, but is heavier, weighing approximately 27 ounces, with a larger guard to protect the hand from a valid hit and a much stiffer blade. Touches are scored only with the point of the blade. The entire body is the valid target area. The epee is also an electrical weapon. The blade is wired with a spring-loaded tip at the end that completes an electrical circuit when it is depressed beyond a pressure of grams.
The causes the colored bulb on the scoring machine to light. Off-target hits do not register on the machine. The sabre is the modern version of the slashing cavalry sword, and is similar in length and weight to the foil. The major difference is that the sabre is a point-thrusting weapon as well as a cutting weapon use of the blade. The profession of arms was long and painful for the young noble, until the solemn day when, finally, the blessed sword, symbol of glory, justice and moral value, was handed to him together with the shield and the spear.
Once the initiation over and the accolade given, we let the noble knight go towards single combat for the defence of the weak and the oppressed, but also towards tournaments which represented a source of profit : the knight received the horse and the armor of the opponent which he had defeated with courtesy or dulled weapons.
The arrival of firearms and the invention of Gutenberg were determining for fencing, which saw its weapons become lighter and its techniques popularised.
Before these inventions, this main occupation of the nobility and the elite of the society was especially an occult science and the secret strikes were as popular as the philosopher's stone or the long life elixir. From this knowledge depended more than life, justice and honour.
Fencing for honour, justice and faith. In the XII th and XIII th centuries, we already meet in France « givers of lessons » and advice in fencing, whose function was to prepare to the judicial duel and, sometimes, against very high sum, replace on the spot the parties in presence. There were the counsels of arms, who became the « bravi » of Lombardie and the swordplayer and maistres. The judicial duels took place until the XVI th century. The truth and the right cause could only triumph in these « God judgements » in which sword ruled and divided the truth from the false ; the faith, for which the glory was only vanity, could only praise the value through the filter of a highly moral purpose.
The fact remains that the symbols of sword and justice crossed the centuries and are still today associated, imbuing fencing with a strong ethics. Nevertheless, this technique returns in the XVI th century. Armors disappear, because the « thunder of the earth », the gunpowder, made them obsolete.
For that reason the weapons are modified, swords slowly become a wardrobe accessory : they are not necessarily shorter, but their centre of gravity is returned towards the hand, they are henceforth lighter and held by a single hand. The Italian and Spanish methods spread through France, advocating the superiority of the hit with the point and clarifying the various techniques of attack and defence.
The counsels of arms, the swordplayer and maistres taught first the defensive, which consisted in keeping the opponent at distance the « misura » or measure , avoiding strikes or « parrying » the opponent-attack. Because of the lightering of weapons and their grip in one hand, one arm will be affected to the defensive. In the beginning, this arm was armed with a shield or a broquel , with the brachium or with the rondache, then with a dagger, or even with a rolled coat.
The perfection of weapons at the level of the guard will then allow to bring together in a single weapon, the offensive and the defensive; some people see there the real birth of fencing. So, we shall see complicated, tormented guard, in which the opposite blade had to get lost, jam or break itself. Finally, appears the rapier, or brette long sword , with deep coquille, allowing a good sheltering of the hand.
Its use, combined with the dagger, will increase the defensive and offensive potential, while making the attack safer. But the cold seriousness and slight pretentiousness of the Spanish fencing went out of fashion at the beginning of the XVII th century, leaving the way free to Italian fencing.
They remained there until the Revolution. From their side, the French masters did not hesitate to frequent the fencing schools of the peninsula.
At that time, the Italian and French fencing progress together, as attested by the tremendous combats and duels between both nations, but also by the fencing treaties which begin to prosper : Agrippa , Marozzo , Fabris , Capo Ferro , etc. But it is actually with Viggiani that the « development » of the fencer stops being an empty word to become a true technique : the guards, the measure and the favourable moment for attacking time appear to be the first concerns.
Henry de Sainct-Didier was not only the first French author , the first one to speak about « floures » or foil, but also the real first teacher. He will be imitated only 60 years later, in , by Le Perche du Coudray : those who are skilful in both the handling of the blade and the pen are rare, even if fencing and writing are more and more alike. He will summarize quite exactly fencing as the « art of hitting without being hit ». So during the combat, all the art consisted in first not being hit and hit if possible.
It is really under Louis XIV to whom we owe the shortening of the court sword that the French method begins to distinguish itself, especially with the adoption of short foil, ended by an esteuf or button. Thrusting fencing improves, the moves become faster and more complicated and are only slowed down by the absence of the mask, which holds back the ardour of the fencers.
To avoid accidents, each fencer gave a simple strike, that the opponent tried to parry without riposting; the attacker stood up and expected the riposte at lost time from his opponent. No remise nor stop which could have misled the point. Rules and convention allowed fencing « of hit » to take the top of the arms, to never leave it.
This courteous and elegant game of foil suited very well with the so conventional game of the court of the king of France Louis XIV. However, out court and fencing room, the conventions were sometimes forgotten to be replaced by duel; the elegances were not always present and fencing was more realistic and often more murderous. The classification of actions, the definition of terms and the teaching methods were progressively established by French masters, who left remarkable writings : Le Perche du Coudray fencing master of Cyrano in and , Besnard in master of Descartes , la Touche in , Labat from Toulouse in Fencing In association with.
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