Fencing

First Olympic Year:

At the first Olympics 1896. Women started in 1924.

Origin:

Swordplay of course. It shows who would be the best in the battle. This of course became a way to show other men that you can kill them. You disrespected my honor, I challenge you to a duel!

The first book on fencing was written between 1458 and 1471.¹ It wasn't really used for modern fencing, but it was founded in Spain and it made its way to Italy and France, because during that time Spain was kind of a dick and liked to invade things. I mean this is Spanish Armada type Spain, the Spain who would send dudes to the New World to destroy a native population. Right after 1471 the Royals decided they didn't like people slapping each other with white gloves and outlawed dueling.

Italy had the first school of fencing, then bettered by the French school of fencing, and Spain didn't become popular until the 19^th century. All three are important in modern fencing.

After the Gran Guerra, dueling became pretty unpopular. After experiencing mustard gas and trench warfare stabbing one another was less appetizing. This changed on how people trained because you could take multiple shots to the neck in the sport and win the match.

First Competition:

1896, the start of the Modern Olympics in Athens, Greece and the first Fencing competition.² Some guys hit another guy three times before the second guy could. They canceled the Epee competition and added had a Masters foil event. The hairy Greeks won gold and silver in the Sabre event and a gold in masters foil. The French won gold and silver in the foil events.

Dominant Countries:

The French and Italians remain the best in the world, especially in the team events. Individual events are much more varied in both Men's and Women's fencing.

The Italian ladies are also dominant as are the Russians.

Basic Concept:

Foil: The lightest sword and for thrusting.³ Only the torso is able to be hit for points.

Scoring has been automated since 1956. The tempo is very slow with sudden bursts of speed.⁴ It is important to note that foil follows the “Right of Way” rules.⁵ Basically, if both competitors score a touch at the same time the person who initiated the action wins the point. This helps action to start, because otherwise each person will likely try to parry and Riposte⁶ rather than start the action.

After a point is scored the ref calls for a halt retells the action and awards the point to one side or the other.

Epee: The sword is heavier to be closer to a real sword. There is no sharp point and originally had a 3 pronged tip to grab clothing but not go through flesh.

Scoring has been automated since 1936. It is still a thrusting weapon and is not meant to slice. Unlike foil there is no Right of Way and the whole body is open for attack. If hits are within 40 ms within each other person gets a point, unless it is the winning point then neither get a point.

Distance is most important in this event and each fencer will try to lure the opponent into attacking. The first attack often leaves the fencer open to attack.

Sabre:

This is heavy weapon that uses the edges of the blade for scoring.

Scoring has been automated since 1988. Right of Way is played in this style. The entire upper half of the body is in play except for the hands and the back of the head. Unlike, foil if you hit a non scoring blow the action does not stop, but continues. Importantly you cannot cross feet in this event. Although that allows for a flunge.⁷

This is the quickest and highest scoring of the fencing sports.

Tactics : Controversy:

There is a lot to the intricacies of the sport that a short description would be useless. It's similar to boxing that its a punch counter punch game and keeping distance is always important.

On to the controversy, South Korean Shin A-Lam was on the way to a victory to the Gold medal match when the German Heidemann kept encroaching on the restarts, especially the final one that had the clock reset after an infraction was called on Shin. They reset the clock to 1 second. Note that the match was tied and if it went tied Shin would win. Watch here for the final 15 seconds of the match. It is pretty confusing to watch. So the match stops if there is a non legal hit. Basically doesn't hit in the right place. There are 3 opportunities that the German Heidemann gets. Before that notice how many times the judge warns Heidemann repeatedly to back up. It seems that she cheats up before play starts again. A tearful Shin waited for 70 minutes while the appeal waged on, unable to leave or else it means she approves of the decision. An hour and a ten minutes to ponder how many ways she felt betrayed by the people running the event she had trained for four years to compete for a medal. A contest that was ultimately decided by a volunteer time keeper, who would be unable to drive. A 15 year old should not be put in position to decide the fate

How is the Outlook for the US?

Mariel Zagunis was unable to medal this year. She is a two-time Gold Medalist.

There are two men and two women team events remaining. Unlikely for the US to medal.

Betting Odds:

Bet on Shin never accepting a faux bronze medal from the IOC.

What to Look For:

MORE FLUNGES!

Also a nice Fencing 101 put together.

1When things get old its tough to narrow down when exactly things were. Admittedly this is a very broad time range. If I did more research I could probably find a more narrowed range, but you aren't here for that.

2You can read all about it on the Official Report. (Pg 197) Some royalty showed up for the final, they probably went to every event. Still big deals.

3Stop thinking that.

4Think Alligators or Crocodiles. Not both, pick one, you are being indecisive.

5I feel like this is the worst title for a rule.

6A Parry is a deflection of an attack, a riposte is an attack after parrying the opponent. Another term you will hear is remise which is an attack after a failed attack.

7Basically just a leap in the direction of the opponent with out crossing feet until after the hit. Looks crazy cool. Open that picture.