This site aims to give you a wealth of information about fencing. It cannot cover everything and so has a number of links to other sites.

SFC runs frequent beginners' courses
Full details on the beginners' page
Next course 8th Jan. '09
Enrol now

Affiliated to

Foil

Foil derives from the duelling weapon, the rapier or more specifically the short sword. Modern fencing started in the XVIth century with blunted short swords.Then in the XVIIth Century, the foil appeared specifically as a sporting weapon. The lack of masks in the early days accounts for some of the foil rules mentioned below. These were intended to slow the actions for safety and encourage accuracy whilst keeping the weapon away from the face. Contrary to rumour, it was not developed as a training weapon for Epée.

Target area :

Trunk of the body, including the back, which has increasing become a realistic target with modern techniques. This is covered with a lamé (electrically conductive) jacket.

Method :

Hit with the point only.

Rules :

Attacker has 'Right of Way' - i.e. if the attacker hits without the defender avoiding or clearing the point with a parry or beat he scores, if the opponent simply counter-attacks. Once an action is parried, the right of way passes over. Hits off the target area do notcount but stop anything that follows scoring.
 
 

Page up

Next page -Epée