Fencing

A place where people can come learn about fencing and where fencers can gather and share resources and Squidoo lenses.

Fencing is a sport that can appeal to just about everyone! Who hasn't taken a stab at fighting with lightsabres or being "The Man in Black" or Robin Hood.

This is a sport that can be enjoyed by young and old alike and one where young, old, men, and women can all compete against each other.

Featured Fencing Lenses

The best of the best of the best...sir!

featured lens Epee fencing

This is my third Squidbook. It is about my experience with epee fencing. First in college as a Varsity member of CCNY Fencing Team and later at the NYTV club in manhattan. After 25 years away, I am taking up fencing as a Vet. 50-59 group and joined a...

featured lens Nike Fencing Shoes

Recently, fencing.net had the opportunity to talk with Sean McDowell, the Creative Director for Nike's Olympic Footwear, about the shoe, the Ballestra, that Nike has been developing for the last 18 months.   We showed the Nike Ballestra at the...

featured lens Olympic Fencing - Swordfighting for modern times

Fencing is one of 4 sports to be included in every Olympic Games since 1896.  Who does fencing appeal to?  Just about everyone!  Who hasn't taken a stab at fighting with lightsabres or being "The Man in Black" or&nb...

featured lens Fencing Shoes

Fencing requires shoes that are low to the ground, provide good traction, are durable, and can provide cushioning for actions that put up to 7x body weight of force into the fencers leading heel.

What is Fencing?

Fencing explained

Fencing is the Olympic sport of swordfighting which is directly descended from the duel. Two competitors face off in a "bout", and compete to score points on each other with their weapons. To beat an opponent, a fencer must use bladework, footwork, tactics and strategy. Fencing bouts are characterized by flurries of speed, highly aerobic movement, and lightning-fast blade movements.

Historical Overview

Medieval swords were heavy and clublike, suitable for denting body armor. It was difficult to kill an armored knight with a sword, but you could break limbs or cause internal injury. Few if any early swordplay techniques survive in modern fencing.

With the advent of gunpowder, body armor was rendered superfluous by the penetrating power of the bullet. Armor became lighter, to enhance mobility, and then became ceremonial, eventually disappearing from warfare altogether. During the period in which guns were becoming light and reliable, 1700-1900, the fencing sword experienced its heyday.

No longer required to club through sheilds and armor, swords grew light and fast. Speed, dexterity and trickery were required to kill an opponent. Before long, the best fencers (the survivors) noticed certain "best practice" moves and methods which translated to a high survival value. These were codified into styles, some of which survive today: French, Italian, Hungarian.

The original fencing weapons were the Épeé and the Sabre. The Épeé is a point-weapon rapier. The Sabre is a curved cutting-edge military weapon. The Foil was introduced later as a lighter, safer training version of the Épeé, and still carries with it most of the rule-set devised to promote survivable encounters. Foils are still the predominant introductory weapon in modern times, for they instill good habits common to all weapons.

In the early 1900's, electrical scoring was introduced, and fencing moved into the realm of sport. Button-tips and electric scoring vests made new priorities: you no longer had to live through a one-hit bout, you had to score multiple hits against an opponent. The successful Olympic styles of today are recognizable amalgams of Hungarian, French, German and Italian technique.

Written by Walter Flaschka for Fencing 101.

Squid Swordmasters

These are lensmasters who have contributed to Squidfencing

Fencing News from Fencing.Net

News and information on the world of fencing from a US point of view.

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Fencing Discussion Feeds

Community of fencers chatting about the world of fencing

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Vote your Favorite Fencing Links

Here are some links to other fencing sites. Vote your favorites up and add any that you don't see on here.

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FencingPhotos.com - Official FIE Photographer

Official photographer for the international fencin more...1 point

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The FIE - International Fencing Federation

Web site for the international fencing federation.1 point

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Fencing.Net - Guide to Fencing

Visit Fencing.Net to learn all about the Olympic s more...0 points

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Sport Fencing Gear from Fencing.Net

Sport fencing equipment shop with gear from beginn more...0 points

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US Fencing

The US Fencing Association. A good place to go to more...0 points

Some More Fencing Lenses

These are some other fencing lenses that we've found.

We love to find more pages dedicated to fencing in all of its forms. Let us know if we've left off any quality lenses.

featured lens Chapter 1: The Art of Fencing

My name is Jack Lee. I was a fencer from 1969-1982. I started in College and took an elective PE course in fencing during my freshmen year.  I was asked by the instructor to join the JV team who happens to be the JV coach. Later, I was good enoug...

featured lens Fencing

 Fencing, in the broadest possible sense, is the art and science of armed combat involving cutting, stabbing or bludgeoning weapons directly manipulated by hand, rather than shot or thrown (in other words, swords, knives, pikes, bayonets, batons...

featured lens Fencing And Swordfighting For The Stage

Some of the most thrilling aspects of stage performances involve combat. For example, what would Hamlet be without its numerous battles? What would Gilbert and Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance be without its piratical swashbuckling? Whether the perform...

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