Fencing
Epee vs. foil vs. sabre: Understanding the differences
Aside from weapon design, there are some major ways epee, foil, and sabre fencing differ.
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Fencing match winners are often decided in the final seconds of a match — which can move so fast, you might miss them if you blink. As one-time Olympic medalist Miles Chamley-Watson explains, though, those split-second moments aren’t what make a fencer’s career.
Miles Chamley-Watson and Aleksey Cheremisinov
© Spencer Gordon-Sand / Red Bull Content Pool
“Create a legacy, not a moment,” is the motto he lives by.
Building a fencing legacy of your own requires lots of dedication and practice as you craft your technique. If you truly want to become a master of this time-honored tradition, it starts with learning the three classifications of modern fencing. Epee, foil, and sabre fencing each have their own set of weaponry, rules, and challenges. To learn all about epee vs. foil vs. sabre fencing and discover which is best for you, read ahead.
01
What is epee fencing?
Epee fencing uses a lightweight weapon with a blunted point, less than 770 grams total. The objective is to touch your opponent in the designated “attack area” on their body with the tip of the blade, thus scoring a point.
Epee competitors use electrified fencing swords that record each point. If you’re just practicing at your local fencing club, though, you might use a non-electric sword for “dry” training.
Counter-attacks are also a big component of epee matches. That said, the pace of an epee match may start slow as competitors proceed with trepidation. Once that first attack happens, though, you can expect the speed to pick up as fencers transition to rapid defense.
02
What is foil fencing?
Foil is the most common category of competitive fencing. In fact, when it comes to the question of “what is fencing?” - a foil match is probably the first image that comes to mind.
Like epee, this discipline utilizes a lightweight sword with a blunted tip. Weighing in at less than 500 grams, foil weapons also feature electric and non-electric options for competitors and casual fencers. To score a point, the end of the sword must touch your opponent in the designated attack area, just as with epee.
The attack area in which you can score points is much smaller in foil than in an epee match, so precision is essential. Foil match rules also dictate which competitor earns the “right of way,” or which player is given priority when both players land simultaneous hits. Essentially, whoever started an attack first has the right of way. Since attacks can happen in an instant, one after another, right-of-way nuances can take years of practice to fully understand.
03
What is sabre fencing?
While foil and epee swords use pointed weapons that require a thrusting motion to score, sabre fencing employs a slashing technique. Similar to foil, sabre fencing uses a weapon that’s less than 500 grams, but it’s a shorter blade with a larger guard protecting your hand.
You can also score points with more parts of your sword in sabre fencing. In addition to the blade’s tip, landing a touch with the sword’s front edge or the last one-third of its back edge also earns points. Sabre matches are swift, and while weapon techniques aren’t much more complicated than epee or foil fencing, agile footwork and quick reflexes are a must.
04
Comparing epee, foil, and sabre fencing styles
Olga Kharlan
© Daniel Kolodin/Red Bull Content Pool
Aside from weapon design, these are some of the major ways epee, foil, and sabre fencing differ.
- Valid target area. You can only score foil match points when you touch your opponent’s torso. Epee matches allow scoring anywhere on a competitor’s body, including the head. The attack area in sabre fencing includes anywhere above the belt.
- Right of way. In competitive fencing, foil and sabre matches include right-of-way rules, while epee competitions do not.
- Technique and strategy. The larger target area in epee fencing means competitors emphasize defense as they try to protect a greater surface area. Foil fencing focuses on outwitting your opponent, meaning you’re more likely to see misdirects, known as feints. Since sabre matches move at lightning speed, meticulous counterattacks and rapid defensive moves, called “parries” in fencing vocabulary, are common.
05
Which fencing discipline is right for you?
Every fencer has their own epee vs. foil vs. sabre preference for reasons entirely unique to them. Many beginners find that epee and foil fencing are much easier to learn. If you want a high-intensity workout, sabre may offer more cardio, though you’ll strengthen your muscles in all three disciplines. Some prefer epee simply because they don’t have to worry about deciphering complicated right-of-way rules. Others may love foil because the focus on accuracy helps them refine their reflexes.
One of the best fencing tips for beginners is to seek out the experts. Start at a local fencing club where you can try all three disciplines to see which works best for your style. If a coach sees you in action, they can provide a helpful outsider’s perspective on which discipline is best suited to your personal style. There’s nothing wrong with trying a new style if the one you went with at first just isn’t feeling right.
Foil, epee, or sabre? There’s no wrong answer
Fencing combines athleticism and carefully thought-out tactics to outmaneuver your opponent. While foil, epee, and sabre fencing have some key differences, all are bound to give you an exciting experience (and workout). Plus, just because you excel at one discipline doesn’t mean you’re tied to it forever. Learning all three styles is one of the many joys of fencing.