Fencing has been around since the 18th century. The sport has since evolved into a safe, competitive martial art. The sport is divided into three different weapons: foil, sabre, and epee. Foil and sabre are both based on priority, and touches are awarded depending on which fencer begins their attack first and also depending on the blade contact made during an action. However, foil is a thrusting weapon whereas in sabre, touches are scored with the edge of the weapon. Epee is also a thrusting weapon where touches are scored with the tip of the weapon, but it has no priority involved. That is to say if two fencers are to score simultaneously, touches would be awarded to both fencers. This is called a double touch and is unique to epee. Other distinguishing factors between the weapons is the target area. In epee, the target area is the entire body. In foil, valid target includes the torso and back and in sabre the target includes the torso, back, and arms.
Foil
The foil (Weapon C in the picture below) is a thrusting weapon where touches are scored with the tip of the weapon. On the tip of the weapon is a small button that can be pushed down in order to score a touch. There is a wire on the weapon that runs from the button on the tip of the blade, down to a socket on the guard of the foil. An electric body cord must then be plugged into the socket on the weapon and into a wire connected to a scoring machine for the circuit to be complete. The target area for foil includes the chest and back. Also, foil incorporates priority into the scoring. This means that a referee needs to decide which fencer rightfully earns a touch depending on factors such as blade contact and who began their "attack" first.
Epee
The epee (Weapon A) is also a thrusting weapon which means that touches are scored with the tip. The target area is the entire body from head to toe. This is the one weapon that has no priority used in scoring. This means that if two fencers hit each other, they are both awarded touches (Double touch). If the score is tied with both fencers one touch away from winning the bout and there is a double touch, both points are annulled and the score remains the same.
Sabre
In sabre, (Weapon B) touches are primarily scored using the edge of the weapon. The target area includes the head, torso, and arms. Like foil, sabre also incorporates priority into scoring. The rules of priority are similar to foil in that they mostly rely on blade contact and who begins their action first, but there are of course some small differences that are specific to the weapon.
Competition
There are many different levels of competition in fencing ranging from local and regional tournaments to world cups and the Olympics. Competitions are segregated by age, weapon, skill level, and sometimes gender. Age brackets include Y10 (10 and under), Y12 (12 and under), Y14 (14 and under), cadet (17 and under), junior (20 and under), and veterans categories which include 40 and over, 50 and over, 60 and over, and 70 and over. Events that are specific to certain skill levels include the division III, division II, and division I categories. For division III it is required that all fencers have a D rating or lower. For division II, entrants must be C or lower and for division I fencers must be C rated or higher. Ratings are awarded to fencers from A-E with A being the highest. If a fencer is not yet rated they are a "U" for unrated.
Competitions at the regional level are called ROCs (Regional Open Circuits) they are above the level of local and sectional tournaments but below the national level. Fencers can qualify for division III, division II, and division I-A at nationals through ROCs. Division I-A at the national level can be fenced by anyone who has qualified though a ROC. Division I at the national level can only be fenced by competitors who are on the national points list for division I-A. At the national competition level, there are NACs (North American Cups) and the Junior Olympics (JOs). Fencers can earn national points at NACs and the top fencers on the points lists can qualify for World Cups and the Olympics.
