A BRIEF HISTORY OF FENCING

The style of modern fencing is based on duelling in 16th-century rapier combat. Rapiers evolved from cut-and-thrust military swords and were popular amongst civilians who used these for self-defence. The blades were edged, though the primary means of attack was with the thrust. Rapier fencing spread from Spain and Italy to northwest Europe, despite the objections of fencing masters such as George Silver, who preferred traditional cutting weapons such as the English broad sword.

The Spanish school, under masters such as Narvaez and Thibault, became a complicated and mystical affair whose geometrical theories required much practice to master. Italian masters like Agrippa and Capo Ferro developed a more pragmatic school in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, introducing innovations such as linear fencing and the lunge.

The Foil

By the 18th century, the heavy edged rapier had evolved to a simpler, shorter, and lighter design popular in France as the small sword. Although the small sword often had an edge, it was only to discourage the opponent from grabbing the blade, and the fencers used the weapon exclusively for thrusting.

The lightweight weapon made a more complex and defensive style possible, and the French masters developed a school based on defence with the sword, subtlety of movement, and complex attacks. Indeed, the French small sword school forms the basis of most modern fencing theory. When buttoned with a leather safety tip that resembled a flower bud, the small sword was known as le fleuret and was identical in use to the modern foil (still known as le fleuret in French).

The Epee

By the mid-19th century, duelling was in decline as a means of settling disputes, partially because victory could lead to a jail term for assault or manslaughter. Less fatal duelling forms evolved using the duelling sword, or epee de terrain, an unedged variant of the small sword. Emphasis shifted to defeating the opponent without necessarily killing him. Later duels often ended with crippling thrusts to the arm or leg and fewer legal difficulties for the participants. This form of fencing became the basis of modern epee fencing.

The Sabre

Cutting swords were used in bloodsports such as backsword prizefights as far back as the 17th century. Broadswords, sabres, and cutlasses were used extensively in military circles, especially by cavalry and naval personnel, and saw some duelling application in these circles as well. Training was performed with wooden weapons, and stick fighting remained popular until Italian masters formalized sabre fencing into a non-fatal sporting/training form with metal weapons in the late 19th century. Early sport sabres were significantly heavier than the modern sport sabre and necessitated a strong style with the use of moulinets and other bold movements. As with thrusting swords, the sabre evolved to lighter, less fatal duelling forms such as the Italian sciabola di terro and the German schlager. Hungarian masters developed a new school of sabre fencing that emphasized finger control over arm strength, and they dominated sabre fencing for most of the 20th century.

Duelling faded away after the First World War. A couple of noteworthy duels were fought over disputes that arose during Olympic games in the 1920s, and there have been rare reports of sword duels since then. German fraternity duelling (mensur) still occurs with some frequency.

The Olympics

The first modern Olympic games featured foil and sabre fencing for men only. Epee was introduced in 1900. Single stick was featured in the 1904 games. Epee was electrified in the 1936 games, foil in 1956, and sabre in 1988. Early Olympic games featured events for Masters, and until recently fencing was the only Olympic sport that has included professionals. Disruptions in prevailing styles have accompanied the introduction of electric judging, most recently transforming sabre fencing. Foil fencing experienced similar upheavals for a decade or two following the introduction of electric judging, which was further complicated by the new, aggressive, athletic style coming out of eastern Europe at the time.

Women's foil was first contested in the 1924 Olympic games, and Women's epee was only contested for the first time in 1996, although it has been part of the World Championships since 1989. Women's sabre made its first appearance in the 1998 World Championships as a demonstration sport and in the 2004 Olympics as part of a combined team event.