1. Fencing
By: Christine
Yin

2. History
• Fencing started in Ancient Egypt and Rome
• Greek and Romans fenced with short swords and
light spears
• Heavy weapons were brought back when the
barbarians invaded
• The light rapier wasn’t used until the 14th century, at
the start of The Renaissance
• The Queen of France had Italian Fencing masters
come to France to develop fencing

3. Epee
History, cont.
• A new weapon was introduced in the 18th century
called the Épeé which was a heavier weapon
• Fencing came to America in the 1860’s to 1870’s
through French and Italian immigrants
• In 1780, the fencing mask was introduced which
made fencing much safer
• Fencing died out after World War 1
• Women’s fencing joined the Olympics in 1994 and
1996

4. Rules of the Game
• The fencer gains the right of way by threatening the
other fencer with a blade
• Do not fence without the required and proper
equipment
• Check the area and equipment for hazards and unsafe
conditions
• Right of way ends when an attack misses, falls short, is
broken off, or is deflected
• After the defender deflects an attack (parry), he (or she)
may counter attack (riposte) before the opponent
recovers

5. Rules of the Game, cont.
• Refrain from horseplay in practice/competitive areas
• If both players launch attacks at the same time, there
is no right of way
• If a players leaves the fencing area to avoid being hit,
it is a foul
• Physical contact is allowed
• Practice and compete only under qualified
supervision

6. Websites Used
• http://www.fencingphotos.com/
• http://library.thinkquest.org/15340/history.htm
• http://smarterselfdefense.wordpress.com/2012/04/09/bruce-lees-counter-time-
a-cousin-of-the-interception/
• http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2008/08/womens_olympic_fencing.html
• http://www.medieval-weaponry.co.uk/acatalog/renaissance-style-fencing-
rapier.html
• http://www.fencingphotos.com/
• http://technorati.com/sports/olympics/article/fencing-world-championships-to-
start-in/
• http://www.pentafencingclub.com/Fencing.html
• http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/fencing/
• http://ticketfencing.blogspot.com/