Fencing on tv

A guide to watching and enjoying fencing

Fencing on tv

My best TV moments (2:32)

Damien Touya

Olympics 2004 semi finals

Laura Flessel

Champion of a decade

Watching Fencing

Watching Fencing

Fencing in general

The "piste":

The referee:

3:00

00

00

Refereeing is in French + gestures

Electrical wiring

Fencing in general

Tournament bouts:

• direct eliminations,
• Individual: 3x3 minutes or first at 15 valid hits
• Team: 3 vs 3, all opponents meet: 9 bouts of 3minutes of 5 hits
• Two hits can be validated if landed within 40 ms (it's an art)
• Running is not tolerated

All equipment is subject to FIE regulation:

• Fabric has to resist 800N pressure
• Blade tips have to repel 500 grams
• blade curvature is standardised
• guard shape is standard
• etc ...

3 weapons

Right of way

(= there are annoying rules)

Estoc (thrusting)

3 weapons

Épée: the weapon of duels

• all surfaces are valid

• you hit, you score

• Close combat is tolerated

3 weapons

Épée: no running but ... "fleche" is ok (0:44)

3 weapons

Épée: foot hit (2:55)

3 weapons

Épée: the weapon of duels

3 weapons

Foil: the learning weapon

• Only  torso groin and back are valid

• scoring is ruled by the right of way

• Close combat is not tolerated

3 weapons

Foil: the learning weapon

Right of way: A set of annoying rules that ensure that, at most one fencer only can claim a point.

Example:

• First attacker
• pary-riposte
• point in line
• preparation

3 weapons

Foil: and the right of way, pary-riposte

(16:08, 19:31)

3 weapons

Foil: and the right of way, preparation (16:08)

3 weapons

Foil: cat fight (6:01, 6:33)

3 weapons

sabre: The funny one

• Hits with the blade itself
• Crossing legs is forbidden
• right of way applies
• fence as if on a horse
• a game of speed and reflexes

3 weapons

sabre: timing and beauty (1:18:12) (11:17)

• Pary-riposte is super hard
• Ones has to be very fast with both legs and hand

Wheelchair fencing

5:07

• All weapons represented
• the chair must stay flat on the floor
• super hard on the upper-body

Artistic and medieval fencing

• Choreographies
• Gestures made such that no hit is remotely close to hit
• Choreographies are either spectacular or realistic

Artistic and medieval fencing

My favourite fictional fight 23:40

Lagardere 2003, based on french novel "le bossu" (1858)

MERCI