Fencing has three weapons: foil, épée and sabre. Each has its own target area and its own rules. At Lewes Fencing Club we teach épée and sabre. Épée is our main weapon, so this page explains it first, then sabre.
Épée
The épée (say “EPP-ay”) is the modern descendant of the duelling sword. It is a thrusting weapon: you score by hitting your opponent with the point.
- Target: the whole body, from the mask to the feet.
- Scoring: whoever hits first scores. If both fencers hit within a twenty-fifth of a second of each other, both score. This is called a double hit.
- No right of way: unlike foil and sabre, there are no rules about who had the right to attack. The scoring box decides.
- The weapon: the heaviest of the three, with a stiff blade and a large bell guard that protects the hand, which is a valid target.
Because the rules are simple and the whole body is target, épée is easy to follow from your very first lesson. It rewards patience, timing and accuracy as much as speed, which is one reason people take it up, and keep it up, at any age.
Sabre
The sabre comes from the cavalry sword. It is a cutting weapon as well as a thrusting one: you can score with the edge of the blade as well as the point.
- Target: everything above the waist, including the head and arms, but not the hands.
- Scoring: sabre uses right of way. When both fencers hit together, the referee awards the hit to the fencer who was attacking.
- The weapon: light and fast, with a guard that curves round the knuckles.
Sabre bouts are quick and explosive, and hits are often over in a second or two.
Épée and sabre side by side
| Épée | Sabre | |
|---|---|---|
| You score with | The point | The point or the edge |
| Target | Whole body | Above the waist, not the hands |
| Right of way | No | Yes |
| Both hit together | Both score | Referee awards one hit |
| Comes from | The duelling sword | The cavalry sword |
Try it
The best way to understand either weapon is to pick one up. See our courses and taster sessions or sign up for the next one.