Fencing
The fascinating history of fencing: From ancient duels to modern sport
Read ahead for a guide to the history of fencing, from the sport’s traditional origins to the fencing masters who wrote the rulebooks.
Witnessing the art of fencing is a thrill to experience. As competitors begin in the en garde position, they alternate between cautious strategizing and swift lightning-speed attacks. This sport and its moves were initially inspired by classical combat, but there’s much more to the story.
Olga Kharlan at Moscow Saber 2013 fencing championship
© Daniel Kolodin / Red Bull Content Pool
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Early origins of fencing
Birth of fencing and early competitions
The first fencing match is believed to have taken place in the Byzantine Empire during the late sixth century. Early fencing techniques were born out of military dueling strategies used in Egypt, as well as Greece, where the first fencing schools were established. The styles and approaches developed in ancient Greek institutions can still be seen on the fencing strip in competitions today.
It would take time before fencing transitioned from a method of warfare training to a competitive sport in its own right. The first formalized fencing competition wouldn’t happen until several hundred years later, in London at the 1880 Grand Military Tournament and Assault at Arms. Nearly two decades later, fencing would make its debut in one of the most prestigious international athletic tournaments at the 1896 games in Athens.
The evolution of fencing weapons
Olga Kharlan
© Dmytro Vakulka / Red Bull Content Pool
Today, fencing comprises three disciplines — foil, sabre, and epee — all of which require different weapons with their own rich history. The sabre is a slashing or cutting weapon that most closely resembles the swords used in ancient combat. The first iterations of the sabre were made in 19th-century Italy, and intended to be more lightweight than a typical military sword.
Foil fencing — the best-known discipline in modern fencing — first appeared in 17th-century France when a small sword with a blunted tip was introduced. Unlike sabre swords, foil weapons required a thrusting technique, similar to the maneuvers used by the ancient Roman army. Epee swords, which are also slim with a blunted tip, first took hold in late 19th-century France.
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Evolution of fencing techniques
Target areas
In fencing, competitors can only score points by hitting a designated area on their opponent’s body. Within foil, epee, and sabre, the design of the weapon has a lot to do with the establishment of each discipline’s target area. For instance, foil weapons are built for precision. Early foil weapons had a high potential for causing facial injuries, though, before wire masks came along. Thus, the valid target area was limited to the torso.
Olga Kharlan
© Vadym Herasymenko / Wheel Bree / Red Bull Content Pool
The epee was made in an attempt to improve upon the foil’s safety concerns. However, referees of early epee matches found it incredibly difficult to determine valid hits. As safety gear improved, though, both foil and epee evolved. The entire body was deemed a valid target area in epee, so no one had to worry about whether a point was legitimate. Additionally, as foil became safer, fencers developed the swift parry-riposte move of blocking a hit and striking back with a counterattack.
Sabre fencing had the opposite trajectory, originally allowing hits anywhere on a fencer’s body. After World War I, though, the International Fencing Federation (FIE) changed the target area to above the belt area only. This new target area still gave a nod to sabre’s classic history. Above the belt is the same area a soldier would have to protect on a cavalry horse.
Scoring systems
Olga Kharlan
© Dmytro Vakulka / Red Bull Content Pool
One thing has remained constant throughout the long history of fencing: matches happen at rapid-fire speed. Additionally, the difference between a valid point and a non-valid hit could be just a matter of centimeters. As you can imagine, trying to keep track of every move as a referee is no easy task.
The introduction of an electrical fencing scoring system revolutionized everything. The first electrical systems date back to 1840 but didn’t quite catch on until the late 19th century. The designer of the first fencing scoring prototype was an amateur fencer who wished to remain anonymous, known today only as “Mr. Little.” British foil fencer M. Bertrand was the first to use the electrified system, with a wire connecting the foil to a wall-mounted buzzer.
The first electrical scoring systems were quite heavy, and they weren’t universally accepted right off the bat. France, for instance, refused to use the new system, believing it would do the opposite of its intended purpose and lead to biased scoring. Nevertheless, electronic scoring became more ubiquitous in the late 1920s.
Today, electronic scoring equipment is much less burdensome, allowing fencers much greater freedom of movement. The influences of Mr. Little’s original design can still be seen, though. Modern fencing swords contain wires that register hits on an electronic scoring box, which lights up instead of buzzing.
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Fencing styles and schools
The earliest fencing schools evolved out of military academies. In 17th-century France, the École des Maîtres d’Armes, or School of Swordmasters, was one of the first European academies to offer sword fighting lessons. Eventually, the Academy of Arms was established in France solely to teach fencing.
Out of all the fencing schools whose impact is still felt in the sport today, though, Angelo’s School of Arms remains the most important. Founded in 1763 in London by Italian fencer Domenico Angelo, the fencing academy welcomed students of all genders. Angelo’s lessons on foil fencing focused on footwork and weapon technique, inspired by classic French fencing.
As word of Angelo’s school spread among the upper class, enrollment boomed. Eventually, Angelo would write ‘L'École des armes.’ Translated to “The School of Fencing,” the illustrated guidebook had a profound impact as fencing gained wide renown.
The influence of famous fencers in history
The Italian fencing masters of the 15th through 17th centuries played significant roles in fencing’s early phases. Filippo Vadi, Ridolfo Capoferro, and Achille Marozzo all wrote on the art of fencing, and their words remain influential to this day.
In 1780, French fencers Texier De La Boessiere and Chevalier St. Georges collaborated on the first fencing mask, making the sport safer for all. In the 1920s, Hungarian fencer Laszlo Borsodi introduced the flèche surprise attack strategy to foil and epee. For nearly every innovation in fencing history, there’s a fencer who’s spent a lot of time on the fencing piste to thank.
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Fencing in the modern era
3 min
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Today, fencing competitions everywhere are conducted according to guidelines set by the FIE, which was founded in 1913. From the World Cup to world stages with international events that include all sports, the FIE has the final say in everything allowed in all foil, epee, and sabre fencing competitions. This includes safe fencing practices as well as standard decorum, which heavily echoes the past of fencing. All fencers must begin and end a match with a formal salute, an homage to the chivalrous military culture that birthed the sport.
While fencing may be known as an age-old sport, modern fencers are making these competitions highly thrilling for contemporary audiences. One-time Olympic medalist Miles Chamley-Watson, for example, literally changed the game when he created his own fencing move during the heat of a match. The “Chamley-Watson,” in which one strikes by flicking their weapon from behind their back, is proof that even ancient sports can still break new ground.
Fencing’s past, present, and future
Fencing has evolved significantly over the centuries. Even with constant innovation, modern fencing continues to pay tribute to the athletic ancestors who defined fencing in their day. As a sport that’s stood the test of time, fencing is especially exciting to watch for new innovations arising among tomorrow’s brightest competitors.