Fencing is a diverse sport with a rich history. It also uses terminology based around words from foreign languages, sometimes even old dialiects of foreign languages, learning all the phrases used and their meanings is essential for a better understanding of the sport.
It’s also worth knowing a bit about the history of the sport as well, hopefully some of the resources here will help you to broaden your understanding of modern fencing and its origins. Also are some links to relevant policy guidelines for child protection - essential reading for parents of junior fencers.
Fencing Chronology
1200BC
Evidence of fencing competitions in Egypt.
Even today a form of fencing with sticks dating from this time can be seen in an Egyptian dance known as the tahtib.
300BC
Romans fight with short swords (Gladius) and light spears.
1471
European fencing guilds, such as the Marxbruder in Germany, are organised.
1500
The first fencing manual is published. Early fencing techniques are developed around Europe.
1553
The Italians begin using the rapier, and develop fencing technique.
1567
The fencing master Agrippa defines the four fencing positions ‑prime, seconde, tierce and quarte.
1573
The French Fencing Academy is officially recognised by King Charles IX.
1573
The French fencing master Henry de St. Didier publishes the first French fencing manual, which begins to classify many attacks and parries.
1599
Prefering an English broadsword the English fencing master George Silver publishes his work on duels in fencing.
1599-1601
Shakespeare uses the term ” foil” for the fleurette trainig weapon.
1650
The Italian masters Vigiani and Grassi describe the lunge.
1700s
Rapiers decline in use and the fleuret, or foil, becomes the training weapon of choice.
1780
The right‑of‑way conventions are invented, making fencing much safer.
1850s
The epee becomes the dueling weapon of choice in Europe. The sabre becomes the national weapon of Hungary.
1874
The fencing mask is invented by the French master (epee) La Boessiere.Italian fencing masters develop sabre fencing into a non‑fatal sport. The Hungarians later develop a new school of sabre fencing and dominate the sport until the mid‑20th century.1896
The first US fencing school is founded.
1891
The USFA was founded in 1891 as the Amateur Fencers League of America (AFLA) by a group of New York fencers
1900
Men’s foil and sabre competitions are included in the first modern Olympic Games.
1902
The Amateur Fencing Association in the UK was founded, later to become British Fencing
1913
The men’s epee competition is introduced at Olympic level.
1913
The Federation Internationale d’Escrime (FIE) is founded.
1924
With the end of World War 1, dueling declines in popularity. However, the sport of fencing continues to grow.
1924
The women’s foil competition is introduced at Olympic level.
1936
The men’s Olympic competition leads to a duel after the Italian team
disagrees with the scoring of a Hungarian judge. At the Hungarian
border after the Games, two duels are fought with wounds
inflicted, before spectators intervene.
1950s
Electric scoring for epee is introduced at Olympic level.
1954
Eastern European countries, such as the Soviet Union, Romania and
Poland, begin to challenge French and Italian dominance of the sport.
An Eastern European style of fencing, relying on speed and mobility,
emerges.
1956
The last‑known formal duel occurs in France. It ends with a scratch to the arm.1960
Electronic scoring for foil is introduced at Olympic level.
1982
Hungarian great Aladar Gerevich wins the last of six consecutive Olympic titles. His dominance of the sabre competition runs from 1932 to1960.
1982
Vladimir Smirnov
dies at the World Championships in Rome, when a broken blade goes
through his mask causing a fatal brain injury. His death prompts a
review of safety standards in fencing, which leads to the development
of stronger masks.
1988
Electronic scoring for sabre is introduced.
1996
Women’s epee becomes an Olympic sport.
1997
Young Ho Kim loses one of the most heroic contests in World Championship history. He is down 11‑3 to Sergei Golubitsky in the final period of the men’s foil gold medal bout but scores 8 touches in a row to tie at 11‑all before losing 15-14.1998
Women’s sabre appears in the World Championships as a demonstration sport.
2004
Women’s individual sabre appears at the Athens Olympic Games.
2008
Women’s team sabre is included in the programme for the Beijing Olympic Games.
2008
Team GB chosen for Bejing Olympics
