UNIT. 5. Part A.

Describe a sport
Contreras Macias Sandra.

Fencing

Fencing is a combat sport played by two opponents trying to score a set number of hit made
with the point of the weapon (foil, sabre, pe) in order to win. The idea is to hit the opponent
on the target without being hit.The players are called fencers. When a fencer is touched
(touch in french) with the weapon, the rival receives a point.There is a time limit for the
fencing in each bout. 15 points (in direct elimination play) or five points (in preliminary pool
play) on the opponent before scores number on.
It takes place on a specially marked out strip (the piste) and a bout, or fight.
The target area includes the trunk of the body, except the arms, legs and head, but the V
of the jacket covering the groin. The bib of the mask is not part of the target. At the back, the
target extends down a line joining the top of the hips.
About the rules: Never wave swords at someone who doesnt have the mask worn; when
holding a sword, the fencer has to have the point of the weapon down towards the floor; while
the player is having the weapon holded it is not permitted to run.
The best five countries in this sport are France, Germany, Italy, Russia and Hungary.















Sources:
http://deportes.unam.mx/disciplinas/disciplina.php?disciplina=esgrima
http://www.hpfc.org.uk/basics.htm
http://www.todo-olimpiadas.com/Esgrima_espadas+floretes.htm





History of Fencing

Date back to the first Olympic Games in 776 BC with a fight with weapons one to one called
hoplomachie . They educated the body and the soul of their youth in a same level and only
Greek, free and beyond reproach men could play. In 648 BC, the education of fencing, or
armatura, was introduced into the Roman camps by the consul Rutilius. Fencing was
practised with two hands : one hand had to have the shield held to avoid the hits and the
other one to give the hits.
In the Middle Ages Fencing was practised with two hands. The sword was considered a
symbol of glory, justice and moral value. In the XVI century swords became henceforth
lighter and held by a single hand.The perfection of weapons at the level of the guard then
allowed to bring together in a single weapon, the offensive and the defensive.
Before the middle of the XVIIth century, there are only few French among the famous
fencing masters; Nol Carr, Jacques Ferron, le Flamand, Petit-Jean and, of course,
Sainct-Didier, are the sole famous maistres en faict fencing masters, who taught the noble
science of arms to the most quarrelsome court of the world. Henry de Sainct-Didier was not
only the first French author (1573), the first one to speak about floures or foil, but also the
real first teacher.
The end of the XIXth century seals the evolution of the trinity of weapons - epee, sabre
and foil - but not necessarily their cohabitation. Between art and sport , it will soon be
necessary to choose.It is around 1890 that we begin to speak about fencing as a sport.
The current Top Athletes is Emese Szasz from Hungary in epee.


Source:
http://www.fie.ch/InBrief/Fencing.aspx