Fencing, a mind-boggling sport: Part 2
In the earlier part, a general approach as to what is fencing was discussed regarding its forms and disciplines and how it differs from sword-fighting.
Discussing about how the game is learnt, the eight positions of sword and footwork have already been covered. The other basic steps involved in learning the sport is the perfect lunge execution. Lunge, in fencing, is actually how the fencer stretches his
body upfront with an intention to attack over his opponent.
While executing, it must be kept in mind to reach out to the opponent, attacking and then immediately returning back to en garde position or else the offender may get a counter-attack from the other person, if the attack has been defended from hitting the
target.
The lunge position is said to be perfect when the fencer’s sword is dead straight with his body not exposed for the opponent to easily find his target.
If these basics have been learnt well, then comes the actual duelling part. Here both fencers stand face-to-face over the 14-metre strip named piste, the track for the sword play. Both fencers need to maintain a distance such that when both extend their
sword arms, only the tip of their swords get intact with each other.
It must be noted first that both need to be completely dressed with the waist-guard, gloves, mask and all protection wears, in accordance to the weapon discipline they are about to play.
Before the fight begins, this elite sport has a salutation way known as the fencing etiquette. Both the fencers salute each other and then the audience and the chief guest of the event.
From here onwards, the rules of the play and the method of scoring points are the core of discussion. First of all, fencing may be played on individual basis as well as in team of three plus one as substitute.
In individual fight, the match played comprises of three minute time-frame and is called as a bout. Within this time, a fencer is required to win a maximum number of 5 points over his opponent and if the time finishes before five points from either side,
the one with more points wins the bout.
Points can be scored on hitting the target areas as per the weapon style being played.
In team’s play, there are nine bouts of three minutes time and the team that scores 15 points over the opponents will win or if the time ends, the team with higher points gets the victory.
In special cases of a head-to-head, when the time finishes with scores locked up at a draw, then a round named sudden-death is conducted. The individual or team that takes the lead-point wins. This round has a time-frame of one minute.
The nine bouts played in the team event are ordered such that after each bout, fencers from both the teams can be changed such that either each fencer consecutively plays maximum three bouts or else change after each bout. In case of injury or otherwise
too, the stand-by team member can also step in to play any bout among the nine.
Apart from winning a hit for a score, there are few more rules that allow a fencer to be awarded with points during the fight. These will be shared in the next part of this article.
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