Épée Fencing

Valentin de Wissocq, right, and Scott Walker, left, score a double touch during a tournament at Trinity College in Hartford in December 2012.

The blade used by épée fencers is much heavier and more rigid than the blades of foil or sabre fencers.

The épée, like the foil, is a thrusting weapon, and points can only be scored with the tip of the blade.

The rules for épée are much simpler than those of foil and sabre, as there is no right of way. The target area is the entire body, so whichever fencer hits his or her opponent first, on any part of the body, gets the point. If both fencers hit at the same time, both receive a point.

Because both fencers can score points at the same time and the whole body is the target, épée fencers must utilize careful strategy and patience, to ensure that they will hit their opponent, but that their opponent will not hit them.

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