Foil (fencing)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Parts of a foil
Parts of a foil

A foil is a type of weapon used in fencing. It is the most common weapon in terms of usage in competition, and is usually the choice for elementary classes for Fencing in general.

Contents

[edit] Components

Foils are designed for thrusting, and score a point by depressing a button on the end of the shaft to interrupt an electric circuit. The circuit is a "normally closed" one -- meaning that at rest, there is always a complete power circuit. Depressing the tip breaks this circuit, and the scoring box illuminates the appropriate light (white for off-target hits, where there is a circuit break and no other continuity, or red or green (depending on which fencer fired the light), which represents a redirection of power through the other fencer's gear) The blade is very thin, with a blunted (or foiled) tip. Modern competitive fencers often use a technique known as a flick, which uses the foil's flexibility to bend around the blade of an opponent (often in response to an attempted parry) and plant a hit upon the back, although in recent years YSFA rules have made it harder to flick.

 The neutrality of this section is disputed.
Please see the discussion on the talk page.(December 2007)
Please do not remove this message until the dispute is resolved.

Foil blades are flexible enough to bend upon striking an opponent, in order to prevent injuries. There are two main types of foil grips: the French style, with a grip (handle or hilt) designed to facilitate greater finesse; and the orthopedic, or pistol-grip, which is the most popular among modern competitive sport fencers. The Italian style, which is designed more for control and power, has largely fallen out of favor with modern sport fencers, and the modern game does not lend itself to this particular grip. It is legal for use, but rarely seen on the strip.

[edit] History

An Italian-grip foil. While still in use with many classical fencers, most competitive fencers have abandoned the Italian grip.
An Italian-grip foil. While still in use with many classical fencers, most competitive fencers have abandoned the Italian grip.

The modern foil is descended from the training weapon for the small-sword, the common sidearm of 18th century gentleman. Rapier and even longsword foils are also known to have been used, but they were very different in terms of weight and use.

The target area for modern foil is said to come from a time when fencing was practiced with limited safety equipment. Another factor in the target area is that foil rules are derived from a period when dueling to the death was the norm. Hence, the favored target area is the torso, where the vital organs are.

[edit] Modern Foil

A foil fencer. Valid target (the torso) is in red.
A foil fencer. Valid target (the torso) is in red.

In modern sport fencing, the foil is used as a thrusting weapon only. Any contact with the side of the blade (a slap) does not result in a score. Modern foils average 35 inches or 89cm in length, and have standardized, tapered, quadrangular blades which are designed to present a blunt (and therefore non-lethal) tip should they snap. To score a touch, one must touch an opponent with the tip of the foil with a force of over 4.90 newtons (500 grams-force).

Foil is governed by right of way rules. As such, points are not necessarily awarded to the first fencer to hit, but to the fencer who hits with priority. Priority is established when one fencer starts an attack. After this, the defender can gain priority by making the attack fail (e.g. by making a parry) then initiating a counter attack or riposte. The initial attacker regains priority if the defender's riposte fails. The priority continues to exchange between the fencers until a hit is scored.

As with any fencing weapon, protective equipment must be worn when fencing with foils; this includes a jacket, glove, mask, and knickers (known as breeches in the UK). In electric fencing, the tip of the foil must be depressed while in contact with the opponent's lamé (wire-mesh jacket which covers valid target area) to score a touch.

Recently, the FIE changed the timing in the scoring box to minimize the flick. The foil uses a normally closed electrical circuit, and any break in the circuit (broken wire, loose barrel, grip, or other parts, and especially depressing the tip) opens the circuit and the scoring box illuminates the appropriate light.

Prior to this timing change, ANY break in the circuit would fire the light, which is one reason the flicked worked so frequently if properly executed -- even a relatively flat hit on the back would move the tip around inside the barrel enough for that momentary break in the circuit and fire the light.

However, the timing has now been reset so that the tip must be depressed for at least 15 milliseconds before the lights will be triggered. This is a seemingly tiny change, but it has resulted in a significant drop in the number of flicks that are successful, especially those to the back.

[edit] Style of Play

Foil fencing is often seen as a compromise between Épée and Sabre, because it includes equal elements of both.

Like Sabre, Foil is governed by the rules of Right-of-Way. Because of this, much of foil fencing is consisted of fencers battling for right-of-way. When one fencer makes an attack, the opposing foil fencer will usually attempt to parry the attack and, if this is successful, riposte. To avoid being parried, the attacker may use several tactics, such as disengages or coupés, which are different ways to avoid the opponent's blade. Also, some attacks may begin with an absence of blade, that is to say, the attacker moves forward with his blade out of the range where the defender could parry it. The ending objective of such an attack it to place the blade in the opponent in too short a time for him/her to react. Because of the precise order and timing of movements needed to fence foil, if one fencer fails to execute their movements, it often results in a touch.

Foil fencing is significantly slower then Sabre however, because scoring touches with the tip of the blade is more difficult. In this way it is like epée. Fencers must not only be striving for the touch, but be keenly aware of their own openings. Also, like epée fencers, foil fencers may "cross-over" with their feet. Therefore, the flèche is a common tactic in both weapons.

[edit] World Rankings

MEN

WOMEN

NOTE: These rankings are accurate as of May 21, 2008

[edit] References

 This article does not cite any references or sources. (December 2007)
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

[edit] See also