WHAT EQUIPMENT DO WE USE?

The clothing kit. The usual components are: Mask, which protects the head; Under Plastron, an undergarment which protects the sword arm and the part of the chest which is most exposed to the opponent; Over Plastron, an overgarment which protects a greater part of the body than the under plastron and is usually worn by sword fencing coaches, who allow themselves to be hit frequently when giving instruction;

Chest or breast protector, a solid covering for the soft part of the upper body, usually worn by women as an addition to the under plastron;

Jacket, the indispensable garment which protects the upper body and the groin;

Breeches, which protect the groin and the legs to the knees, although many sword fencers prefer to wear loose fitting tracksuit or jogging trousers;

Glove, for the sword hand, which is padded to protect the hand.

Not essential but desirable are:

Socks, thicker at the front, if breeches are worn;

Sword fencing shoes, which are trainers with flat soles and special curved grips.

The weapons.

There are three types of swords:

Foil. This has a thin blade with a point at the end. It is regarded as the most elegant of the sword fencing weapons and is said to be the descendant of the swords which gentlemen is previous centuries used to settle matters of honour, by duels. It is a stabbing or thrusting weapon. The guard which protects the hand is quite small and saucer shaped. Points are scored during a bout by hitting the tip of the foil on a designated target area of the opponent, namely the torso (including the groin) and the back to the waist.

The grip or handle can be of various kinds, but the most common is either French, like a cylinder, or pistol ,like the handle and trigger of a hand gun.

Epee. This has a heavy blade which has a single V-shaped groove running the full length of it, with a point at the end. It is a stabbing or thrusting weapon which historically was used to kill opponents in serious duels to the death. The guard is large and cup or bell shaped and protects the hand well. Points are scored during a bout by hitting the tip of the epee on any part of the opponent's body, right from the toes, up to the head, including all parts in between.

The grip can be of various kinds, as for the foil.

Sabre. This has a medium weight blade with an edge, as well as a point at the end. It is the only one of the three swords which can be used both to stab and to slash, or to cut and to thrust. It has a curved guard of the basket hilt variety which gives very good protection to the hand. Points are scored during a bout by hitting the tip or the edge of the sabre on a designated target area of the opponent, comprising the torso, the back, the mask and the arms.

The grip is really only French, due to both the shape of the guard and to the nature of sabre sword fencing, although it is theoretically possible to have a pistol grip.

All three weapons are used when sword fencing at Loughton Fencing Club, although not always on the same night. There is considerable freedom of choice, although an evening might usually start with foil sword fencing, followed by a change to sabre sword fencing and if time permits, a bout or two of epee sword fencing. However, individuals may usually chose to fence with any weapons in any order.

Electric and steam (or dry) weapons.

In order to improve the accuracy and fairness of sword fencing bouts and competitions, electric scoring equipment has been developed.

Essentially, each weapon is electrified and this allows hits to be recorded by means of an illuminated box, which causes a red or green light to go in when a weapon touches an opponent on a valid target area.

When fencing electric, the following equipment is required:

For foil, electric foil, lame (a metallic jacket), body wire (which links the lame and foil to the scoring apparatus);

For sabre, electric sabre, lame, electric mask, mask wire (which connects the mask to the lame), body wire, lame glove;

For epee, electric epee, body wire.

Additionally, electric scoring apparatus including cables and light boxes is necessary, but Loughton Fencing club possesses this equipment, as well as a quantity of electric weapons, lames, etc.

From the above it will be apparent that electric epee is the cheapest system to purchase.

Sword fencing which is not electrified is referred to as steam or dry.

From left to right French grip epee sabre pistol grip epee.

Two close ups of an electric pistol grip epee with body wire.

From right to left foil, sabre and epee - all French grip.

Other useful items.

Fluid or liquid, as sword fencing is a heat generating activity and the sword fencer needs to rehydrate regularly during the evening.

Chocolate, or glucose tablets, to restore sugar levels in the system. Sword fencing is an exhilarating activity and it burns energy very quickly.