Fencing 101

This is the target area for the weapon of foil.

A foil is a type of weapon used in fencing, and it looks like this.

Also in foil fencing there is something called a right-of-way. The fencer who has right-of-way will always get the touch. The person who begins the attack first has the right of way. If the fencer hesitates, or the fencer's blade is beat, the fencer will lose right of way to the opponent. Point in line (extending the blade straight out) will take right of way over any action after it except for a beat (hitting the blade purposefully to show control). If an attack is parried, then the fencer who parried it has the right of way to attack. The rules of right of way listed above basically say that the fencer who is in control of the situation gets the touch. In case where both fencers hit their opponent, the fencer with right of way will get the touch.

Some of these photos are cool, so I'm posting it up.