Rules of the Weapon: Foil, Epee, Sabre
Core concepts
Each weapon has a distinct target area, scoring convention, and priority structure. Foil: target is the torso plus the groin (covered by the jacket and lamé); touches score only with the point; the lamé defines valid target; a hit off-target stops the action but scores nothing. Epee: target is the whole body; only the point scores; there is no priority (offensive/defensive asymmetry) - simultaneous touches both score. Sabre: target is everything above the waist including arms and head (defined by the lamé and mask); the point, cutting edge, and back edge all score; priority rules apply as in foil.
Priority (right of way)
In foil and sabre, the referee awards the touch to the fencer who establishes the attack; the defender must parry before riposting, or take the blade to gain priority. Traps: a fencer who attacks and misses loses priority; a beat attack that lands on the opponent's blade does not by itself transfer priority unless it is a parry. In epee, do not apply priority - the question may bait you.
Traps to watch
- Confusing foil's target with the full torso and arms (arms are not target in foil).
- Assuming sabre scores only with the edge (the point scores too).
- Applying right-of-way to epee.
- Forgetting that off-target foil touches halt the phrase.
Worked example
A foil fencer attacks, the defender parries and ripostes, but the attacker's initial action lands off-target on the arm. The off-target stops the action; no touch is awarded, and the fencers resume. Rule of thumb: identify weapon first, then target, then priority - in that order.