To touch the opponent without being touched is the object of the game. This requires considerable skill and footwork. Practicing the following activities will help your students to understand and accomplish the fun of fencing. Whereas the head, arms and legs are not targets for fencing opponents, care should be taken in the early stages of training to insure safety. For that purpose, we advise that safety goggles and foam ear protection be worn.
Activities Fencing is much more fun if sufficient practice precedes the fencing bouts.
Beginning with an opponent too soon leads to bad habits and insufficient skills needed to enjoy the sport. Fencing requires self-control and some understanding of the skills necessary to touch an opponent without being touched. Therefore, it is important to spend a great deal of class time in the first few days getting acquainted with the foil and the footwork. However, some fencing should be done at the end of every class to relate the drills to the reality of a fencing bout. The saber may be gripped like a baseball bat and swung in a rigorous manner because its blade is used on an opponent, but the foil is a completely different weapon.