Meet at the Indianapolis Fencing Club and we will be told where we can go and not go to get photos. This is Epee (regular fencing) and Broadsword.

Mission Statement:

The Indianapolis Fencing Club is a nonprofit corporation that exists to promote the sport of fencing in the greater Indianapolis area.  We are committed to the safe and responsible practice of the sport at all its levels: educational, recreational, and competitive. We offer classes for adults and children with no prior fencing experience, hold education demonstrations for interested groups, and provide a regular venue for practice, training, and free fencing.  As a member of the Indiana Division of the United States Fencing Association, we also host competitions for the local and regional fencing community.

Commitment to safety:

Fencing is an extremely safe sport.  Most injuries consist of pulled muscles and minor bruises.  Even so, safety, both on and off-strip, is of utmost importance at the Indianapolis Fencing Club.  The responsible use of weapons and other fencing gear is expected at all times.  Masks are an absolute requirement during any fencing or two-person drilling.  Period.  All club members are required to wear plastrons and jackets when fencing and drilling.  The sole exception is when taking a lesson from a club coach, who may waive this rule.   Members are encouraged to wear fencing knickers or pants of heavy material.  The use of appropriate rigid protection for men and women is also strongly encouraged.  Unsafe or irresponsible conduct will not be tolerated, and may result in ejection from the premises and/or dismissal from the club.

Fencing is a dynamic, fast-paced sport often described as "physical chess" because it combines athletic explosiveness with deep strategic thinking. Whether you are a beginner looking to pick up a blade or a fan wanting to better understand the sport, mastering the fundamentals is essential. The core principles of fencing are divided into the weapons, the basic stance and footwork, blade work, and the rules of competition.

1. The Three Weapons

Fencing matches, known as bouts, take place on a 14-meter by 2-meter strip called a piste. Competitors use one of three distinct weapons, each featuring its own unique rules and target areas:

• Foil: A light, flexible thrusting weapon. Points are scored only with the tip of the blade, and the valid target area is strictly the opponent's torso (covered by a conductive jacket called a lame).

• Épée: The heaviest weapon, featuring a rigid, triangular blade and a large handguard. Like the foil, points are only scored with the tip, but the entire body—from mask to toe—is a valid target area.

• Saber: A highly energetic weapon where fencers can score using both the tip and the edges of the blade (slashing/cutting). The target area includes everything from the waist up, excluding the hands.

2. Stance and Footwork

All movement in fencing builds upward from a balanced foundation:

• En Garde: The fundamental starting position. Your dominant foot points straight forward toward your opponent, and your back foot is turned out at a 90-degree angle. Keep your knees bent directly over your toes to maintain a low, responsive center of gravity.

• Advance: Moving forward. You initiate the step by pushing with your front foot and following smoothly with your back foot to maintain your original stance width.

• Retreat: Moving backward. You lift and step back with your rear foot first, quickly followed by your front foot.

• Lunge: The primary attacking move. You extend your weapon arm fully toward the target, kick forward with your front leg, and drive your body forward by straightening your back leg.

3. Core Blade Work

Precision control over your blade comes from your fingers and wrist rather than heavy shoulder movements:

• Attack: An initial offensive action made by extending the arm and continuously threatening the opponent's target.

• Parry: A defensive movement used to block or deflect an incoming blade contact.

• Riposte: A rapid counter-attack executed immediately after a successful parry.

• Beat: A sharp, deliberate tap against the opponent's blade designed to clear a path for an attack or provoke a defensive reaction.

4. Basic Rules and Scoring

Bouts are electronically scored via body cords that register touches instantaneously. In preliminary pool rounds, the first fencer to reach 5 points wins; in direct elimination rounds, the goal is to reach 15 points.

The fundamental concept governing scoring differences is Right-of-Way.

• In Foil and Saber, if both fencers hit each other at the exact same time, the referee awards the point to whoever initiated a clear attack first. The defender must execute a parry to steal the "right-of-way" before they can score a valid touch.

• In Épée, there is no right-of-way rule. The point simply goes to whoever hits first. If both fencers hit within a fraction of a second, a "double-touch" is declared, and both receive a point.

Questions: Contact Vernon Jones