Fencing – Sport and Martial Arts
Fencing today is mainly an Olympic-style sport that revolves around three sword types; the foil, epee and sabre.
However, there are growing sub-styles such as historical fencing and classical fencing that focus on fencing as a martial arts. These types of fencing remember when fencing was a form of self-defense. Therefore, some students practice techniques such as arm locks, use of the pommel as a weapon, disarms, etc.
According to Columbia Classical Fencing, classical fencing tries to emphasis “fencing as it was practiced in the West in the 18th and 19th centuries”. Whereas, historical fencing covers a wider time frame.
Olympic-Style Fencing
Demonstration of “Classical Fencing”
References
- Columbia Classical Fencing, Club History, http://columbiaclassicalfencing.com/about/club-history/, Added – 11/12/13