RIFAC : Rhode Island Fencing Academy & Club

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A modern fencer wears quite a bit of safety equipment, which is one of the reasons why injuries in fencing are very rare.

Over the 'weapon arm,' the right arm for right-handed fencers, and the left for left-handed fencers, the fencer wears an 'underarm protector' or 'under plastron.'

Next, athletes wear chest protection (obligatory for girls and women, optional for men). Over the legs are worn knee-length trousers called 'knickers.' Socks that go to the knees complete the protection of the legs. Sneakers, or specific fencing shoes, are worn on the feet.

A body cord is used when fencing with the electric scoring apparatus, and this cord is worn through the sleeve of the fencing jacket. A glove is placed over the 'weapon hand' and the cuff of the glove is pulled over the sleeve of the jacket to the mid forearm. In sabre and foil, a metallic over-jacket called a 'lamé' is worn on top of the fencing jacket. The lamé enables the circuit to activate when it is hit with the weapon.

The fencer wears a specialized mask that features a tough, woven mesh of steel and fits snugly on the head. The mask also features a heavy, puncture-proof bib that extends to the collarbone for added protection. Thus equipped, a fencer is prepared to take the strip except for one thing: a weapon!

Fencers use weapons with blunt, flexible steel blades called foils, épées , or sabres. Each has a slightly different use. Foils and épée may score points by hitting with the point only, while one can hit with both the edge and the point in sabre.

In fencing, athletes compete against opponents in the same weapon; you'd never have one fencer use a foil against another with a sabre.