In the event of tip to tip hits, a point should not be awarded. The amount of glue is kept to a minimum as in the unlikely (but possible) case that a fencer manages a touch in that glue, the touch would be registered on the electrical equipment, as the glue is not conductive (the blade is grounded). These wires are held in place with a strong glue. In the groove formed by the V-shaped blade, there are two thin wires leading from the far end of the blade to a connector in the guard. The referee checks Kristina Kuusk's weapon in the Challenge International de Saint-Maur. The guard, blade, and handle of the épée are all grounded to the scoring box to prevent hits to the weapon from registering as touches. The tip is wired to a connector in the guard, then to an electronic scoring device or "box". In competitions, a valid touch is scored if a fencer's weapon touches the opponent with enough force to depress the tip by rule, this is a minimum of 750 g f (7.4 N). Grip options primarily include the French grip and the pistol grip. Īs with a foil, the grip of an épée can be exchanged for another if it has a screw-on pommel. As the hand is a valid target in competitive fencing, the guard is much larger and more protective than that of a foil, having a depth of 3–5.5 cm (1.2–2.2 in) and a diameter more likely to be toward the maximum of 13.5 cm (5.3 in). The guard has numerous forms, but all are essentially a hemispherical shield, the section of which fits in a 10–13.5 cm (3.9–5.3 in) cylinder. In competitive fencing, the width of any of the three sides of an épée's blade is limited to 24 mm (0.94 in). Wires may run down a groove in épée blades fitted for electric scoring, with a depressible button capping the point. The blade of an épée is triangular in section, whereas that of a foil is rectangular, and neither blade has a cutting edge. size 2), making it easier for them to use. Épées for use by children under 13 are shorter and lighter (e.g. The total weight of the weapon ready for use is less than 770 g (27 oz), with most competition weapons being much lighter, weighing 300–450 g (11–16 oz). With the absence of right-of-way, following an attack and landing a counterattack correctly can be a highly efficient way to score a touch, hence the counterattack's ubiquity in épée fencing.Ī modern épée, of size 5, for use by adult fencers has a blade that measures 90 cm (35 in) from the guard to the tip. Some specifications include two varieties, the stop-thrust and the time thrust, which are (respectively) a simple counterattack and a counterattack on the opposition. Also, double-touches are allowed in épée, although the touches must occur within 40 milliseconds ( 1/25 of a second) of each other.Ī special aspect of the épée discipline is the counterattack, a tactic employed in response to an attack. Touches are awarded solely on the basis of which fencer makes a touch first, according to the electronic scoring machines. In épée fencing, unlike in the other two disciplines, there are no right-of-way rules regarding attacks, other than the aforementioned rule regarding touches with only the point of the weapon.
In most higher-level competitions, an electrically grounded (earthed) piste is used to prevent floor hits from registering as touches. Since the entire body is a target, a successful épée fencer must be able to anticipate the opponent's moves and strike the opponent at the correct time. As with all fencing disciplines, fencing matches with the épée require concentration, accuracy, and speed. The épée is the heaviest of the three modern fencing weapons. While the modern sport of fencing has three weapons - foil, épée, and sabre, each a separate event - the épée is the only one in which the entire body is the valid target area (the others are restricted to varying areas above the waist). The entire body is a valid target area.Įlectric épée fencing: Diego Confalonieri (left) and Fabian Kauter in the final of the Trophée Monal Thus, immediate counterattacks are a common feature of épée fencing.
The techniques of use differ, as there are no rules regarding priority and right of way. In addition to the larger “bell” guard and blade, the épée weighs more than the foil and sabre which contributes to its reputation of being the slowest form of fencing. The épée also has a larger bell guard designed to protect the user’s arm.
It is triangular in cross-section with a V-shaped groove called a fuller.
Īs a thrusting weapon, the épée is similar to a foil (contrasted with a sabre, which is designed for slashing). The modern épée derives from the 19th-century épée de combat, a weapon which itself derives from the French small sword. The épée ( English: / ˈ ɛ p eɪ/ or / ˈ eɪ p eɪ/, French pronunciation: ), sometimes spelled epee in English, is the largest and heaviest of the three weapons used in the sport of fencing. Shown is an épée fencer, with the valid target area (the entire body) in red.
0 kommentar(er)
