Foil
A light thrusting weapon, with the torso as its target. Priority (also called right of way) decides who scores when both fencers hit at the same time.
A timeless sport. Your new beginning.
We are getting ready to launch and will share the programme once the details are confirmed.
Your next hobby has a point.
Discover fencing in Singapore
If you've ever wondered what fencing is like, follow along as we get ready to open our doors in Singapore.
Why try fencing?
Footwork gets you within range. Then comes the fun part: reading your opponent and picking your moment. A bout is a physical challenge as well as a game of timing, and each exchange gives you something to practise.
Fencing grew from armed combat into the sport practised today. It is now an international Olympic sport, and every bout starts and ends with a salute. The FIE's history of the sport traces that path.
What the research says
- What a fencing bout demands
Bottoms et al., 2023 · PLOS ONE
This measured how hard the body works during competitive foil bouts, using experienced fencers.
Worth knowing: it didn't look at fitness gains for beginners, and it doesn't show that fencing does the same thing for everyone.
- Why people say they started fencing
Ganakas et al., 2023 · Health Promotion Journal of Australia
101 people who had started fencing before the age of 18 chose to take part, and they talked about the novelty, learning new skills, the mental challenge and a supportive culture.
Worth knowing: the people who took part chose to, and they were looking back on the past, so it can't promise that every club or fencer will have the same experience.
- Enjoyment and staying active
Teixeira et al., 2012 · International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity
This review of 66 studies on motivation to exercise discusses the part that having a say, feeling capable and enjoying yourself play in keeping people active over time.
Worth knowing: it's about exercise in general rather than fencing, and it can't tell you how motivated any one person will be.
- Attention during fencing tasks
Varesco et al., 2024 · European Journal of Sport Science
This compared how 12 novice fencers and 12 trained fencers did on fencing tasks that call for attention.
Worth knowing: it's a small comparison, so it can't show that fencing improves thinking more widely or changes how you do at school or work.
- Sport, mental health and social outcomes
Eather et al., 2023 · Systematic review
This reviewed 29 studies on how taking part in sport relates to mental health and social outcomes.
Worth knowing: it covers sport in general, so it isn't evidence that fencing works as therapy or will lead to any particular result.
- Fencing's martial roots
International Fencing Federation (FIE) · History
The FIE explains how fencing began in armed combat and grew into a modern sport.
Worth knowing: sport fencing has its own rules and scoring, and this history doesn't say that fencing teaches self-defence.
Foil, épée or sabre?
Épée
The whole body is a valid target, and both fencers can score if their hits arrive close enough together.
Sabre
Cuts and thrusts can score above the waist, and priority rules decide between simultaneous hits.
Compare the three weapons
| Weapon | Target | Scoring |
|---|---|---|
| Foil | Torso | Priority rules decide simultaneous hits. |
| Épée | Whole body | Both fencers can score if hits arrive close enough together. |
| Sabre | Above the waist | Priority rules decide simultaneous hits. |
Getting started
You don't need any fencing knowledge to start. We'll explain the terms and the basics as you go.
We're putting together an introduction for first-timers, and we'll share session times and age groups once they're confirmed.
Fencers wear masks and protective clothing, and every bout has clear rules. British Fencing's safety guidance explains how this works.
Read the fencing injury research
- How often competitive fencers miss time through injury
Harmer, 2019 · British Journal of Sports Medicine
This reports what kinds of injuries happen in competitive fencing and how often they keep fencers out.
Worth knowing: this looked at competitions, so it doesn't tell you how likely a beginner is to get hurt, and it leaves out injuries that don't keep someone out.
- What fencing injury studies find overall
2025 systematic review · Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine
This looks across the research on injuries in fencing.
Worth knowing: the studies define and measure injuries in different ways, so the review can't give one overall safety ranking or estimate your own risk.
- Safety guidance for fencing
British Fencing · Safety policies and guidelines
The national governing body publishes safety guidance for the sport, including the rules and protective clothing.
Worth knowing: this is guidance from the governing body, not a description of how SportFencing will run, and it doesn't guarantee that nobody gets hurt.
Questions
- What are the three fencing weapons?
There are three fencing weapons, and each one scores a little differently.
- Foil is a light weapon used for thrusting. Hits count on the torso, and priority rules decide who gets the point when both fencers land at once.
- Épée lets you score anywhere on the body. If the two hits land close enough together, both fencers can score.
- Sabre scores with cuts as well as thrusts, anywhere above the waist. As in foil, priority rules decide simultaneous hits.
- Is fencing an Olympic sport?
Yes, it is. Fencing began as armed combat and developed into the sport people practise today. It is now an Olympic sport played internationally.
If you would like the longer story, the FIE's history of the sport is a good place to start.
- Do I need any experience?
No. Nobody expects you to know the rules or the vocabulary beforehand, so you can come to it completely fresh.
- How is safety handled in fencing?
Fencers wear masks and protective clothing, and every bout follows a set of rules.
You can read more in British Fencing's safety guidance.
- How do I hear about SportFencing programmes?
Add your details to the interest list on this page and we'll keep you posted on the launch.
Joining involves no payment, and it doesn't book you in or hold a place for you.
Join the interest list
Leave your details and we'll keep you posted.