Epee – Freestyle Fencing

The epee (pronounced “EPP‐pay,” meaning sword in French), the descendant of the dueling sword, is similar in length to the foil, but is heavier, weighing approximately 27 ounces, with a larger guard (to protect the hand from a valid hit) and a much stiffer blade. Touches are scored only with the point of the blade, and the entire body, head‐to‐toe, is the valid target area, resembling an actual duel.

A full‐body target naturally makes epee a competition of careful strategy and patience – wild, rash attacks  are  quickly  punished  with  solid  counter‐attacks. Often epee fencers spend several minutes probing their opponent’s defenses and maneuvering for distance before risking an attack. Others choose to stay on the defensive throughout the entire bout.

The 1996 Olympics in Atlanta were the first Games to feature women’s epee events.

 

Epee fencing is the preferred style of Discovery Fencing Academy.