Fencing Sport

Abstract

Fencing is one of the nine founding sports of the Olympic Games in the modern era. Since Athens 1896 fencing is an Olympic sport. It is a combat and contact sport. There are three disciplines with three different weapons: épée, foil, sabre. Competitions are organised as individual or team events. The official language is French. It is a high demanding sport. The performance factors are the speed, reaction time, coordination, aerobic endurance capacity, tactics, the power of concentration and the mental power. The experience also is important. The training includes technics with the coach (maître d’armes), footwork, combat training and supplementary training (e.g. basic strength and endurance training, reaction and speed training). There are three options for an attack (step, lunge and flèche) and three options for a defence (parry riposte, hit, and move backwards). A common action is the counterattack. Due to asymmetric position with a front leg and weapon arm overuse injuries of the upper and lower extremities including spine and pelvis are frequent. Acute trauma injuries occur due to opponent contact, a fall or a distortion. A rehab protocol should include physiotherapy, basic training, fencing-specific training and competition training. Primary and secondary prevention is major due to the asymmetric position and action of this unilateral sport.