How Does a Fencing Match Actually Work?

At its core, fencing is about landing a valid “touch” on your opponent before they touch you. Think of it like high-speed chess with swords. Depending on the weapon — foil, sabre, or epee — the target area changes, and the rules shift slightly. In epee, the weapon we focus on most at Valour, the entire body is the target — from head to toe. There are no right-of-way rules, and if both fencers hit at the same time (within 1/25th of a second), both get the point. It’s the only weapon that awards double points, which makes every moment feel like a tense standoff between two minds.

A match, or “bout,” usually goes to 5 points or 3 minutes in preliminary rounds (called pools). In direct elimination (where the competition gets more serious), matches go up to 15 points or 3 periods of 3 minutes, with a 1-minute break between rounds. If no one reaches 15, the fencer with the higher score when time runs out wins. Every bout is fenced on a narrow strip called the piste, and once the referee says “Allez,” it’s game on.

While the rules matter, what really makes fencing special is the feeling — the adrenaline of closing distance, the satisfaction of reading someone’s next move, the joy of getting that first touch. It’s a duel, a dance, and a test of patience all at once. And trust me, once you feel it, you’ll want more.