How to Dress for Fencing

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Fencing is an Olympic sport, where the athletes fight with blades. There are three weapons in modern fencing: foil, épée, and sabre, and each of them has a slightly different set of rules. Due to these differences, the fencing equipment depends on the weapon. Because the safety play a crucial role in fencing, it is important to wear the proper equipment for protection.

Part One of Two:
Choosing the Right EquipmentEdit

1
Understand the fencing rules. Fencing is governed by Federation International d’Escrime (FIE). Thus, all equipment should meet the FIE’s standards. Make sure your equipment is legal and follows all of the guidelines.
2
Dress for safety. The safety measures specified the fencing rules are designed to increase the fencers’ safety. In short, FIE rules state that the tournament outfits must be made of fabric that resists a certain amount of force. The preceding table shows the minimum safety standards for clothing.
3
Equip yourself according to the weapon that you fence.
- Foil is a light thrusting weapon. It has a small circular hand guard which protects the hand.
- Épée is a thrusting weapon (heavier than the foil). It has a large circular hand guard that serves to protect the hand from touches.
- Sabre is a light cutting and thrusting weapon. The Sabre hand guard is specific because it is turned outwards, and connects the pommel with the base. It also aims at protecting the arm from touches.
4
Find the appropriate clothes. Most fencing clubs will tell you what uniform to buy. Be sure to buy equipment that is safe, comfortable, and functional and to shop only from professional stores. Remember that although the traditional fencing uniform is white, the FIE also allows other colors (except for black).

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Part Two of Two:
Putting on Fencing EquipmentEdit

1
Put on the sports underwear or warm-ups. The inner layer of clothes gives an additional comfort during bouts.
2
Put on long socks. They cover and protect the knees from the strong touches.
3
Put on trousers that end below the knee (called breeches or knickers). Usually, these are equipped with suspenders. Along with socks, it protects the legs from touches. The brace prevents the breeches from shifting around.
4
Wear sport shoes with flat soles. They should be reinforced on the inside of the back foot and heel of the front foot in order to decrease the wear from lunging.
5
Wear a plastic chest protector. It protects your chest from the painful touches.
6
Put on a plastron (underarm protector). This is extremely important for your safety, as it protects the arm and its side doubly.
7
Put on a jacket with a strap which goes between the legs. The folded fabric, sewn in around the collar, will protect your neck from fencing stabs.
8
Don’t forget about the body cord. It must be attached to the weapon and scoring box to register the touches. It must run inside the weapon arm's sleeve, and then down the back. If you fence Sabre or foil, connect the body cord to the lamé to create a circuit to the scoring box.
9
If you fence foil or Sabre, wear a lamé. Wear it over the jacket to cover the on-target area. It serves to distinguish valid hits from those that are invalid. In épée, the entire body is a target, so a lamé is unnecessary.
- Please note that the foil and saber lamés are different. A foil lamé is sleeveless, while a sabre lamé has sleeves and ends across the waist.
10
Wear a mask with the bib and back strap. The bib protects the neck. The back strap holds the mask stable. Keep in mind that there are different masks for foil, épée, and saber.
- Wear one glove with a gauntlet for the weapon arm. It protects the hand and provides a good grip.
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TipsEdit

Know the fencing clothing rules. Ask the referee or refer to the FIE codex if you have any questions on how to dress.

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If you wear any cultural or religious clothes/accessories, wear them under the fencing clothes. Give yourself more time to dress to feel comfortable with additional things.

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Keep in mind that the fencing equipment is either right or left handed. Before purchasing, always make sure that you have selected the equipment adjusted to your preferred hand.

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Find a mask of appropriate size. It should be snug on your head, so when you turn side to side it doesn't move. It shouldn’t be too tight, because you must always feel comfortable.

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Pick the right shoes. You can buy either fencing or non-fencing shoes. You can choose non-fencing shoes such as running or volleyball shoes, because they are cheaper than fencing ones.

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Although the chest protector is not a mandatory part of the fencing clothes, it is advisable to wear it during the practices and tournaments.

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If wearing glasses under the mask is uncomfortable for you, consider wearing the contact lenses or sports glasses.

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Put your hair in a ponytail if it goes past your shoulders. It makes it easier to see during the fencing bouts. You can use skinny and soft headbands to keep your hair from falling in your face.

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Remove all accessories that cause discomfort before dressing for fencing.

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Buy fencing equipment at the most popular stores. You can do it online, by telephone, or in person during the fencing competition. The good fencing clothes can be purchased at the popular stores such as:
- Absolute Fencing Gear, Inc
- Allstar UK
- Athos Equipment d'Escrime
- Blade Fencing Online
- FencePBT, Inc.
- Leon Paul Fencing Equipment
- Negrini Fencing Line
- Uhlmann Fechtsport
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If you want to compete, buy the spare equipment and clothes (especially weapons, body and mask cords, and sometimes lamé). You should always have extra stuff during the competition.

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If you use insoles or special protectors, use them during the fencing bouts as well.

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WarningsEdit

According to FIE rules, fencers arm, equip, clothe themselves, and fence at their own responsibility and at their own risk.

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If you choose not to follow the dress code for fencing, not only can you hurt yourself, but you may also be penalized or even disqualified.

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Consult a doctor if you have any health concerns before fencing.

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