Fencing discipline
Épée
Épée is a fencing weapon with point-only touches valid anywhere on the body and no right-of-way, so both fencers can score at once.
Overview
Épée is one of the three fencing weapons, using a stiffer, heavier blade than the foil, with touches scored only by the point.
The entire body is valid target, from the mask to the feet, which rewards patient timing and careful defense.
There is no right-of-way in épée, so when both fencers land within a very short window, both can be awarded a touch.
What defines it
- The whole body is a valid target area.
- Touches are scored only with the point of the blade.
- There is no right-of-way, so simultaneous hits can score for both fencers.
- The blade is stiffer and heavier than the foil.
- Its rules are often described as the closest of the three weapons to a duel.
Getting started
- 1New fencers can try épée through a local club, often after some grounding in footwork and blade basics.
- 2Early practice tends to emphasize distance, timing, and defending the nearest targets such as the hand and arm.
- 3Clubs usually lend equipment so beginners can try the weapon before investing.
Other Fencing disciplines
The forms of Fencing sit alongside each other — explore the rest.
Explore across the knowledge base
Follow the threads that connect Épée to the rest of SocialSportHub.
Sports
- FencingA fast, tactical combat sport of controlled blade play that blends quick footwork with split-second decisions.
- CalisthenicsBodyweight strength training — push-ups, pull-ups, dips and progressions you can do almost anywhere.
- CurlingA tactical team sport of sliding polished stones down a sheet of ice toward a target, with teammates sweeping to guide them.
- HandballA fast indoor team sport of passing, jumping and throwing to score with the hands.
- RowingA rhythmic, full-body endurance sport on the water or on an indoor machine.
Rules
- Two-bounce ruleA pickleball rule requiring both the serve and the return to bounce once before players may hit the ball out of the air.
- Double dribbleA basketball violation for dribbling with two hands at once, or for dribbling again after picking up the ball.
- Tennis serving rulesThe rules governing how a tennis point begins, including where the server stands and where the serve must land.
- Three-hit ruleThe volleyball rule that a team may contact the ball at most three times before it must cross the net.
- Penalty kick awardA one-on-one kick against the goalkeeper awarded when a defending player commits a direct-free-kick foul inside their own penalty area.
Training guides
- Bodyweight training basicsBodyweight training uses your own body as resistance, making it a simple and accessible way to build strength almost anywhere.
- How to build a weekly routineBuilding a weekly routine means loosely planning your training across the week so effort and rest are spread out in a way you can sustain.
Exercises
Lifestyle
Positions
- Point guardThe point guard is basketball’s primary ball-handler and playmaker, running the offence and setting up teammates to score.
- GoalkeeperThe goalkeeper is the last line of defence in football and the only player allowed to handle the ball inside their own penalty area.
- Shooting guardThe shooting guard is a perimeter player whose main role is to score, especially from mid-range and beyond the three-point line.
- Goal attackThe goal attack is a versatile netball attacker who both feeds the shooter and scores goals, moving through the centre and attacking thirds.
- Small forwardThe small forward is a versatile wing player in basketball who can score inside and outside while also defending multiple positions.
Fencing