| In the sport of fencing, saber fencing is the most | | | | although arm length can be an asset. |
| like the sword battle of yore. Sabers weigh the | | | | Fencing equipment is more or less the same for |
| most and are the biggest of all fencing equipment. | | | | men and women. Men and women compete with |
| The saber is truly a sword with a honed edge | | | | the same weapons, using the same dueling |
| along the sides, different than the epee and | | | | strategies, although women can choose to wear |
| fencing foil. | | | | an optional chest protector. Women seem to |
| Sabre fencing has a totally unique strategy and | | | | gravitate towards the epee and foil. |
| set of rules making it more challenging and yet | | | | Like all fencing, sabre fencing is very formal in |
| more complicated at the same time. Side touches | | | | rules and etiquette. There are rules of "right of |
| are allowed in this sport and the whole body | | | | way" determined by who first initiates a move, |
| above the waist is fair game, except for the back | | | | and much of the terminology is still in French. |
| of the head, the hands and the wrists. The | | | | Attacking motions are called thrusts and slashes |
| chance for greater points and more complicated | | | | and defensive moves are called parries. A score is |
| and involved strategies is because double touching | | | | called a touch. Sabre work depends even more |
| is not permitted. | | | | on footwork than epee and foil. |
| Fencing comes from the real use of swords as | | | | Sabre fencing is not only an Olympic event but |
| weapons of warfare, and these swords had | | | | also a popular high school and college sport along |
| functional points and edges, so that they could | | | | with epee and foil. While often thought of as an |
| both pierce and slash. The sabre blade is most like | | | | individual sport, fencing is also a great team sport. |
| the fighting sword in appearance and function. It is | | | | Generally, teams consist of three people with an |
| a bit stiffer than the other swords. | | | | alternate, with the alternate fencing only in the |
| Fencing is an unusual sport in that it depends far | | | | event of injury or withdrawal of one of the |
| less on brute strength than on agility and strategy | | | | primary team members. Matches are bound by |
| making it accessible to many athletes both large | | | | time limits, with a common structure being three |
| and small. Women often compete with men | | | | minutes of fencing or eight touches. |
| because size alone is not much of an advantage, | | | | |