| Sabre fencing is the fast-paced member of the | | | | although arm length can be an asset. |
| sport of fencing most like old fashioned sword | | | | The main difference in fencing equipment for men |
| fighting in battlefield conditions. The saber is the | | | | and women is an option for a special chest |
| "big daddy" in fencing equipment and the largest | | | | protector to shield the breasts, but the weapons |
| and heaviest weapon. It is a true sword with | | | | are the same and the strategies don't depend |
| sides with an edge, unlike the epee and foil. | | | | much on gender. Women are more likely to |
| Sabre fencing has a different strategy since side | | | | compete with epee and foil, though, possibly |
| touches are scored and nearly the entire body is | | | | because they are seen as less aggressive. |
| fair game for strikes, except the back of the | | | | Like all fencing, sabre fencing is very formal in |
| head, the hands and wrists, and below the waist. | | | | rules and etiquette. There are rules of "right of |
| Double touching is also not permitted. This makes | | | | way" determined by who first initiates a move, |
| the opportunity for points greater and the | | | | and much of the terminology is still in French. |
| defensive strategies more complicated. | | | | Attacking motions are called thrusts and slashes |
| Fencing comes from the real use of swords as | | | | and defensive moves are called parries. A score is |
| weapons of warfare, and these swords had | | | | called a touch. Sabre work depends even more |
| functional points and edges, so that they could | | | | on footwork than epee and foil. |
| both pierce and slash. The sabre blade is most like | | | | Sabre fencing is popular as a high school and |
| the fighting sword in appearance and function. It is | | | | college sport as are epee and foil. It is an Olympic |
| a bit stiffer than the other swords. | | | | event. As a team sport, teams are usually three |
| Fencing is an unusual sport in that it depends far | | | | people with an alternate available but only able to |
| less on brute strength than on agility and strategy | | | | fence if one of the three is injured or otherwise |
| making it accessible to many athletes both large | | | | must withdraw. There are time limits to matches, |
| and small. Women often compete with men | | | | with a common one being three minutes or eight |
| because size alone is not much of an advantage, | | | | touches for sabre. |