Concept in Definition ABC

Fencing is a sport in which two rivals face off with some kind of knife, in such a way that the one who manages to touch the opponent with the weapon wins. To the margin From its sporting dimension, fencing is part of the individual techniques of attack and defense in times of war. On the other hand, fencing is a European martial art that was already practiced in the Middle Ages in the so-called fencing schools.

Fencing as a sport

Fencing requires athletes to have great reflexes, a good coordination of movements and a considerable speed and precision. The main idea This sport is touching and not being touched, which can be done with three types of stab made of tempered steel (saber, sword or foil). Some have defined fencing as a dance of electrifying movements.

Its historical origin is found in the individual confrontations of the cavalry soldiers with the aim of killing the opponent. With the passage of time, this fight became an Olympic sport (it has been part of modern Olympism since the first Olympics in Athens in 1896). Regarding the competition, the athletes are called shooters and they face each other in three periods of three minutes each one, the winner being the one who touches the opponent the most times or the one who achieves 15 strokes during the match. confrontation.

A curiosity of fencing is the fact that it is part of the modern pentathlon, which is also made up of pistol shooting, the swimming, equestrian jumping and race cross country.

The use of knives in other contexts

The stab is part of the tradition historical western and eastern. In the West we find gladiators, fighters who fought in ancient Rome to entertain the public. In the Modern Age in France the escorts of the monarchs were the musketeers. If we use popular language, people skilled with the sword in Europe were known as swordsmen.

In the East, the character that best connects with the knife is the samurai. The samurai sword is called the Katana. It is curious to note that the role of the samurai in Japan had the same function as the French musketeers, since the original samurai emerged as a military guard serving of the emperor.

Photos: iStock - Zoran Zeremski / LeventKonuk