The Basics of Foil Fencing

This is the first half of a two-part mini-series that will hopefully help viewers new to fencing understand enough to benefit from my upcoming bout commentaries. This part focuses on the mechanical and organizational sides of fencing, including how touches are scored, the role of the referee, and how bouts and tournaments are organized. The second part, which should be out tomorrow, will cover the technical side, or how to actually fence.
This series is not meant to teach how to fence, but how to watch and analyze fencing. If you want to learn how to fence, join your local fencing club, and have fun!
Here's a link to Part 2: • The Techniques of Foil...

[@tertia0011]

Basics of competition sport foil fencing.

[@ammatthews0601]

Thanks so much

[@TheFoilist]

You're welcome

[@thedragonskull6860]

Love the mask reference

[@hashenwaas3364]

Could you please do a video on how to win against an opponent who has an attacking style in a foil fencing bout. Thank you

[@TheFoilist]

I'm going to finish the Rio bout commentaries before I do videos of that kind, but in the meantime, here you go.
So there's three broad ways to deal with an attack: run away, parry riposte, or counterattack. Which way you go depends a lot on what kind of attack you opponent is doing. For example, running away from a simple lunge is pretty easy, but running away from a marching attack isn't a solution, just a means of pulling distance. Similarly, counterattacking isn't great against a short attack, but may work better against a longer one.
If your opponent is marching slowly, use footwork to set up a situation where either 1) you can collapse the distance before he can finish, or 2) you can get him to finish too soon and then get far enough away to not get hit. If he's rushing at you very fast, he won't be able to control his momentum very well, so counterattacking or taking the blade early in his action can force him to slow down.
Also, never underestimate the value of just attacking him yourself. Simultaneous actions benefit your opponent no more than they benefit you, so he might decide to give up on his attack after a few simultaneous ones, letting you take the initiative.
Hope this helps, and I'll try to flesh this out into a video once I'm done the Rio bouts.

[@hashenwaas3364]

Thank you so much . It's going to help me a lot In my future competitions

[@paulbanda8885]

I'm taking fencing classes to so can you give me advice

[@TheFoilist]

I don't know about your situation specifically, so I probably won't be as helpful as whatever you're being taught in your classes. I do however have two general pieces of advice that are pretty much universal:
1) Always, ALWAYS make sure your footwork is as perfect as possible. Obviously when you're doing footwork exercises and drills, but especially when you're actually fencing and competing. This is probably the number one way that anyone can improve at fencing, no matter what level they are.
2) HAVE FUN! Find the part about fencing you enjoy most and just immerse yourself in it. Pick someone really good and try to emulate them. Find a cool action or tactic and try to make it work in every situation. Seek challenges and advice relentlessly, and accept both with grace.
I hope you find this helpful.