Extra Protection & Plates for Foil Fencing

"Okay, we have some additional protective items that you'll probably want to use when you're fencing, and many of them are actually required. First of all for women, you have the breast plate. They come in two different types. One is just a big, solid plate. A lot of women like them because there isn't any space between--you've got a better surface area, better protection. Your other option--just a little bit lighter weight--you can put two cups into the pockets that come inside your women's fencing jacket. So those fit inside while you're fencing, and actually offer really decent protection. I don't mind these at all. They have a men's version of the same thing. The women's, by the way, is required. You do need some certified or approved breast plate protection. The men's has a similar feature, and this is optional. But, again, if you're going to get scored upon, foils are not sharp, but they are pointy, so that can really help add to that extra bit of comfort while you're fencing. Something else you can get that I don't have here--they have inserts for your shoes, on your heels. You put a lot of wear and tear on your heels as you're fencing. You're pushing your foot into the ground, sometimes there's force of the lunge, so sometimes something underneath your heel can help. And they do have something--some heel inserts that are designed just for that. A cup for men is also mandatory. If you're going to fence competitively, it's also just a really good idea when you think about target area. Those are the extra protectional items. Of course, you're going to have your plastron, in addition to, if your a women, your breast plate--possibly also if you're a man, your breast plate--and your jacket. So, between those three things, you have a decent amount of protection over your main target area, and again, if you are going to wear any sort of extra chest protection, you want to wear it beneath the plastron, which is then beneath the jacket, which is if you're fighting electric, beneath the Lame. So, make sure you put those in the right order. It is not permissible to wear something like this between your plastron and your jacket. So, couple extra ideas for extra protection."