How to Use an Epee in Fencing

Video Transcript

"Hi! This is Tim Weske on behalf of expertvillage.com. In this clip, I'm going to show you about the epee. If you'd like to see more information on this, you can look at swordplayla.com. The epee, like foil, is a thrusting weapon, only thrusting. As you can see, on the point of this particular one it's an electric epee. So by pressing a button like that, that's how it would indicate a point. Now, the target area for the epee is anywhere on the body from the toe to the head, the back, left arm, right arm. It doesn't make any difference, just so long as it's thrust in. Also, there is no right of way rule with this, so both opponents hitting at the same time both score a touch. As you can see in comparing it to the foil, the guards the top part here, is extremely big in the epee compared to the foil. The reason for that is because the left hand, or whichever hand you hold it with, the right hand is target so you want to be able to hide the hand inside of the guard. The foil is not the target so the foil can be outside. Also, if you look at the blades, much heavier on the epee than it is on the foil. This is because you're hitting into the shoes or the head or something like that and it takes a lot more pressure. Even though the weapons are all designed for safety by being very flexible, the epee is a lot less."