After school program fencing presentation to middle school girls at BCMS.

1. Ready, Set, Fence! – a “mini-mester” Lester Ko – September, 2009

2. Did you know….there’s a sport that imitates dance? And it involves swordplay and far away places.

4. Fencing is one of the four sports which has been featured at every modern Olympic Games. Beijing Athens London

5. Foil The sport I played in college. Epee Sabre Currently, three types of weapons are used in Olympic fencing…

6. FOIL The lightest of the three weapons, where a single point is scored by a fencer following the rule of "right of way”. Long ago, this was the practice sword. Today, it is equal to the other weapons.

7. Target areas for foil Valid target at foil - the torso, and the portion of the bib 1.5-2cm below chin level (in orange).

8. EPEE A heavier weapon, where both fencers can score points at the same time. There is no "right of way”. This weapon was once used for dueling.

9. Target areas for epee Valid target area at Épée (the entire body).

10. SABRE Unlike the other two weapons, a fencer can use the entire blade to score a point. Just like a light-saber. Only one fencer can score at a time. This weapon follows "right of way”. This weapon was once used to fence while riding a horse.

11. Target areas for sabre Valid target at sabre (everything above the waist, excepting the hands and the back of the head).

12. What is Right of Way? Why is it important? Fencing features rules of right of way or priority, which determine which fencer's hit will be scored when both fencers have hit. The basic principle of priority is that the hit of the fencer who begins an offensive action first will prevail over his/her opponent's hit, unless the action fails.

13. So…. In other words, think of two cars at a stop sign. The car that moves first has right of way, and the other car must wait its turn. The fencer that moves forward first has the “right” to score a point.

14. Although the weapons are not sharp, fencers still wear several pieces of equipment to protect themselves during their bouts.

15. Gloves Jacket Mask

17. In order to score a point, one fencer must touch the other with force of at least 4.90 newtons (500 grams/force) for at least 15 milliseconds.

21. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxBHrYloFXw`

22. And don’t be fooled, even though fencing – like your school – is a single gender sport, girls can fence as well as boys!

23. So, play a sport! “The importance of sports in the life of a young student is invaluable and goes much further than the basic answer that "it keeps kids off the streets." It does in fact keep kids off the streets, but it also instills lessons that are essential in the life of a student athlete....” -- Ollie Cooperwood