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This is a more direct descendent of the shortsword used for duelling, and the modern rules reflect this fact. Since duels were normally fought to first blood, in epee, points are scored by whoever hits his opponent first, on any part of the body. If both fencers are hit at effectively the same time, both fencers score, as in a duel this would result in an injury to both.
Like the foil, it is a point weapon only - hits with the side of the blade do not count. However, the conventions of right of way do not apply at epee, and this often puts more the emphasis on good counter-attacking than on parrying, along with good point control and timing.As at foil, an epeeist will move up and down the piste, judging the right moment to attack. If the opponent initiates an attack at the body, however, it may well be possible to launch a counter attack at his wrist or arm. Since there is less distance to go, the hit will probably arrive first. (Of course, it's a smaller target than the body and easier to miss…). And anyway, the attacker may have anticipated this counter and be ready to parry the attack to the arm.
Because the hand and arm holding the sword are part of the target, the epee has a larger guard to offer it some protection, and a good epeeist will often use the guard to parry attacks away from himself. This makes it easier to leave his point lined up with his opponent and enables a faster riposte. Attacking is perhaps a riskier proposition than at foil, but the hand will be busy making false attacks to draw a reaction from the opponent and to disguise a real attack when it comes. The eyes will be busy observing and learning the types of reactions the opponent is likely to make, and the fingers feeling these reactions whenever the blades meet.
Because of the ever-present possibility of a counter-attack, an epeeist will more often try to neutralise this as part of the attack. He may simply beat the opponent's blade out of the way as he starts an attack. Or "take the blade": performing an action that meets the opponent's blade and holds it out of the way using his own blade and guard as he comes in. Of course, the fencer being attacked can always avoid the beat, or change the distance and counter with his own beat or taking of the blade, or run away… The possibilities are as near endless as makes no difference.
Quaint fact number two - the epee requires a slightly harder hit to register (750 grams pressure) and the point must be depressed a certain distance. This is because if the opponent was attacking you, you wanted a substantial hit to stop him. The blade is triangular in cross section, with the bottom two edges concave and with a groove on the top. The groove lets air in and blood out, and the concave sides allow the blade to be removed from the opponent more easily when the muscles contract around it. |
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