Guides

What the sport is, how a bout works, and what to expect the first time you walk into a club or a tournament.

How fencing is fenced · Glossary of Fencing Terms · What to Expect from Your First Fencing Tournament · and 6 more

Blade actions, footwork, and the tactical frameworks coaches teach — first and second intention, zone theory, and drills to train them.

The Tactical Wheel: First Intention Attacks · Zone Theory - Physical Zones on the Fencing Piste · Compound Footwork: The Next Step · and 21 more

Sport psychology for fencers — confidence, concentration, nerves, self-talk, and the mental habits that decide close bouts.

What is Sport Psychology? · Bouting with Anxiety · Top Ten Biggest Mental Errors · and 19 more

Conditioning built around the demands of fencing, plus nutrition, hydration, and the overuse injuries fencers actually get.

Weight Training for the Competitive Fencer · Periodization of your conditioning plan · Dealing with Sprains and Strains · and 9 more

Choosing and looking after your kit — what to buy first, what the safety ratings mean, and how to keep masks, lames and uniforms alive.

Beginner Fencing Equipment Buyers Guide · A Comprehensive Guide to Fencing Masks · How to Clean a Fencing Mask · and 4 more

The armory bench — wiring blades, chasing electrical faults, and building your own gear when the shop version costs too much.

Wiring Blades: A DIY Guide · Foil Troubleshooting · A Guide to Body Cord Plugs and Sockets · and 8 more

How a competition actually runs — seeding and direct elimination, team relay, and getting yourself ready for the season.

The Importance of Seeding, or Why Can’t I Win Any DE Bouts? · The Fencing Coach's Guide to Team Relay Fencing (Part 1) · Failing to Prepare is Preparing to Fail · and 1 more

What the rulebook actually says — right of way, covering target, weapon dimensions, and what referees and fencers owe each other.

When does the attack end in foil? · Duck and Cover - Covering Target with the Mask · Fencing Ref: Being a Referee · and 2 more