If you have carried out all of the steps above and have been accepted on to our Club Discount scheme then you will be eligible for discount on the HEMA gearhere. German fencing masters organised the first guilds, the most notable being the Marxbrueder of Frankfurt in 1478.

The foil has a maximum weight of 500 grams and is a thrusting weapon. Only the tip of the blade counts with the target area the torso which is covered by the lamé. The sport also grew in popularity in France, with Camille Prevost assembling the first basic conventions, although London hosted the first formal fencing competition at the inaugural Grand Military Tournament and Assault at Arms in 1880.

FENCING BAGS

The sport's popularity increased in the 17th and 18th centuries due to the invention of a weapon with a flattened tip known as the foil, a set of rules governing the target area, and a wire-mesh mask. Most of this is with safety in mind, an area which required urgent attention after the death of Moscow 1980 foil gold medallist Vladimir Smirnov at the 1982 World Championships when Matthias Behr's broken blade pierced the Russian's brain through his mask. If you are a member of a recognised HEMA group or organisation then you may be entitled to a discounted club price. Just follow the steps below and you’ll be getting a discounted rate before long.

Kevlar combined with tough cotton or nylon is used for most of the rest of the equipment although this is only required to withstand 800 Newtons. If you are a member of one of the large umbrella groups such as HEMAC or the BHFS then your club would be deemed as “recognised”. Fencing was originally a form of military training and started to evolve into a sport in the 14th or 15th century in both Germany and Italy. A hit with the point of the blade landing away from the target area with the right of way results in the end of the phrase with no score, even if the opponent lands on target afterwards. All masks must pass a 12kg "punch test" with FIE-approved versions, obligatory for World Championships and Olympic Games, made of stainless steel and non-FIE masks usually made of carbon steel mesh.

Can I wear short socks for fencing?

Angelo's book 'L'Ecole des armes' ('The School of Fencing') laid down the fundamentals of posture and footwork which live on to this day. We will send our terms and conditions to your group leader. Once all required actions have been carried out, your group will be authorised for club discounts

The épée is also a thrusting weapon but has a maximum weight of 775 grams. Again, only the tip of the blade counts but the target area is the entire body so there is no lamé.It has the smallest target area with just the torso counting, and points are awarded via the 'right of way' system. One of the trailblazers of fencing as a sport was Italian Domenico Angelo who taught aristocratic Britons the art of swordsmanship at his academy in Soho, London in the second half of the 18th century. There are three fencing blades used in Olympic fencing - the foil, épée and sabre - each of which have different compositions, techniques and scoring target areas. With hits incredibly difficult to judge via the naked eye, electrical scoring apparatus was introduced in 1933 first to the épée with the foil following suit in 1956 and the sabre eventually in 1988. All three disciplines take place on a piste which is 14m long and 1.5m-2m wide. Retreating off the end of the piste results in a point to the opponent.