Fencing is a fast paced sport that simulates sword duels. Bouts are between two fencers and they are restricted to a strip that is two meters wide and fourteen meters long, all movement is forward or back. The target area for valid hits depends on the specific weapon used.
The foil is a point weapon. It has a button at the tip that registers the hit. The hit location in foil is the torso including the groin but not including the arms. Both fencers wear a lamé, a jacket that covers the hit location and is coated in wires. When the button on a foil is pressed down while touching the lamé of the other fencer it triggers the electric scoring machine to score the hit. Videos
Épée is also a point weapon. It also has a button on the tip to register hits. The hit location in épée is the whole body. Fencers do not need to wear a lamé. The guard on an Épée is larger to help protect the hand. Videos
Sabre is an edge weapon. points can be scored with the entire blade. The hit location for saber is the waist and up. Sabre fencers wear a lamé covering the hit location, that connects to a mask that is covered in wire as well. The hits are scored when the blade touches the lamé or mask. Videos