Men's Fencing | 4/16/2018 10:30:00 AM

Atlanta, Ga. - SCAD Atlanta Athletics has announced the addition of its newest sport - Fencing! Fencing has a long history as a competitive sport, and is one of only five activities that has featured in every modern Olympic Games since 1896. It's history in schools and universities is even longer, and can be traced back 500 years or more. The international reach of the sport is immense, with national federations from 153 different countries coming together to form the Fédération Internationale d'Escrime, the governing body.

Competitive fencing is split into three disciplines, marking the three different types of swords in use. Foil uses a light thrusting blade, with the torso being the only valid target on the opponent's body. Hits must be made with only the tip of the weapon, and touches to the arms, legs and head do not score. Épée uses a heavier thrusting blade, and allows scoring hits to all parts of the body. Like Foil, Épée only uses the tip of the sword for scoring touches. Sabre allows scoring touches above the waist only, but the sword is designed for thrusting and slashing. This means all parts of the blade can be used for a scoring touch.

Fencing will join five other sports at the SCAD Atlanta campus, with tennis, golf, cross country, bowling and cycling already in full swing. "Fencing is such an international sport. We have a rich diversity of student-athletes here in Atlanta, and this new sport will only add to that," Athletic Director Glen Hill had to say. Fencing will commence in Fall 2018.