Do Fencers Require a Weapon-Specific Approach to Strength and Conditioning Training?

Abstract

There are 3 types of weapons used in Olympic fencing: the épée, foil, and sabre. The aim of this study was to determine if fencers exhibited different physical characteristics across weapons. Seventy-nine male (n = 46) and female (n = 33) national standard fencers took part in this study. Fencers from each weapon (male and female), i.e., épée (n = 19 and 10), foil (n = 22 and 14), and sabre (n = 13 and 10), were (mean ± SD) 15.9 ± 0.7 years of age, 178.5 ± 7.9 cm tall, 67.4 ± 12.2 kg in mass and had 6.3 ± 2.3 years fencing experience; all were in regular training (∼4 times per week). Results revealed that across all performance tests (lower-body power, reactive strength index, change of direction speed, and repeat lunge ability), there was no significant main effect for weapon in male fencers (p = 0.63) or female fencers (p = 0.232), but a significant main affect for gender (p < 0.001). Pairwise comparisons revealed that male fencers scored better during the countermovement jump, change of direction speed, and repeat lunge ability test (p < 0.001). The former findings may be because of similarities in bout intensity and time, movement types (lunging and changing direction), and the need to execute competition actions as explosively as possible. Based on the findings of the present study, it could be indicated that épée, foil, and sabre fencers do not require a weapon-specific approach to strength and conditioning training. Each fencer should target the area they are weakest at, rather than an area that they feel best represents the unique demands of their weapon.

Validity and Reliability of a Light-Based Electronic Target for Testing Response Time in Fencers

“…However, these differences are either too small or not appropriately tested by the electronic device used herein, given no differences between scores were noted. This is not a surprising finding as no differences between swords have previously been reported when measuring the physical capacity of fencers (33). This is generally attributed to the high similarity each sword has from a fitness training perspective and supports the notion that fencers do not need to have a weaponspecific approach to sport science (33).…”

“…Attention is a process related to, and basic condition for, perception to occur. Whereas attention occurs first, perception interferes with it Furthermore, across a range of physical capacity tests (including the execution of fencing specific motor skills), male fencers have scored better than females (33), generally considered on account of increased strength, power, and reduced fat mass. Both these factors can collectively explain the better scores obtained by males.…”

Validity and Reliability of a New Test of Change of Direction in Fencing Athletes

“…In sabre, fencer athletes perform, on average, 21 lunges, 7 changes of direction, and 14 attacks per bout [2]. In view of the large number of COD occurring, fencing could be described as combat sport in which an athlete's agility level is a strong determinant of success [1,5,6]. High and low technical ability levels of female athletes was compared, where Roi and Pittaluga [7] claimed a significantly large number of COD in the group's high ability (133 ± 62 vs. 85 ± 25, respectively).…”

“…Furthermore, considering that previous investigations reported an average work time of~15 s (much of which is submaximal), 5 s [4], and 2.5 s [2] (for fencer athletes of epee, foil, and sabre, respectively), a shorter COD test seems to be required. Turner, Bishop, Cree, Edwards, Chavda, Read, and Kirby [6] attempted to overcome the aforementioned limitations and proposed a test including COD over shorter distances (4/2/2/4-m shuttle) in conjunction with a shorter whole distance (i.e., 12 m). However, the aforementioned test did not highly respond to the nature of competitions, where most actions ended up with high-intensity forward attacks [9].…”

Why fencers should bounce: A new method of movement to engage the stretch-shortening cycle

“…With respect to movement economy, while a single bout may not tax metabolic demand too much, as the competition progress, this ''squandering'' of energy may come at a price. 27 As much as possible, the ''on-guard'' position should ensure fencers are equally ready to attack or retreat with the Achilles tendons in both legs preloaded with EE. Similarly, fencers traveling at speed up and down the piste can better undertake this feat by limiting heel contact, maximizing ball of foot contacts and thus Achilles tendon stretch.…”