Foil, epee, and sabre, are the three weapons used in fencing. While it is not unusual for fencers to compete in all three events, they generally choose to develop their skills in one or two weapons.
Until recently, women were permitted to compete only in foil, but now the USFA & FIE offer national competitions for women in épée and sabre. Women's épée was added to the World
Championships in 1989 and was held for the first time at the Olympic games in 1996. Foil and epee are point thrusting weapons. Sabre is a point thrusting as well as a cutting weapon. The target areas differ for the three weapons, though all three are scored electrically because it is too fast for the director to tell whose touch it is.
