Epée du Combat

Epée is intended to represent, in the safest possible manner, an actual duel.

The weapon is heavier than a foil, more nearly approximating the weight of a rapier or smallsword. The guard is larger to afford protection to the hand and forearm as in Epée, these form part of the target. In fact in Epée, the whole body is the target from the top of the head to the tip of the toes and from fingertip to fingertip. This mirrors a duel inasmuch as most duels were fought to first blood and so a hit to the hand or the leg would draw blood, honour would be satisfied and more likely than not, the two previously deadly enemies would go of to get roaringly drunk together (nothing changes very much!).

In Epée there is no rule of right of way. Again mirroring a duel, if both duellists attack at the same time, then both are hit. By the original Epée rules, if this situation occurred then a hit would be recorded against each fencer, and as each bout was fenced for only one hit ('first blood') it was possible for both fencers to be defeated!

Although primarily a foil club, several of our members have competition experience in Epée and lessons can be arranged