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Fencing Basics Trivia Quiz

All questions in this quiz have to do with the sport of fencing, as is found at competitions such as the Olympics.

A multiple-choice quiz by catskyfire. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
catskyfire

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
225,300

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Easy

Avg Score
9 / 10

Plays
710

Last 3 plays: Guest 5 (0/10), Guest 86 (2/10), Guest 104 (8/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. How many different types of weapons (or swords) are used in the sport of fencing? Hint

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Question 2 of 10

2. Which weapon is an 'edged weapon', meaning to successfully hit, you must hit with the edge and not the tip of the weapon? Hint

Sabre

Epee

Foil

Consuir

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Question 3 of 10

3. If the whole body is an acceptable target, what weapon would you be using? Hint

Sabre

None. The only acceptable target in fencing is a circle in the middle of the chest

Foil

Epee

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Question 4 of 10

4. Wearing a mask is optional.

True

False

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Question 5 of 10

5. What is 'En Garde'? Hint

What you shout before waving your blade above your head

An insult to your opponent

Something you say to signal you are going to step away from the match

The starting posture and position that signals you are ready to begin

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Question 6 of 10

6. What does it mean if you're given a Black Card at a tournament? Hint

Your weapon broke and you don't have a spare

You have committed an offense so grievous, you're being told to leave the tournament

You lost and are done with all your matches

Your shoelace is untied

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Question 7 of 10

7. You always hold the weapon in your right hand.

True

False

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Question 8 of 10

8. What is a "lame"? Hint

A fencer who has lost bouts, and is effectively out of the tournament

A director without credentials

A coach with no authority

The special second jacket used in foil and sabre fencing, to register touches by machine

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Question 9 of 10

9. While fencing, can combatants move around freely within their half of the mat/strip?

Yes

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Question 10 of 10

10. Fencers wear metal armor all over their body.

True

False

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Nov 19 2024 : Guest 5: 0/10
Nov 03 2024 : Guest 86: 2/10
Oct 26 2024 : Guest 104: 8/10
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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. How many different types of weapons (or swords) are used in the sport of fencing?

Answer: 3

All three weapons; foil, sabre, and epee, come from the days of dueling. Now we duel for points, not blood.

2. Which weapon is an 'edged weapon', meaning to successfully hit, you must hit with the edge and not the tip of the weapon?

Answer: Sabre

The sabre is based on the weapon of the cavalry, where the only attack that could really be made was a slash, since it's hard to hit with the point from atop a horse.

3. If the whole body is an acceptable target, what weapon would you be using?

Answer: Epee

Epee is based on 'first blood' dueling. You didn't have to kill someone to be the victor, just make them bleed. It didn't matter if it was their chest, their arm, or anywhere, you won.

4. Wearing a mask is optional.

Answer: False

The first rule of most fencing clubs is 'always wear a mask'. All properly sanctioned tournaments require masks. We're playing with pointy objects here, and nobody wants to lose an eye.

5. What is 'En Garde'?

Answer: The starting posture and position that signals you are ready to begin

French for 'On Guard', it is the basic posture of a fencer. The director will say En Garde, or 'Fencers Ready', as a signal that the bout is about to begin/continue.

6. What does it mean if you're given a Black Card at a tournament?

Answer: You have committed an offense so grievous, you're being told to leave the tournament

A Black Card is not given lightly. It can be given for insulting your opponent or director in an extreme manner (swearing), throwing equipment, being deliberately disruptive or destructive, and more. Fencing is about honor and sportsmanship, and violations are taken seriously.

The shoelace will cause a stop in a bout, but no penalties unless you are deliberately tying it so badly as to have to retie it every other minute. Having no spare weapon would be a yellow card, but generally someone nearby would lend you a blade. And losing and being done with your matches is unfortunate, but you aren't kicked out of the building.

7. You always hold the weapon in your right hand.

Answer: False

The weapon can be held in whichever hand you choose. Most fencers choose their dominant hand for that reason. Left-handed fencers are rare, but often much more of a challenge.

8. What is a "lame"?

Answer: The special second jacket used in foil and sabre fencing, to register touches by machine

A lame, pronounced lam-ay, is used to register touches with electronic equipment. Unlike Epee, where the whole body is a target, sabre and foil have limited target areas, and the lame allows only hits to those areas to register.

9. While fencing, can combatants move around freely within their half of the mat/strip?

Answer: Yes

Fencing is done on a strip, 2 meters wide and 14m long. Going off of the strip, either to the side or by going too far back, is a penalty.

10. Fencers wear metal armor all over their body.

Answer: False

The primary protection for fencers are special jackets, masks, and gloves, designed to resist puncture. Only a mask has metal in it. The metal in a lame isn't protective, but just useful for registering touches. Some fencers do wear some 'armor' in the form of chest or breast protectors, but those are plastic.

Source: Author catskyfire

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Nightmare before going online.
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