En Garde, Mustang! Join the Fencing Club
Discover the art of dynamic swordsmanship. Develop lightning-fast reflexes, analytical strategy, and peak athletic endurance in a supportive high school environment.
Practice Schedule
Thursdays & Fridays • 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Directly after school in The Band Room
Why Fence?
Fencing is often called "physical chess." It combines physical athleticism with tactical intelligence.
Peak Athleticism
Build explosive leg power, lightning-quick reflexes, core stability, and high aerobic stamina. Fencing uses full-body coordination unlike any other sport.
Tactical Mindset
Analyze your opponent’s patterns, bait reactions, and formulate counter-attacks in fractions of a second. It is a highly analytical and psychological duel.
College & Community
Fencing clubs provide robust team bonds and opens opportunities for collegiate fencing. Participate in regional tournaments and join a life-long sport community.
Welcome to the Team
The Mounds View High School Fencing Club welcomes fencers of all skill levels, from absolute beginners who have never held a blade to experienced competitive fencers. Our club competes in the Minnesota High School Fencing League against other schools in the metro area.
We provide all necessary protective gear (mask, jacket, glove, underarm protector) and weapons for club members. You only need to bring a pair of clean athletic shoes, long athletic pants (no shorts allowed for safety), and a willingness to learn!
The Band Room
Mounds View High School
Practices begin promptly at 3:30 PM. Please arrive 10 minutes early to gear up and stretch.
The Rules of Fencing
Fencing is a sport governed by clear rules of safety, weapons technology, and tactical priority.
Foil
LIGHTWEIGHT THRUSTING BLADE
The foil is a light thrusting weapon. Points are scored only by hitting the target with the tip of the blade. It features a small guard and a flexible rectangular blade.
Épée
DUELING BLADE (WHOLE BODY)
Derived from historical dueling swords, the épée is heavier and has a larger bell guard to protect the hand. Hits are scored with the point, and the entire body is valid target.
Saber
THRUST AND CUT BLADE
Based on cavalry swords, the saber is a cutting and thrusting weapon. Points are scored using both the point and the edge of the blade. Fast-paced with a knuckle guard.
What is Right of Way?
Right of Way (ROW) is a set of rules used in Foil and Saber fencing to determine who gets a point when both fencers land hits at the same time. ROW is designed to prevent "suicidal" double-attacks and encourage realistic combat tactics (parrying and defending first).
Essentially: The fencer who initiates the attack has priority. To score, the defending fencer must first defend themselves (by parrying the blade or forcing the attack to fall short) before they can counter-attack (riposte).
1. Initiating the Attack
An attack begins when a fencer straightens their arm and threatens the target area while continuously moving forward. Having a straight arm and forward momentum establishes "Right of Way."
2. Parrying the Blade
If you are attacked, you can take away the opponent’s Right of Way by deflecting their blade with a block (a parry). This gives you the right to make a counter-attack (a riposte).
3. Point Outcomes
- Only one fencer hits: The point goes to that fencer, regardless of who had Right of Way.
- Both fencer hit, one has ROW: The fencer with Right of Way gets the point.
- Double hits in Épée: Since Épée does not use Right of Way, both fencers get a point (a "double touch").
The Fencing Strip (The Piste)
Dimensions: 14 meters long by 1.5 to 2.0 meters wide
Boundary Rules
Fencers must stay within the boundaries of the piste. Stepping off the side of the strip stops the bout, and the fencer is retreated 1 meter. Stepping off the rear (end) limit with both feet results in a penalty touch awarded to the opponent.
Bout Structure
In local school meets, fencers compete in individual bouts. In pool rounds, bouts last until one fencer reaches 5 touches (hits) or 3 minutes expire. In direct elimination (DE) brackets, bouts go to 15 touches (with three 3-minute periods separated by 1-minute breaks).
Upcoming Minnesota Tournaments
Stay updated with the most recent local tournaments scheduled in the Minnesota area, retrieved live from AskFRED.