Q 01/05

What are the three weapons of modern competitive fencing?

A) Rapier, dagger and cutlass

B) Longsword, broadsword and katana

C) Foil, épée and sabre

D) Foil, rapier and scimitar

Answer · why

C) Foil, épée and sabre

A fourth discipline appeared once at the 1904 Olympics and was never seen again.

Q 02/05

Which fencing weapon allows hits anywhere on the body?

A) Foil

B) Sabre

C) Singlestick

D) Épée

Answer · why

D) Épée

Because there is no off-target, épée also has no right-of-way rule and both fencers can score on a simultaneous hit.

Q 03/05

In foil, which part of the body is the valid target?

A) The whole body

B) The torso only

C) Everything above the waist

D) The head and arms

Answer · why

B) The torso only

Arms and legs are off-target; hitting them stops the action but scores nothing.

Q 04/05

Which weapon scores with the edge of the blade as well as the point?

A) Foil

B) Sabre

C) Épée

D) All three equally

Answer · why

B) Sabre

It is the only cutting weapon of the three, aimed at everything above a line drawn round the top of the hips.

Q 05/05

What is the maximum weight of a foil?

A) 300 grams

B) 350 grams

C) 500 grams

D) 400 grams

Answer · why

C) 500 grams

The sabre shares the same limit, while the heavier épée may weigh up to 775 grams.