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There are drawings of men fighting with sticks in caves all over Africa so it can be argued that fencing has been around since humans first stood up. However, the sword and shield fighting can be traced back from the Bronze Age. Because of its use in battle, swordplay was widely learned for hundreds of years, but didn’t actually become a sport until the 14th and 15th centuries. The location and date of the actual change is debated – with both Germany and Italy laying claims – but it is known that German fencers organised the first guild.

The modern sport is derived from the time when gunpowder was invented and the sword became redundant as a weapon. However, the sword was still used to settle matters of honour in duels. The foil was developed from the training weapon, the sabre from the cavalry sword, and the epee from the traditional duelling sword. With the addition of the wire-mesh mask, the safety of participants was ensured enough to solidify the sport.Fencing was a part of the original programme of the modern Olympic Games in 1896 and has remained a part since then, tough women’s fencing wouldn’t be added until 1924. Today, fencing has extended to the Paralympics as well, were it is competed from wheelchairs.

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A fencer competes before the king of Greece at the 1896 Olympics
Wikimedia Commons