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It’s mainly the women, but a few men do it too. Sometimes it’s an adrenaline thing, sometimes it’s an “in your face” thing, and for some it’s just habit. The all time top screamer is Becca Ward, who just graduated from Duke a couple months ago. A senior world champion at age 15 or so, an Olympic medalist before her freshman year of college, and an absolutely delightful young woman, Becca is great. But she sure does scream.
I agree with ihs’s fist pump analogy.
ihs is correct on this one too, but here’s a quick overview-</p>
<p>All weapons: When the fencer on the left makes a valid hit a red light goes on, green light if fencer on right lands a valid hit. “Off target” hits register white lights.</p>
<p>Epee: The easiest to follow. If one colored light goes on, that fencer gets a point. If both red and green lights go on both fencers get a point.</p>
<p>Foil and sabre: These weapons employ “right of way”, the rules of which are VERY difficult to understand or explain. If there is only one colored light and no white light, the fencer who lit the light gets a point. Beyond that it gets complicated pretty fast, with attacks vs. counterattacks (either of which can score depending on the circumstances), parries, counterparries, ripostes, remises, and more.</p>
<p>One of the best things about fencing is how accessible it is once you get involved. I don’t know if there are any other sports where a someone could walk in to the venue at a national tournament without paying an admission fee, ask around and within a few minutes be introduced to a number of national champions and/or Olympians.</p>
<p>If you asked a US Olympian fencer for their autograph they’d happily give it to you once they realized you weren’t joking.</p>