<p>Hoping our resident experts in Fencing 
can shed some light on the matches I am watching – have enjoyed the Olympics very much.</p>
<p>For example,
Why does each woman scream after each point?
Why does each competitor shake their fist at the Umpire?</p>
<p>At times it seems that no point is awarded…how is it scored?</p>
<p>Thanks;)</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Because she wants to? </p>
<p>
Because that’s the fencers idea of a fist pump?</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Depends on the weapon being fenced, the nationality of the fencers and the referee, the ages of each person involved, the phase of the moon, and about 20 other variables. Seriously, I still haven’t figured it out after watching for several years, other than that the green and/or the red light going on is a necessary but not sufficient condition for a point being awarded.</p>
<p>
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>
<p>Thanks.
We have enjoyed watching though the screaming thing is pretty annoying…my k2 thinks they sound like pterodactyl (animation/movies 
)
We did notice the same “screaming” from the gold medal round of ping pong…oops I mean table tennis…</p>
<p>The agility/swiftness of the fencers makes it hard as novice spectators to see the parries, counterparries, ripostes, remises…<br>
Enjoying the access to this level of competition.</p>
<p>One other wrinkle about sabre scoring: Very often in this weapon (much more than in foil) you’ll see both colored lights come on and the ref throw out the point. In his or her judgement, a “simultaneous” attack happened, which means that neither fencer wins the touch. However, if one starts their attack before the other, that fencer will win the point in a double-light situation. </p>
<p>Usually happens several times in a sabre bout. Can be confusing for spectators new to the sport wondering why the score doesn’t move.</p>
<p>Ahhh got it.
That was probably what was happening when we watched some of the fencing.</p>
<p>Is one weapon more difficult than another? If so–os it due to rules? or the physical nature of the weapon?</p>
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<p>Depends on who you ask. :-)</p>
<p>The real answer is that they are all <em>different</em> from one another, but not necessarily more or less difficult. And while each weapon is different in size, shape, weight, wiring, etc. the major differences in the character of the events are largely due to the rules. Sabre is the most aggressive; you may have noticed that the fencers almost seem to charge each other immediately upon the command to start. Epee may seem very slow or passive with not much action taking place, but the fencers are maneuvering to control the distance and trying to gain an advantage. Full-body target and double lights makes epee very risk-averse (relative to the other weapons) as it’s easy to get punished with a hit against you.</p>
<p>While there are exceptions, of course, personalities and weapons match up fairly well…</p>
<p>I was a fencer in 80s at a big university went to NCAA tournament twice. The sreaming is, I believe, a european thing that americans have morphed into an in your face type of celebration like other athletes do after a dunk or a sack in football. </p>
<p>It is silly however I must admit I was a screamer myself</p>