The Modern Olympic sport of fencing demands those same talents of speed and skill allied with fitness and stamina to produce the complete fencer.
Learning the skills of attacking and defending with either foil, epee or sabre, fencers develop good coordination, balance and flexibility.
Fencing is one of the few personal combat sports that can be successfully practised from a wheelchair. The rules are exactly the same as in the able-bodied sport with a few minor additions to cover the complications of fighting from a chair.
The wheelchair fencer is clamped down at the appropriate distance and angle from the opponent which means that neither can get out of range during the bout. This makes for exciting, intense and tough competition demanding high levels of concentration with the slightest error resulting in defeat.
Classifications
Athletes who use wheelchairs are eligible to compete in Wheelchair Fencing. There are three divisions of competition, with divisions based upon an athlete’s functionality.
Click here for a more detailed explanation of Wheelchair Fencing classification.
Fencing Documents
For Rules go to http://www.iwasf.com/iwasf/index.cfm/sports/iwas-wheelchair-fencing/rules/
For more information on Fencing please contact:
International Wheelchair & Amputee Sports Federation (IWAS) http://www.iwasf.com
Australian Paralympic Committee www.paralympic.org.au