JAMMU AND KASHMIR FENCING ASSOCIATION (JKFA)
Registered Under Societies Registration Act 1860
Registration No. 610-CSA of 2023 dated 29.12.2023
Introduction to the Fencing Sport: Origin and Development
Fencing began as a form of combat and is known to have been practiced well before the birth of Christ. Relief carvings in the temple of Madinet-Habu near Luxor, Egypt, dating from approximately 1190 BC depict fencers competing. Many other ancient civilizations, including China, Japan, Persia, Babylonia, and Greece, practiced swordplay as training for combat.
As a sport, fencing began in either the 14th or 15th century, with both Italy and Germany laying claim to its origins. Three innovations in the 17th century led to the popularity of fencing as a sport:
Development of a light practice weapon with a flattened or "foiled" tip, soon called the foil.
Development of a set of rules limiting the target to certain areas of the body.
Introduction of the quadrille wire-mesh mask, which protected the face and made fencing a safe activity.
Fencing has been part of the Olympics since 1896. The first modern Olympic games featured foil and sabre fencing for men only. Épée was introduced in 1900. Single stick was featured in the 1904 games. Épée was electrified in the 1936 games, foil in 1956, and sabre in 1988. Women's foil was first contested in the 1924 Olympic games, women's épée in 1996, and women's sabre in 1998 as a demonstration sport.
Fencing can be described as the skilled use of the sword for offense or defense, and is known as "the chess with muscles." Modern fencing employs a combination of traditional and modern customs, with combatants saluting before a match and wearing traditional white uniforms and masks, while scoring is determined by electronic padding worn by the combatants.
In recent decades, fencing has undergone numerous revisions to its rules and structure to improve its value as a spectator sport. Today’s fencing is a modern combative sport, both physically and tactically challenging, requiring swiftness and a high degree of fitness.
Today's Fencing Competitions:
Competitors fight with weapons called the Épée, Foil, and Sabre on a six-feet by forty feet aluminum piste.
Points are made through contact with an opponent, recorded electronically.
The target area differs for each weapon.
The objective is to score five points (in preliminary pool play) or 15 points (in direct elimination play) before the opponent does.
Preliminary pool matches are three minutes long, and direct elimination matches consist of three three-minute periods.
There are both individual and team competitions, with a team comprising four fencers.
International Body: Federation Internationale d'Escrime (FIE)
On November 29, 1913, national fencing representatives from various countries met in Paris and decided to form the Federation Internationale d'Escrime (FIE), the governing body of the sport. The first F.I.E. rule book was published in 1918. Today, over 80 countries are affiliated with the Federation, which strives to make fencing more visual and dynamic through transparent masks, wireless scoring devices, and electronic scoring boards.
National Body: The FENCING ASSOCIATION OF INDIA (FAI)
The sport of fencing was introduced in India in the 1970s, and the FENCING ASSOCIATION OF INDIA (FAI) was formed in 1974. As the National Sports Federation, affiliated with the International Fencing Federation and Fencing Confederation of Asia and recognized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, FAI governs and develops fencing in India. Currently, FAI has 25 State/UT Associations and 1 Institution as affiliated member units.
Fencing in Jammu and Kashmir:
Fencing started in Jammu and Kashmir in 1992, with the first team participating in the 1994 Senior National Championship held at Patiala, Punjab. Fencing has since become a top sport in J&K, bringing over 400 medals to the state in the last three decades. Various international and national-level players have not only made the state proud but have also represented the nation at prestigious international competitions.
The existing Association has expanded fencing to all possible districts of J&K, including the Kashmir Province. Today, approximately 3000 active fencers are involved in fencing in J&K under the guidance of FAI.