OLYMPIC SABER

The saber is a light cutting and thrusting weapon that targets the entire body above the waist, including the head and both the hands.

The maximum legal weight of a saber is 500 grams. The hand guard on the saber wraps around the back of the fencer’s hand and is generally turned outwards during sport to protect the sword arm from touches. Hits with the entire blade or point are valid. As in foil, touches that land outside the target area are not scored.

However, unlike foil, these off-target touches do not stop the action, and the fencing continues. In the case of both fencers landing a scoring touch, the referee determines which fencer receives the point for the action, again through the use of "right of way".