What Is Fencing
Fencing is the Olympic sport of sword fighting which is directly descended from the duel. Two competitors face off in a "bout*", and compete to score points on each other with their weapons. To beat an opponent, a fencer must use blade work, footwork, tactics and strategy. Fencing bouts are characterized by flurries of speed, highly aerobic movement, and lightning-fast blade movements.

History
A relief carving in Upper Egypt depicting adversaries with covered swordpoints and padded masks under the observation of spectators and judges, suggests that Fencing dates back to as early as 1190 B.C. During the Bronze Age, Medieval swords used instead were heavy and club like, suitable for denting body armor resulting in broken limbs or internal injuries but not sufficient to kill. Later on, with the advent of gunpowder, body armor was rendered superfluous by the penetrating power of the bullet. Armor became lighter to enhance mobility, and then became ceremonial, eventually disappearing from warfare altogether.
No longer required to club through shields and armor, swords grew light and fast. Speed, dexterity and trickery were required to kill an opponent. Moves and methods which translated to a high survival value were codified into styles. Fencing soon became widespread and the subject of scientific theory. Fencing schools soon sprang up all over Europe, and fencing duels often settled matters of personal honor.
The original fencing weapons were the Épeé and the Sabre. During the 17th century, several major changes occurred in fencing. The Foil was developed in France as a lighter, training weapon for dueling, a safer version of the Épeé. It is thus the predominant introductory weapon in modern times, for it instills good habits common to all weapons. In addition, “Right-of-way*”, a set of rules which made Fencing a series of alternating attacks and defense, became generally accepted. With this rule in place, duelists were unlikely to impale each other, as they did not both attack at the same time. This made fencing safer and reduced the number of casualties to dueling.
In the early 1900's, electrical scoring was introduced, and fencing moved into the realm of sport. Button-tips and electric scoring vests made new priorities: you no longer had to live through a one-hit bout; you had to score multiple hits against an opponent. The successful Olympic styles of today are recognizable amalgams of Hungarian, French, German and Italian technique.
Fencing has been a part of the Olympics since the first modern games in 1896, though women did not compete until 1924 and still compete in foil and épeé only.

*Bout — An encounter between two fencers. In tournaments and practice, usually lasting 5 touches or 5 minutes. In tournament finals, it lasts 15 touches and 9 minutes.
*Right of Way — The governing rule-set of Foil and Sabre (not Épeé). Right of Way describes the notion that, if you are being attacked, you must stop the attack before launching your own. Also known as "Priority."