There are three forms of competitive fencing in practice. Variations make each of them a distinct game. All three approach the activity as a sport , with varying degrees of connectedness to its historic past.

Olympic fencing (or just "fencing") refers to the fencing seen in most competitions (including the Olympic Games ). It is marked by the use of electronic scoring equipment, and conducted according to rules laid down by the Fédération Internationale d'Escrime (FIE), the sports federation governing most international fencing competitions. The current rules are very loosely based on a set of conventions developed in 18th- and 19th-century Europe to govern fencing as a martial art and a gentlemanly pursuit. The weapons used are the electric foil, electric épée, and electric sabre.

This article is predominantly about Olympic fencing.

Wheelchair fencing

Wheelchair fencing , an original paralympic sport, was developed in post-World War II England. Minor modifications to the FIE rules allow disabled fencers to fence all three weapons. The most apparent change is that each fencer sits in a wheelchair fastened to a frame. Footwork is replaced by torso or arm movement, depending on the fencer's disability. The proximity of the two fencers tends to increase the pace of bouts, which require considerable skill. The weapons are identical to those used in Olympic fencing.

American Fencing League fencing

American Fencing League (AFL) fencing is conducted in the United States according to rules of the American Fencing League , which are based on the 1940 rules of the old Amateur Fencers League of America . AFL fencing is not as purely athletic a game as Olympic fencing, as it has longer "phrases," longer time limits, 1-touch épée rules, a different approach to the principle of "right of way," and a revival of 3-weapon bouts. It uses the standard (non-electric) foil, standard épée, and standard sabre. Confusingly, it is sometimes referred to as classical fencing (see below). The United States Fencing Association (USFA) has taken the place of the AFL as the governing organization of fencing in the U.S.

Classical fencing is differentiated from competitive fencing as being theoretically closer to swordplay as a martial art. Those who call themselves classical fencers may advocate the use of what they see as more authentic practices, including little or no emphasis on sport competition. There is strong interest within the classical fencing community in reviving the European fencing practices of the 19th and early 20th century , when fencers were expected to be able to fight a duel using their training. Weapons used are the standard (meaning "not electric", a usage from when electrical scoring was less common) foil, standard epee (often equipped with pointes d'arret ), and the blunted duelling sabre.

AFL fencing is often referred to as classical fencing, but this is a misnomer .

Historical fencing is a type of historical martial arts reconstruction based on surviving texts and traditions, with a particular emphasis on pre- 19th century fencing practices. Predictably, historical fencers study an extremely wide array of weapons from different regions and periods. They may work with bucklers , daggers , polearms , bludgeoning weapons, etc. One main preoccupation of historical fencers is with weapons of realistic weight, which demand a different way of manipulating them from what is the norm in modern Fencing. For example, light weapons can be manipulated through the use of the fingers, but more realistically-weighted weapons must be controlled more through the wrist and elbow. This difference is great and can lead to drastic changes even in the carriage of the body and footwork in combat.

There is considerable overlap between classical and historical fencing —- especially with regard to 19th-century fencing practices.