Fencing Etiquette: The Code of the Piste

Fencing etiquette is the code of the piste: salute your opponent and the referee before and after every bout, stop immediately when the referee calls “Halte”, accept the referee’s decision, acknowledge hits against you, and shake hands afterwards, win or lose. It is a mix of written rules and long-standing habit, and it is a big part of what sets fencing apart from other combat sports.

Why do fencers salute?

Before a single hit is scored, both fencers face each other and salute with their weapon, an acknowledgement that says “I respect you as an opponent and I will fight with honour.” The salute is then repeated to the referee and, in a competition setting, to the spectators. It happens again at the end of the bout, win or lose.

This small ritual matters because it frames the entire exchange. Fencing is fast, physical, and can look aggressive from the outside, but it is bookended by formal respect. Students learn the salute in their first lessons.

Do fencers shake hands after a bout?

After the final salute, fencers remove their masks and shake hands, or in modern practice, touch gloves or fists. The handshake or glove-touch is expected after every bout, whatever the score, 15 to 2 or 15 to 14. It says the contest is over and mutual respect remains.

For a young student, learning to shake hands graciously after a loss, or humbly after a win, is often a bigger life lesson than any footwork drill. It teaches that competition can be intense without becoming personal.

How should a fencer treat the referee?

Fencing referees make fast, sometimes contentious calls, especially in sabre and foil where right of way decisions can be subtle. The code of conduct expects fencers to accept the referee’s decision without argument, even when they disagree. A raised hand and a calm question is acceptable. Shouting, arguing, or throwing equipment is not.

This is one reason parents may appreciate fencing as an activity for their children. It builds the habit of respecting authority and accepting decisions gracefully, a skill that transfers directly into the classroom and later, the workplace. Understanding the etiquette also makes more sense alongside our guide to what is not allowed in fencing, since fouls and cards are really the code of conduct written into the rulebook.

Do fencers call their own hits?

Fencing has a strong culture of self-policing. Fencers are expected to acknowledge clean hits against them, even in casual practice where no referee is watching closely. It seems small, but it shapes an athlete’s integrity over years of training. Excuses do not last long when the standard is to call your own hits.

Coaches at Fencing Masters in Singapore reinforce this from the early lessons, whether a student is training privately from age 3 or joining group classes from age 7. We lend the mask, jacket and blade once you join, for the first 8 lessons in a group class, on a membership of 8 weeks or longer (on a 4-week membership, the loan covers those 4 weeks), or for the first 10 lessons in private coaching with a 10-lesson pack (the first 5 with a 5-lesson pack or single lessons), so newcomers can experience this culture firsthand without buying anything.

What does good sportsmanship look like in fencing?

Etiquette in fencing extends past the individual match. Fencers are expected to:

• Applaud opponents for good actions, even when those actions cost them a point
• Avoid celebrating excessively in front of a defeated opponent
• Support teammates and training partners with encouragement
• Keep the piste and equipment tidy and ready for the next pair
• Thank coaches and referees at the end of a session or competition

These habits are small, but repeated week after week, they build a consistent standard of behaviour that fencers carry into daily life.

Why does fencing still have an etiquette code?

Fencing traces its roots to duelling traditions where etiquette was quite literally a matter of life and death. While the sport has modernised, with masks, protective gear, and electronic scoring, the code of conduct has survived because it works. It teaches discipline, humility, and self control in a way that few other activities do, because fencing is a one-on-one contest and your conduct is on show throughout.

This connects closely to how fencing builds discipline in students of every age. The etiquette of the piste is one of that discipline’s clearest expressions.

Where can I learn fencing etiquette in Singapore?

Jeffrey Lopez founded Fencing Masters in 1995. Our registered coaches teach the salute, the handshake and respect for referees as part of every programme, alongside footwork, blade work and strategy across foil, sabre and épée. That holds for a three-year-old in a private lesson and for a national-level competitor alike.

How can I try it?

A trial lesson is the simplest way to experience fencing etiquette first-hand. Request a trial lesson and the coach will confirm the details when replying.