A time-motion analysis of elite women's foil fencing

• Published in: International journal of performance analysis in sport 2013-08, Vol.13 (2), p.365-376
• Main Authors: Wylde, J. Matthew, Tan, Frankie H.Y., O'Donoghue, G. Peter
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Intermittent high intensity activity
• ISSN: 2474-8668; 1474-8185; 1474-8185
• DOI: 10.1080/24748668.2013.11868654

This study sought to carry out a comprehensive time-motion analysis of elite women's foil fencing to understand the demands being placed on fencers in competition. A key part of this study was to identify the differences between 15-touch, 5-touch and team bouts. 100 international women's foil fencing bouts were analysed and five movement classifications were used during the data collection, which were consolidated into three categories of varying intensities for analysis. This study found that high-intensity movements accounted for 6.2 ± 2.5% of total bout time in elite women's foil fencing. These high-intensity movements had a mean duration of 0.7 ± 0.1 s with a mean recovery period of 10.4 ± 3.3 s. The only "large" difference between the bouts was found for the mean duration of the low-intensity movements in the 15-touch bouts. All other differences were "moderate", "small" or "trivial". These results suggest that similar training plans could be used to physically prepare fencers for 15-touch, 5-touch and team bouts and should consist of primarily anaerobic alactic and aerobic activities. This study has provided a basis from which further research could be carried out, while the movement classifications have a range of applications within the study of fencing.