Tough Calls in Épée: Receiving Corps-a-Corps and Awkward Strip Positioning

This call generated some discussion at summer nationals, and luckily we had a lot of FIE refs present! The key is: do not punish fencers receiving the corps a corps. I polled 9 FIE refs. 7 said touch is good, the other 2 said the halt should have happened at the corps a corps, but because I didn’t call halt, touch is good. A few other thoughts that may come to mind: 1. Why no card for Iyoki for turning back? In a lefty righty fight that’s happening at the edge of the strip where FotL goes behind him, it’s kind of hard to riposte any way but that. 2. Why no halt for corps a corps? 2/9 FIE refs I spoke to said that was the moment I should have called halt. When I reviewed this on video, I felt Iyoki’s tip was in position to riposte just before the corps a corps and he had started that action beforehand. Epee: It’s never as simple as it looks. #Epee #EpeeFencing #Escrime #Esgrima #Fechten #Scherma #Espada #Fencing