Women who make fencing easier to follow: Pulenaz, Marissa Ponich and Amelie Eilken

Pulenaz: a first lesson worth watching

Pulenaz begins with the part a first-time fencer actually has to solve: standing comfortably, holding the foil and moving without crossing her feet. At the start of a lesson she steps forward too close to her partner, then tries again with a smaller advance. When her partner retreats, she sees why distance matters: a lunge that reaches a stationary target may fall short against someone moving away.

In a short practice exchange, her partner attacks and Pulenaz moves the blade aside before returning a touch. She pauses the replay at the change of direction, so the viewer can see the defensive action before the reply. The appeal is watching a beginner make sense of one exchange, not memorizing a long list of moves. If you have never fenced, start here and look for the moment the distance changes.

Marissa Ponich: making a fast sabre exchange legible

Marissa Ponich is a Canadian sabre fencer. Her Canadian Athletes Now profile links to her Instagram account, @mponichfencer, a starting point for her own social content.

References: Canadian Athletes Now · Canadian Fencing Federation

Ponich breaks a sabre exchange into three moments: one fencer advances, the other intercepts the blade, and the defender answers. A replay shows why the return matters: the action changes hands after the initial attack is stopped. The first viewing gives the speed; the second gives the sequence. Her perspective is useful once Pulenaz’s first lesson has made advancing, retreating and defending recognizable.

For a viewer trying to follow a live bout, keep your eyes on the front feet and the distance between the fencers before looking at the lights. At the halt, listen to the referee’s description and watch which side receives the point. A light shows a registered hit, but in sabre the referee also judges priority when both fencers hit.

References: USA Fencing

Amelie Eilken: historical fencing as practice

Amelie Eilken practices historical fencing and co-founded Meyer Class, both a training group and a YouTube channel. Her work focuses on Joachim Meyer’s sixteenth-century fencing texts, and she has taught the Meyer Class Hammaborg Women. The group is a place to look for a different kind of sword work after watching modern sport fencing.

References: Schildwache Potsdam

In a longsword practice bout, Eilken shows an opponent closing distance, her blade meeting the incoming cut, and her answer as the opponent recovers. The replay isolates the contact before returning to the uninterrupted exchange. Seeing the same action at both speeds lets a newcomer connect the movement of the sword to the change in distance.

Historical European martial arts (HEMA) draws on historical fighting sources and includes present-day training and sparring. A practice bout is an exchange between partners making choices in response to each other; a staged sword fight is arranged for performance. Look for the weapon and the event’s own rules before interpreting a hit: a longsword bout does not use modern sabre priority simply because both involve swords.

References: HEMA Alliance · HEMA Alliance

A quick guide to what the lights mean

In modern foil and épée, touches are made with the point. Foil’s target is the torso and part of the mask bib; épée’s target is the whole body. Sabre allows touches with the blade or point and targets the upper body above the hips, including the head and arms; the hands are excluded from the usual electrically scored target.

References: International Fencing Federation · British Fencing

Foil and sabre use right of way to decide who receives the touch when both hit. An attack can be parried, after which the defender can make a riposte. Épée has no right of way: closely timed valid hits can score for both fencers. These are starting points for watching, and the referee’s complete decision can depend on the action and the rules of the event.

References: USA Fencing

Sources and attribution

1. Canadian Athletes Now

   Marissa PonichPublication date not listed · Recorded Oct 29, 2026

2. Canadian Fencing Federation

   Marissa Ponich - Women’s/Femme SabrePublication date not listed · Recorded Oct 29, 2026

3. Schildwache Potsdam

   Swords of the Renaissance 2021Publication date not listed · Recorded Oct 29, 2026

4. USA Fencing

   Fencing 101: WeaponsPublication date not listed · Recorded Oct 29, 2026

5. USA Fencing

   Fencing 101: Basics of CompetitionPublication date not listed · Recorded Oct 29, 2026

6. HEMA Alliance

   New to HEMA?Publication date not listed · Recorded Oct 29, 2026

7. HEMA Alliance

   Training SafelyPublication date not listed · Recorded Oct 29, 2026

8. International Fencing Federation

   Technical rules, August 2026Published Aug 3, 2026 · Recorded Oct 29, 2026

9. British Fencing

   The WeaponsPublication date not listed · Recorded Oct 29, 2026