Comparison of different tests of fencing performance.

Three different procedures to analyse fencing performances were tested. The test subjects were ten world class epée fencers from the Swedish national team. The procedures involved measurements of reaction time and response time to different stimuli. Test 1 measured the lunging performance as a response to a light. Tests 2 and 3 measured more complex fencing movements as response to a more fencing-like starting procedure. The results showed that test 3 but not tests 1 and 2 could differentiate between world class fencers and beginners (p less than 0.006). The reaction time in test 3 correlated significantly (p less than 0.01) with competition success within the group of world class fencers.