Sabre
Sabre is a cutting and thrusting weapon. Valid target lies above the hips, arms and head included. Attacks unfold in fractions of a second, which makes sabre the most explosive weapon in fencing. It is also a weapon with conventions, and those decide when a touch counts. A weapon of timing and nerve.
Unlike épée, what counts isn't who lands first, but who builds the attack correctly. When both touches land, the convention decides, not the clock. A defender who parries too late will see the touch land without it counting. A sabre bout is therefore a conversation in tempo: parry, take the attack over, and never give priority away.
Belgium has a rich sabre school, with clubs in Sint-Niklaas, Ghent and Brussels producing generations of top fencers. Meester Paul has worked from inside that tradition since his own competitive career, and has carried it internationally.
A young fencer aiming for the national junior squad. A senior chasing one more major championship. An American student looking to lift his footwork to European level. The motivation differs. So does the approach.
