Individual Events:
- Format: After the initial seeding is completed, fencers compete to 15 touches. The direct elimination format means that if you lose a 15-touches match, you are out of the competition. The last person standing wins the gold. At the Olympics, the losers of the semifinals must fight for the bronze
- Duration: Each 15-touches match consists of three periods of 3-minutes with 1-minute breaks in between. If by the end of the three periods no one has reached 15 touches, the fencer with the most touches wins. If there is a tie, fencers go to a one-minute sudden death where the first person to score wins. If no one scores by the end of the minute, the fencer who had the priority at the start of the sudden death wins
Team Events:
- Format: Fencers compete to 45 touches in teams of three (and one alternate). The direct elimination format means that if you lose a 45-touches match, you are out of the competition. The last team standing wins the gold. At the Olympics, the losers of the semifinals must fight for the bronze
- Duration: Each 45-touches match consists of nine periods of 3-minutes. If by the end of the nine periods no one has reached 45 touches, the team with the most touches wins. If there is a tie, fencers go to a one-minute sudden death where the first person to score wins. If no one scores by the end of the minute, the fencer who had the priority at the start of the sudden death wins
