A novice tournament, dubbed the “ISU Newbie Open,” will grace Iowa State’s campus on Saturday in the lesser-known sport of fencing.

The ISU Fencing Club will hold this foil-only tournament for anyone who has fenced for less than two years, is unrated in foil competition and hasn’t won any previous novice-oriented tournaments.

The basics of fencing are narrowed down to obvious swordplay, but with different elements. The main objective is to thrust the tip of your sword, usually a “foil” or “epee,” into the opponent’s target area. The target tends to change for each weapon, and the foil’s designated area is the torso.

A relatively safe sport, there are very few injuries related to fencing when technique is applied appropriately. Protection such as a facemask, jacket, knickers and gloves are worn. Fencers also sport a “lame” — a metallic vest with electronic gear that will tell when a person has been stabbed in the target area.

A multitude of skills are needed to be successful in fencing, said Philip Haubrich, sophomore in computer engineering and treasurer of the club.

“You need balance, you have to play head games to deceive your opponent,” Haubrich said. “You also have to be able to read your opponent well, and you have to have a lot of stamina.”

The “Newbie” tournament is expected to have an “influx of novices, though it’ll probably be very, very small,” Haubrich said. Several clubs from central Iowa are expected to attend.

There is a $10 registration fee for the tournament, which will be held in 202 Forker Building. Registration ends at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, and the matches will begin soon after.

The competition will take place with a seeding of contestants competing based on relative skills, then will proceed into a single-elimination tournament. Medals will be awarded to first-, second- and third-place winners.

Despite its limited coverage and publicity, Haubrich is an avid competitor and fan of the sport.

“It’s a fun sport, something you can do for the rest of your life,” he said.