Three F's of Fencing

Quite a few years ago I (for no particular reason apart from wanting a challenge) had a go at bodyguard training. One of the things that stuck in my mind from that period was when one of the instructors asked the group "what is a bodyguard's most effective weapon"? Lots of hands went up with suggestions of fists, feet, guns etc but the instructor just shook his head and said "Your brain..."
This also applies to fencing; there are many weapons a fencer can use, but for me the three that stand out are their Foil, their Feet (Footwork) or their "Finking"! The foil is the most obvious, but if you can't get your opponent into range then it's no good as a weapon. That's where your feet come in; you've got a 14 metre piste to play with so use it!
Finally, if you can't think your way through problems (i.e. "I've just been hit twice in a row by that disengage attack... what asm I going to do about it?") then you are also destined for disappointment. You must cultivate a balance between all three to be truly effective.