Corps à corps is said to exist when two fencers are in contact; when this occurs the Referee must stop the bout (cf. t.25 Ground Gained or Lost, t.63 Épée: Corps à Corps and Flèche attacks). At foil and at sabre it is forbidden for a fencer to cause corps à corps (even without brutality or violence). Should such an offence occur, the Referee will penalise the fencer at fault as specified in Articles t.114, t.116, t.120, Offences and Penalties.

At all three weapons it is forbidden for a fencer to cause corps à corps intentionally to avoid being hit, or to jostle his opponent. Should such an offence occur, the Referee will penalise the fencer at fault as specified in Articles t.114, t.116, t.120, Offences and Penalties, and any hit scored by the fencer at fault is annulled.