There is one because it protects the player and its opponent!
Carvings have been found in Egypt of fencing matches that scholars say date back to 1200 BC. Click on the 'History of Fencing' link on this page to read more about the origins of the sport. More modern fencing came about around the high middle ages and renaissance when steel allowed swords to become lighter and thinner and the rapier was more heavily introduced. Epee and Foil came out of the dueling culture that followed. Fencing was not codified internationally until the 1900's. The Sabre is the most recent weapon and is a derivation of the cavalry sword (hence the upper body target area).
The target area depends on the weapon that you are using. If you are fencing Epee, the target area is your opponent's entire body. If you are fencing Saber, the target area is your opponent's body from the waist up. If you are fencing the third and final weapon, Foil, the target area is simply your opponent's torso. This excludes their legs, arms, and head, limiting it to the chest and stomach region.
Depends in what category; for example: in combat, there in limitless uses for a sword, maybe not smart uses, but uses nonetheless. In practical situations, swords have an infinite amount of uses, just like asking how many uses are there for a cog, knife, or screwdriver.
A quiver, but he may have worn it attached to a belt around his waist.
Women wore loose gowns attached around the waist by a girdle
A vertical seam is like the one on the side of jeans that goes up from the hem to the waist. A horizontal seam is like the one that goes around the waist where the waistband is attached.
A person who fences sabre is called a sabreur (male) or sabreuse (female). Sabre is one of the three disciplines in the sport of fencing, characterized by its use of a cutting weapon with a flexible blade. Fencers in this category score points by making contact with their opponent using any part of the blade above the waist.
The are you need to hit to score a point is the torso and a little wedge below your waist on the front (where the silver-colored lamé is).
Boxing is a martial sport in which two competitors exchange punches above the waist to score points.
Currently, three types of weapon are used in Olympic fencing: Foil: a light thrusting weapon; the valid target is restricted to the torso; double hits are not allowed. Épée: a heavier thrusting weapon; the valid target area covers the entire body; double hits are allowed. Sabre: a light cutting and thrusting weapon; the valid target area includes almost everything above the waist (excluding the back of the head and the palms of the hands); double hits are not allowed. Find the appropriate link for the desired list of fencing terms. Hope this helps! http://www.synec-doc.be/escrime/dico/engl.htm Handy website there for new folks to our glorious sport!
below your waist
Not sure, but I do and I imagine that the number is increasing everyday; as more and more people realize how much money they waist on cable or satellite.