In sabre fencing, what areas are considered valid targets?

In sabre fencing, valid target areas include the upper body, which encompasses the head, neck, shoulders, and torso, but explicitly excludes the hands. This targeting rule emphasizes that while fencers aim for critical areas to score points, they must respect the boundaries set by the regulations, which specifically protect the hands. This rule is essential to ensure safety and maintain the spirit of the competition, as the hands are particularly vulnerable to injury. Recognizing the specified areas for scoring helps referees accurately determine valid hits and enforce the rules consistently. The other options either misinterpret the target areas or restrict them to parts of the body that are not valid in sabre, thus highlighting the importance of understanding the specific criteria for valid targets in this form of fencing.