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Absence of Blade
The situation in which the fencer's blades are not in contact. The
opposite of engagement.
Advance
A movement forward by step, cross, or balestra.
Aids
The last three fingers of the sword hand.
Analysis
Reconstruction of the fencing phrase to determine priority of touches.
Annulment of Hit
The referees act of disallowing a hit because of a rules infringement or
technical fault.
Appel
Beating the ball of the foot on the ground.
Assault
Friendly combat between two fencers.
Attack
The initial offensive action made by extending the sword arm and
continuously threatening the valid target of the opponent.
Attack Au Fer
An attack that is prepared by deflecting the opponent's blade, eg. beat,
press, froissement.
Avoidance
Ducking or moving laterally to prevent a hit.
Back Edge
The edge of a sabre blade opposite the cutting edge.
Backsword
An archaic, edged, unpointed sword used in prizefighting; also
singlestick.
Balestra
A forward hop or jump, typically followed by an attack such as a lunge or
fleche.
Barrage
A fight-off to break a tie.
Baudry Point
A safety collar placed around a live epée point to prevent dangerous
penetration.
Bayonet
A type of electrical connector for foil and sabre.
Beat
An attempt to knock the opponent's blade aside or out of line by using
one's foible or middle against the opponent's foible.
Bib
An attachment to the mask that protects the neck and throat area.
Bind
An action in which the opponent's blade is forced into the diagonally
opposite line.
Black Card
Used to indicate the most serious offences in a fencing competition. The
offending fencer is usually expelled from the event or tournament.
Blade
The part of a fencing weapon that extends beyond the guard.
Body Wire
Wire that's worn beneath the clothing to connect the fencer's sword to
electrical scoring apparatus.
Bout
A fencing fight for a specific number of hits, usually five touches in six
minutes.
Break Ground
To step back.
Broadsword
Any sword intended for cutting instead of thrusting; sabre.
Broken Time
A sudden change in the tempo of one fencer's actions, used to fool the
opponent into responding at the wrong time.
Button
The safety tip on the end of practice and sporting swords.
Cadence
The rhythm of a sequence of movements.
Ceding Parry
A parry that's executed by giving way to an opponent.
Change Beat
A beat made after passing over or under the opponent's blade.
Change of Engagement
A re-engagement of the opponent's blade on the opposite side by passing
over or under.
Change of Line
Movement of the blade from high to low or from outside to inside.
Circular Parry
A parry made with a circular movement of the sword point. Also
Contreparry.
Close Quarters
A situation in which the two fencers are close to one another but still
able to wield their weapons.
Close the Line
To block the opponent's attack.
Command the Blade
To grab the opponent's blade with the off-hand, an illegal action.
Commanding the Blade
Grabbing the opponent's blade with the off-hand, illegal in sport fencing.
Compound
Also composed; an action executed in two or more movements; an attack or
riposte incorporating one or more feints.
Compound Action
Two or more actions performed together as one continuous action.
Compound Attack
An attack with two or more movements, each of which follows a feint.
Compound Riposte
A riposte that involves one or more feints.
Conventions
The rules governing fencing for a specific weapon.
Conversation
The back-and-forth play of the blades in a fencing match, composed of
phrases (phrases d'armes) punctuated by gaps of no blade action.
Coquille
The bell-shaped guard of a foil or epée.
Corps-a-Corps
Lit. "body-to-body"; physical contact between the two fencers during a
bout, illegal in foil and sabre.
Coulé
Also graze, glisé, or glissade; an attack or feint that slides along the
opponent's blade.
Counter Attack
An attack made immediately after avoiding or stopping an opponent's
attack.
Counter-Disengage
A disengage in the opposite direction, to deceive the counter-parry.
Counter-Parry
A parry made in the opposite line to the attack; ie. the defender first
comes around to the opposite side of the opponent's blade.
Counter-Riposte
An attack made immediately after parrying the opponent's riposte or
counter-riposte.
Counter-Time
An attack that responds to the opponent's counter-attack, typically a
riposte following the parry of the counter-attack.
Coup Lancé
An attack that begins before a stop in play but results in a hit
afterward. It's not valid if time has run out, but it counts if play was
stopped for any other reason. (French for "launched hit.")
Coupé Doublé
A double hit.
Coupé
Also cut-over; an attack or deception that passes above and over the opponent's
tip.
Cover
To close a line to the attacker.
Croise
The action of taking the opponent's foible on the forte and moving the
opponent's from high to low, or vice versa, on the side of engagement. See
also diagonal parry.
Crossover
An advance or retreat by crossing one leg over the other; also passé avant (forward cross),
passé arriere (backwards cross).
Crosse Grip
A moulded grip that has protrusions to protect the fingers on foils and
epées.
Cut
An attack made with a chopping motion of the blade, normally landing with
the edge.
Cut-Over
The act of passing the blade over the opponent's point.
Deceive
To evade the opponent.
Deception
Avoidance of an attempt to engage the blades; see disengage, coupé
Degage
The act of passing the blade underneath the opponent's point.
Derobement
Deception of the attack au fer or prise de fer.
Detachment
The situation in which both blades break contact.
Development
Extension of the sword arm as part of a lunge.
Diagonal Parry
A parry in which the opponent's blade is moved from high to low, or vice
versa, on the opposite side. See also croise.
Direct
A simple attack or riposte that finishes in the same line in which it was
formed, with no feints out of that line.
Director
The referee of a match.
Disengage
A circular movement of the blade that deceives the opponent's parry,
removes the blades from engagement, or changes the line of engagement.
Displacement
Turning or ducking to move a valid target area from its normal position,
replacing it with a non-valid area.
Double
In epée, two attacks that arrive within 40-50 ms of each other.
Double Action
Offensive actions made by both fencers simultaneously.
Double Defeat
If both fencers have received the same number of hits after time has
expired in an epée competition, a defeat is scored against each of them.
Double Hit
The situation when each competitor scores a hit on the other
simultaneously in epée.
Double Time
Descriptive of a parry or riposte performed as two distinct actions.
Doublé
An attack or riposte that describes a complete circle around the
opponent's blade, and finishes in the opposite line.
Double-Time
Also "dui tempo"; parry-riposte as two distinct actions.
Dry
Descriptive of a match that has no electrical judging apparatus.
Duration of Bout
The actual fencing time, recorded by a clock that is started at the
beginning of a bout, stopped each time action is halted, and re-started
when the bout resumes.
Electrical Apparatus
The equipment that registers valid hits through a connection with the
fencers' body wires. Red and green lights signal valid hits. In foil, a
white light signals a non-valid hit.
En Finale
Descriptive of a parry made at the last possible instant.
En Garde
Also On Guard; the fencing position; the stance that fencers assume when
preparing to fence.
Engagement
When the blades are in contact with each other, eg. during a parry, attack
au fer, prise de fer, or coulé.
Envelopement
Taking the foible of the opponent's blade through a complete circle, back
to the original line of engagement.
Envelopment
An engagement that sweeps the opponent's blade through a full circle.
Epée
A weapon with a blade triangular in cross-section and heavier than that of
the foil. The epée has a large, cup-shaped guard that protects the hand
and forearm. The target area in foil competition includes the entire body,
and there is no right of way rule.
Extend
To straighten the sword arm in the direction of the target.
False
An action that is intended to fail, but draw a predicted reaction from the
opponent; also, the back edge of a sabre blade.
Feint
An attack into one line with the intention of switching to another line
before the attack is completed.
Fencing Time
Also temps d'escrime; the time required to complete a single, simple
fencing action.
Fie
Federation Internationale d'Escrime, the world governing body of fencing.
Finta in Tempo
Lit. "feint in time"; a feint of counter-attack that draws a counter-time
parry, which is deceived; a compound counter-attack.
Flank
The sword-arm side of the fencer's body.
Fleche
A running attack initiated by a leap off the front foot, followed by an
attempt to make a hit, after which the attacker runs past his opponent.
Flick
A cut-like action that lands with the point, often involving some whip of
the foible of the blade to "throw" the point around a block or other
obstruction.
Floor Judge
One of two officials who watch for floor hits in an epée bout without a
metallic piste.
Florentine
An antiquated fencing style where a secondary weapon or other instrument
is used in the off hand.
Flying Parry or Riposte
A parry with a backwards glide and riposte by cut-over.
Foible
The flexible half of the blade farthest from the hilt; the weakest area of
the blade.
Foil
A thrusting weapon used in competition that allows valid touches only with
the tip of the blade. The target area comprises the torso, both front and
back, and the groin. Touches to other parts of the body are off target.
Forte
The half of the blade nearest to the hilt; the strongest area of the
blade.
French Grip
A traditional hilt with a slightly curved grip and a large pommel.
Froissement
An attack that displaces the opponent's blade by a strong grazing action.
Fuller
The groove that runs down a sword blade to reduce weight.
Glide
To make a moderate forward movement while maintaining contact with the
opponent's blade.
Grip
The part of a sword, contained in the guard, where it is grasped by the
hand.
Ground Judge
An official who rules on hits. There are two ground judges, one at each
end of the strip.
Guard
The metal cup or bow that protects the hand from being hit. Also, the
defensive position assumed when not attacking.
High Line
Any line above the midway point of the fencer's trunk or above the guard.
Hilt
The area of the sword excluding the blade and including the guard, grip,
pad, and pommel.
Hit
The action of striking the opponent with the point of the sword, in epée
or foil; a cut, in sabre. As a verb, to make a hit.
Homologated
Certified for use in FIE competitions, eg. 800N clothing and maraging
blades.
In Line
Descriptive of an extended sword arm that threatens the opponent.
In Quartata
A counter-attack made with a quarter turn to the inside, concealing the
front but exposing the back.
In Time
At least one fencing time before the opposing action, especially with
regards to a stop-hit.
Indicator
One of two mathematical methods used to determine seedings after early
rounds of competition. The first indicator is the ratio of victories to
fights. The second indicator is the number of hits scored minus the number
of hits received.
Indirect
Descriptive of an offensive action initiated by disengaging and then
passing the blade under or over the opponent's blade.
Inside Line
Any line on the same side as the sword arm.
Insistence
Forcing an attack through the parry.
Insufficient Parry
A parry that fails to deflect the attacking blade.
Interception
A counter-attack that intercepts and checks an indirect attack or other
disengagement.
Invitation
A line that is intentionally left open to encourage the opponent to
attack.
Italian Grip
A traditional hilt with finger rings and crossbar.
Judges
Additional officials who assist the referee in detecting illegal or
invalid actions, such as floor judges or hand judges.
Jury
The group of officials that oversee a match. The director is the president
of the jury.
Kendo
Japanese fencing, with two-handed swords.
La Belle
A sudden-death playoff to break a tie.
Lamé
A metallic vest/jacket used to detect valid touches in foil and sabre.
Lateral Parry
A parry made by redirecting the opponent's blade with a lateral arm
movement.
Line
The main direction of an attack (eg., high/low, inside/outside), often
equated to the parry that must be made to deflect the attack; also point
in line.
Low Invitation
Allowing an attack by dropping the sword arm.
Low Line
Any line below the midway point of the fencer's trunk or below the guard.
Lunge
An attack in which the fencer moves the front leg quickly forward while
the back leg remains stationary and straightens out.
Mal Pare
French for insufficient parry.
Mal-Parry
Also mal-paré; a parry that fails to prevent the attack from landing.
Manipulators
The index finger and thumb of the sword hand.
Maraging
A special steel used for making blades; said to be stronger and break more
cleanly than conventional steels.
Marker Points
An old method of detecting hits using inked points.
Martingale
A tape or leather loop, attached to the grip to prevent a foil from flying
out of the fencer's hand.
Match
The aggregate of bouts between two fencing teams.
Measure
The distance between the fencers.
Metallic Piste
A piste covered with electrically conductive material to prevent hits on
the floor from registering on the electrical apparatus.
Middle
The middle third of the blade, between foible and forte.
Moulinet
A whirling cut executed with a twist of the wrist or elbow.
Neuvieme
An unconventional parry (#9) sometimes described as blade behind the back,
pointing down (a variant of octave), other times similar to elevated sixte.
Novice
A fencer not placed in the top three positions.
Octave
The eighth guard or parry, made in a low line on the sword-arm side with
the wrist supinated.
On Guard
The instruction to get ready for competition. See en garde.
Opposition
Holding the opponent's blade in a non-threatening line; a time-hit; any
attack or counter-attack with opposition.
Outside Line
Any line on the side opposite the the sword arm.
Pad
A soft protective cushion inside the guard.
Parry
A block of the attack, made with the forte of one's own blade; also
parade.
Pas De Touche
A declaration by the director that no touch has been recorded.
Pass
An attack made with a cross; eg. fleche. Also, the act of moving past the
opponent.
Passata Sotto
A counter attack in which a lunge is initiated by dropping a hand to the
floor and lowering the body under the opponent's oncoming blade.
Passé
An attack that passes the target without hitting; also a cross-step (see
cross).
Patinando
A forward step, with an appel from the rear foot at the moment when the
front foot lands.
Phrase
A set of related actions by both fencers that continues until a hit is
scored or action is stopped by the director.
Pineapple Tip
A serrated epée point used prior to electric judging.
Piste
The linear strip on which a fencing bout is fought; approx. 2m wide and
14m long.
Pistol Grip
A modern, orthopaedic grip, shaped vaguely like a small pistol; varieties
are known by names such as Belgian, German, Russian, and Visconti.
Plaqué
A point attack that lands flat.
Plastron
1) A half jacket worn under the fencing jacket to give the sword arm extra
protection. 2) a padded over-jacket worn by a fencing coach.
Point
A valid touch; the tip of the sword; the mechanical assembly that makes up
the point of an electric weapon; an attack made with the point (ie. a
thrust)
Point in Line
A position in which the fencer's arm is extended, with the point of the
blade threatening a target.
Pommel
The fastener that holds the grip to the blade and also acts as a counter
balance to the blade.
Pool
A grouping of fencers or teams in a competition.
Poule
French for "pool."
Preparation
A non-threatening action intended to create the opening for an attack; the
initial phase of an attack, before right-of-way is established.
Presentation
Offering one's blade for engagement by the opponent.
Press
An attempt to push the opponent's blade aside or out of line; depending on
the opponent's response, the press is followed by a direct or indirect
attack.
Prime
The first guard or parry, in a high line on the side away from the sword
arm, with the wrist pronated.
Principle of Defence
The use of forte against foible when parrying.
Principle of Defense
Opposing the forte to the opponent's foible.
Priority
In sabre, the now-superceded rules that decide which fencer will be
awarded the touch in the event that they both attack simultaneously; also
used synonymously with right-of-way.
Prise De Fer
Also taking the blade; an engagement of the blades that forces the
opponent's weapon into a new line. See: bind, croise, envelopment,
opposition.
Progressive Actions
A series of actions in which the sword point moves continually towards the
target.
Pronation
A position in which the knuckles of the sword hand are pointing upward.
Quarte
The fourth guard or parry; blocking the opponent's blade by moving it high
and to the inside so it points beyond the chest or stomach.
Quinte
The fifth guard or parry. In foil or epée, a low line on the side away
from the sword arm, with a pronated wrist. In sabre, a high guard that
protects the head.
Rapier
A long, double-edged thrusting sword popular in the 16th-17th centuries.
Rassemblement
Bringing the feet together at right angles with the heels touching and the
body upright.
Recover
To move back to the en garde position after a lunge.
Red Card
Used to indicate repeated minor rule infractions or a major rule
infraction by one of the fencers; results in a point being given to the
other fencer.
Redoublement
A new action that follows an attack that missed or was parried; renewal of
a failed attack in the opposite line; alternatively see Reprise.
Referee
Also director, president; the mediator of the fencing bout.
Remise
Renewing an attack after being parried by moving the point along the same
line toward a different point on the target.
Reprise
Renewal of an attack that missed or was parried, after a return to en-garde;
alternatively see Redoublement.
Retreat
Step back; opposite of advance.
Ricasso
The portion of the tang between the grip and the blade, present on Italian
hilts and most rapiers.
Right of Way
In foil and sabre competition, a convention that determines the priority
of touches. Essentially, when two fencers strike one another
simultaneously, priority is given to the fencer who first signaled attack
with a forward movement of the arm, directing the point of the blade
toward a valid target area in a threatening manner.
Right-of-Way
Rules for awarding the point in the event of a double touch in foil or
sabre.
Riposte
An offensive action made immediately after a parry of the opponent's
attack.
Sabre
A fencing weapon with a flat blade and knuckle guard, used with cutting or
thrusting actions; a military sword popular in the 18th to 20th centuries;
any cutting sword used by cavalry.
Salle
A fencing hall or club.
Salute
With the weapon, a customary acknowledgement of one's opponent and referee
at the start and end of the bout.
Schlager
German fraternity duelling sword, used with cuts to the face and no
footwork.
Second Intention
A false action used to draw a response from the opponent, which will open
the opportunity for the intended action that follows, typically a
counter-riposte.
Seconde
The second guard or parry. A low line on the side of the sword arm, with a
pronated wrist.
Septime
The seventh guard or parry. A low line on the side away from the sword
arm, with a semi-supinated wrist.
Simple
Executed in one movement; an attack or riposte that involves no feints.
Simultaneous
In foil and sabre, two attacks for which the right-of-way is too close to
determine.
Single Stick
An archaic form of fencing with basket-hilted wooden sticks.
Single Time
Descriptive of a parry or riposte performed as a single action.
Single-Time
Also "stesso tempo"; parry-riposte as a single action.
Sixte
The sixth guard or parry. A high line on the side of the sword arm, with a
semi-supinated wrist.
Small Sword
A light duelling sword popular in the 17th-18th centuries, precursor to
the foil.
Stop Cut
A stop-hit with the edge in sabre, typically to the cuff.
Stop Hit
A counter-attack that hits; also a counter-attack whose touch is valid by
virtue of its timing.
Strip
The fencing area, which is 14 meters long by two meters wide.
Successive Parries
Two or more parries made in succession to defend against compound attacks.
Supination
A position in which the knuckles of the sword hand are down and the
fingernails up.
Tang
The part of the blade where the hilt is mounted.
Three Prong
A type of epée body wire/connector; also an old-fashioned tip that would
snag clothing, to make it easier to detect hits in the pre-electric era.
Thrown Point
See flick.
Thrust
An attack made by moving the sword parallel to its length and landing with
the point.
Tierce
The third parry or guard. A high line on the side of the sword arm, with a
pronated wrist.
Time Hit
Also time-thrust; old name for stop hit with opposition.
Touch
A hit that counts in the scoring.
"Touché"
The announcement that a hit has been scored.
Trompement
Deception of the parry.
Two Prong
A type of body-wire/connector, used in foil and sabre.
Whip-Over
In sabre, a touch that results from the foible of the blade whipping over
the opponent's guard or blade when parried.
Whites
The fencing uniform.
Yellow Card
Also advertissement, warning; used to indicate a minor rule infraction by
one of the fencers.
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