English Reference Dictionary

Glossary of Common English-Language Fencing Terms

(compiled from various sources)

absence of blade A combative situation in which the fencers’ blades are (1) not in contact, or (2) one fencer has lowered his point to obviate the opponen’ts actions on or against his own blade. 

advance To move towards the opponent by stepping sequentially with first the front foot followed by the rear foot, restoring the orientation and distance of the feet relative to each other. USFCA.

aides The middle-, ring-, and small finger of the sword hand which merely support the action of the ➢manipulators.

angulation The act of directing the weapon of point to the target in an angle other than a straight line, to avoid the defending weapon or to better hit an otherwise protected target. USFCA.

appel A tap of the ball of the front foot on the floor. USFCA.

assault A friendly combat between two fencers is called an assault. When the score of such an assault is kept to determine a result it is called a ➢bout. FIE Rules 2018.

arrêt. See ➢stop-hit, or ➢counterattack.

arrest stop thrust; also, coup d’arrêt; colpo d’arresto

attack initial offensive action made by extending the weapon arm towards the opponent’s valid target and continuously threatening the opponent’s target, from the fencer’s own critical distance. USFCA. 

• attack is the initial offensive action made by extending the arm and continuously threatening the opponent’s target, preceding the launching of the ➢lunge or ➢flèche. FIE Rules 2018.

attack on the blade an ➢attack involving a preparatory movement against the opponent’s blade;see, ➢beat, change beat, ➢froissement, ➢opposition, ➢pressure, or ➢pris-de-fer.

• attaque-au-fer lit.: attack on the iron; beat, expulsion, pressure, prise-de-fer bind, cross, envelopment, opposition

attack on the preparation attacking while the opponent is still preparing his/her attack. See, ➢preparation.

ballestra a short jump forward used as an accelerating element for the ➢lunge.

barrage a fence-off between two fencers who have tied in bouts won.

beat a short, sharp blow on the opponent’s blade intended to

1. distract the opponent’s preparation (foible against foible)
2. provoke the opponent’s reaction (attempted parry, against which the fencer ➢disengages)
3. removing the opponent’s blade by beating it aside, up-, or downward (center against foible)
4. richochet the attacker’s blade instantly over the guard directly into target (foible against forte)

bent arm attack an attack executed with a bent sword-arm, which keeps the attacker from establishing clear ➢priority in ➢foil and ➢saber.

bind(ing) a preparatory action combining a forward attack with a defensive precautionary action against the opponent’s blade designed to move his blade diagonally to an opposite low line, or vice versa. See also, ➢liement, ➢pris-de-fer, ➢taking

botta lunga indietro see, eschappement

bout a unit of competition, either informal or formal, between to fencers in which score is kept. 

• “When the score of such an ➢assault is kept to determine a result it is called a bout”. FIE Rules 2018.

break the tempo interrupt the opponent’s actions, e.g., retreating out of distance or intercepting his blade prior to the final action in his attack.

cadence rhythm by which a sequence of movements is made. Nelson.

change of engagement engaging the opponent’s blade in a new line, changing from inside to outside and vice versa via a ➢disengagement or ➢cut-over, made by moving one’s blade from the engagement (or line) in a “U” or “V” motion, either under (high line) or over (low line) opponent’s blade to the new engagement (or line) on the other side of the blade.

check step an effective way to confuse the tactical thinking of an opponent. Essentially there are two check steps: On the advance check step the fencer takes a half step forward moving only the front foot, visibly indicating an advance then quickly takes a full step back. The retreat check step is just the opposite. On the retreat check step the rear foot takes a half step backward while not moving the front foot, visibly indicating a retreat then quickly changing direction with a full step forward. A few other foot movement applications have been taught with regard to the action. Mostly they are gliding foot actions applied to the same set of motions making the Check more fluid and quicker. They all result in the same thing a deceptive cadence or rhythm.

circular parry a circular motion designed to parry and redirect the opponent’s thrust to the side opposite the line of engagement

close quarters blade actions in short distance, also ➢in-fighting

corps-a-corps prohibited body contact during a bout

counter offense consists of the combinationof actions carried out on the opponents’ attack. It has priority over the offensive when it gains a fencing time. A time or tempo is the duration of the execution of one simple offensive action. These include the stop hit (arret), derobement, remise (executed on a riposte or counter riposte).

counter-riposte any riposte made after parrying the opponent’s riposte or counter-riposte. “counter-riposte is the offensive action made by the fencer who has parried the riposte”.

counter-time a planned action made against an opponent’s stop-thrust or stop-cut: drawing the stop hit and then acting upon it by either parrying or stop hitting (the opponent’s stop-hit) a form of second intention.

• Any action made by the attacker against a stop hit made by his opponent. Rules 2018.

coupé cut-over, lifting the point over (high line) or under (low line) the opponent’s point, in one smooth motion and without withdrawing the hand or arm.

• 1. French. to go from one high line to the other [side of the opponent’s blade by] … passing the point of the weapon over that of the adversary. [Gomard*].
• 2. French. a disengagement that passes over the point of the adversary’s blade, instead of passing under, as in the disengagement. [Cordelois*, Prévost*]. …
• 5. Hungarian. the point of your weapon passes over that of the adversary into another line. [Bay, Rerrich, Tilli].
• 6. Italian. a disengagement that passes over the adversary’s blade in the lines of fourth and third. [Pini].
• 7. Italian. … an indirect attack executed in one movement, and may be used when the adversary engages in third or fourth. It can be directed to the inside and outside high lines, and to the outside low line. Gaugler.

cut-over see, Vcoupé

cross (croisé) a type of ➢pris-de-fer made by engaging the opponent’s blade and transporting it vertically to the opposite line, e.g., from high outside to low outside or vice-versa.

cut The non-thrusting offensive action of the saber blade. The cut may be executed either as a “drawing” cut or as a “chop”. 

deceive any action that deliberately avoids the opponent’s attempt to contact one’s blade. Sometimes used in the context of specifically avoiding circular parries.

defense consists of a combination of actions designed to push away the opponent’s offense or to avoid being hit. These include ➢parries, and body  displacements (➢passata sotto, ➢inquartata, ➢volte) and the retreat.

dérobement deceiving the opponent’s attempt to deflect your point-in-line; An avoidance of the opponent’s attempt to take the blade or beat, performed with a straight sword arm.

direct (action) a thrust or cut made straight to the target without changing line. 

disarm action intended to extract the weapon from an opponent’s grip.

disengage(ment) changing blade line by dropping the point under opponent’s blade (presuming he is in a high line) and then raising it on the other side. See, ➢coupé and ➢counter-disengage.

distance space between the fencers

doublé compound offensive action consisting of one feint and two changes of line: disengage or counter-disengage feint to induce a circular parry; then counter-disengage final, deceiving the circular parry. Used when opponent takes a circular parry against the feint.

double action/attack see, simultaneous action

echappement see, reverse lunge

engagement when two fencers’ blades are in contact, either, active (making the engagement) or passive (permitting the engagement).

envelopment a type of prise-de-fer action executed in a circular motion so that the opponent’s blade is finally opposed in the line it was originally engaged in, without losing contact.

evasion (esquive) any body action made to avoid being hit, such as ducking, sidestepping, partially turning, etc. See, ➢passata sotto and ➢inquartata.

expulsion attack executed by engaging the opponent’s blade with the middle part of one’s own blade and briskly whipping it forward straight to the target, at the same time expelling the opponent’s blade from its line

feint simulation of an offensive (false thrust or cut), defensive (false parry), or counter-offensive (false stop hit) action designed to draw a reaction or the absence of a reaction from the adversary.

feint (finta)-in-tempo a compound attack made against an offensive invitation tactic such as counter-time.

fencing time/tempo the time required to perform one single continuous fencing action. 

fente en arrière backward lunge

glide See, graze

graze an attack on the blade executed by engaging opponent’s blade and sliding gently along it to the target. Also, ➢coulé , ➢glide.

guard “ready” stance in fencing, characterized by offering the option of either attacking or defending in the most balanced and economical way. 

guides thumb and index finger of the hand, used to control the point

hand positions positions of the hand/weapon, which may be used either offensively or defensively.

High line(s). The area (including the part of the target) above a horizontal line drawn

indirect (action) thrust or cut made with a change of blade line (disengage, counterdisengage, or coupé). 

in line see, point in line

inquartata body evasion by pivoting on the front foot and making a side-step with the back foot to one’s outside, rotating the body away from the attacking point.

inside line(s) for right-handers, the area to the left of your armed hand; also, on the (right-handed) opponent, the area to the right of a vertical line drawn through the hilt of his weapon. 

invitation a deliberate opening of the target provoking the opponent to attack

jump backward reverse jump lunge with the main force of the backward momentum being generated by the back foot with a backward kicking action. It is an excellent way to quickly open distance evading a thrust or lunge.

jump lunge connected compound action using a >ballestra as the accelerating element into a lunge. The fundamental focus of the jump lunge is on forward acceleration rather than elevation, forward momentum being generated by the front foot with a forward kicking and pulling action. 

lunette guard foil guard shaped like a figure-8 or ➢lemniskate used in foils from the 16th- to the early 20th-century, either by itself or with a similarly shaped leather buffer fixed with in front of (i.e., facing the opponent) or behind it.

lunge basic offensive fencing movement of the body, made to deliver an attack out of arm’s reach, by stepping out with the foot on the same side as the weapon hand, leaving the rear foot on the floor as the hip drops and the rear leg extends, the rear knee snapping into a straight position in order to drive the body forward.

moulinét complete circling action of the weapon, pivoting on the elbow,

offensive actions are the >attack, the >riposte and the >counter-riposte.

outside line(s) the area to the right of your armed hand; also, on the (right-handed) opponent, the area to the left of a vertical line drawn through the hilt of his weapon. >“inside line(s)”.

parry defensive action using the blade to stop the opponent’s blade, executed either by opposition or by percussion (detached), and may be either lateral, circular, semi-circular, diagonal or yielding.

• is the defensive action made with the weapon to prevent an offensive action arriving. FIE Rules 2018

“yielding parry” used predominantly to defend against a ➢Prise action

1. French. taken on the final movement of attacks executed with takings of the blade. It consist of not offering resistance to the opposition sought by the antagonist; this results in a pivoting action that rotates the point to a diagonal line opposite to that in which the thrust was directed. During this motion, blade contact is maintained. [Cléry] 2. Hungarian. a particular method of execution used against bind thrusts. The hand makes a funnel-like movement as the two blades remain in contact with the point of contact acting as the tip of the funnel. [Pini]”. Gaugler.

passata sotto evasion executed by placing the unarmed hand on the floor and displacing the body downwards, such as a ➢lunge to the rear.

pattinando advance-lunge made with an accelerating change of tempo.

point in line a “defensive threat” position whereby the fencer directs the point of his weapon at the opponent‘s valid target, with the arm held straight from the shoulder. The point in line has the right-of-way against the attack unless deflected or avoided, if  it is established before the attack starts.

preparation any action with the blade, feet, or body that sets up the attack.

prime (1) The guard or parry position defending the high inside line in epee and foil, and the chest (in sabre). The hand is in pronation, point below hand.

prise (de fer) attack on the blade includingthe bind (lié), cross (croisé), envelopment, and opposition.

pronation hand position with the palm facing downwards (used in prime, seconde, tierce, and quinte parries). 

quarte parry or guard position defending the inside high line (épée and foil) or the chest and belly (sabre). The hand is in semi-supination and the point above the hand.

quinte guard or parry defending the inside low line (foil and epee) or the head (saber). The hand is held in pronation , the point below the hand (foil/épée); in saber, the hand is held to the right of the blade (for a right-hander), point above the hand.

radoppio see, ➢reprise d’attaque, ➢redoublement

rassemblement see, ➢reassemblé(ment)

reassemblé(ment) front foot withdrawal. The front foot withdrawal is characterized as being a short retreat. It is executed by moving the front foot back until it touches the back foot. This is often followed by a >Reverse Lunge (echappement). It is an excellent set up for a Continuation of the Attack (remise). Depending on the fencer’s intention it is advisable to extend the sword arm and weapon challenging the opponent’s target during the front foot withdrawal.The action of withdrawing from the guard to a standing position by pulling the front foot back to the rear foot and straightening both legs at the same time.

recovery The action of resuming the guard position after having lunged. May be either forward or backward.

redoublement a second offensive action, simple or composed or preceded by actions on the blade. It is executed in a lunge or fleche after a return on guard, forward or backward. 

• A new action, either simple or compound, made against an opponent who has parried without riposting or who has merely avoided the first action by retreating or displacing the target. Rules 2018.

remise the act of making a simple, direct, and immediate offensive action following the original action, without withdrawing the arm; used when the opponent has either parried without riposting or has made a riposte which is delayed, indirect, or compound.

• A simple and immediate offensive action which follows the original attack, without withdrawing the arm, after the opponent has parried or retreated, when the latter has either quitted contact with the blade without riposting or has made a riposte which is delayed, indirect or compound. FIE Rules 2018.

renewal renewing the offensive action without either parrying opponent’s riposte (if he makes one), or returning to guard. See “remise”, “redoublement”, and “reprise”.

reprise (d’attaque), reprise of the attack new attack executed immediately after a return to the guard position. The recovery to guard may be either backward or forward. See “renewal”.

retreat To move away from the opponent by stepping sequentially with first the rear foot followed by the front foot, restoring the orientation and distance of the feet relative to each other.

reverse lunge echappement

right of way The convention in foil and saber fencing which interdicts the causing of a double attack depending upon (1) who threatens first and (2) who takes the blade.

riposte An offensive action by the fencer who has parried the >attack. The riposte may be direct or indirect, simple or compound, detached or with opposition. The riposte may be immediate or delayed, depending on what action takes place and the speed at which it is carried out. Rules 2018.

• direct riposte a riposte which touches the opponent without leaving the line in which the parry was made.

• riposte with opposition Riposting while maintaining contact with opponent’s blade all the way to the target. Cf. “detached riposte”.

• riposte along the blade a riposte which touches the opponent by grazing along the blade after the parry. Rules 2018.

• riposte with a coupé a riposte which touches the opponent in the opposite line to that in which the parry was formed (the blade always passing over the opponent’s point).

• riposte with a doublé a riposte which touches the opponent in the opposite line to that in which the parry was formed, but after having described a complete circle around the opponent’s blade.

• riposte with a one–two a riposte which touches the opponent in the same line as that in which the parry was formed but after the blade has first been into the opposite line, by passing under the opponent’s blade.

salto indietro see, > jump backward

salut a courteous gesture with the weapon toward the opponent, jury and audience, made preceding and after a bout 

seconde (2) The guard or parry defending the outside low line (epee and foil) or the flank made with the hand in pronation, the point below the hand.

second intention action made with the intention of hitting/scoring with one’s second offensive cut/thrust. The classical example is: planned attack, expected by riposte by opponent, planned counter-riposte. Cf. “first intention”.

semicircular (parry) Moving from high to low line (or vice versa) on the same side in foil/epee.

septime The guard or parry defending the inside low line (foil and epee), with the hand holding the weapon in supination, the point below the hand.

simple action An action executed in one fencing tempo, such as: direct attack or riposte, indirect attack, or beat attack.

simultaneous (action) When both fencers attack (i.e., begin extending their arms offensively) at the same time, in the same “fencing tempo” or “fencing time”. Since this results in neither (or both) fencer(s) having right-of-way, both hits (in foil and sabre) are annulled.

sixte the guard of parry defending outside high line in epee and foil with the hand holding the weapon in semi-supination, the point above the hand. In sabre it defends the head, but is used almost exclusively in teaching: hand in supination and to the left of the blade (for a right-hander).

stop hit a counter-attack made into an attack; made within a period of fencing time, i.e., “in time” (cf. t.88, t.105).

• stop hit made with opposition a counter-attack made while closing the line in which the opponent’s attack will be completed.
• stop cut a countering action (in saber only) made at the moment the opponent initiates a preparation or feint. May be in more than one tempo, but in any case must land before the final of the opponent’s attack/riposte begins in order to gain right-of-way.
• stop thrust A countering thrust made at the moment when the opponent initiates a preparation or feint. Its limitations are the same as for the stop cut.

supination The position of the hand with palm facing half-upwards (used in quarte, sixte, octave, and septime in the thrusting weapons). Cf. “pronation.

target That area of the fencer’s body that is specified by the rules as legitimate scoring surface. Varies with the weapon (foil, epee, sabre).

tempo “fencing time” Defined as the time it takes a fencer to make one simple action.

• “a relationship between a fencer’s rate of movement, the distance to the opponent’s target, technique, and surprise”, http://www.coachescompendium.org/epeetempo.html

thrust action made by moving the point of the weapon continuously towards the target with a full extending of the arm.

tierce guard or parry defending the outside high line (foil and epee) or the flank/outside of arm (in sabre), made with the hand in pronation and the point above the hand.

touch The arrival of the point or edge of the blade upon the bodily surface of the opponent, as specified by the rules. Syn.” hit.

tournament The name given to a number of competitions, individual and team, held at the same place, at the same period and under the same aegis. Rules 2018.

trompement A deceiving of the opponent’s attempt to parry, normally after your feint.

yielding (parry) parrying using the force of the opponent’s pressure on the defending blade to divert the defending and attacking blade into another line whileclosing the original line of attack. Syn.: “ceding parry”.