Fencing Terms

Front 1

Advance

Back 1

Taking a step towards one's opponent. Forward step of the front foot followed by a forward step of the rear foot.

Front 2

Attack

Back 2

Movement or series of movements by which a fencer tries to score a point. In foil and saber, the fencer who attacks first acquires the "right-of-way." In order to execute a attack properly (i.e. one that the referee will acknowledge), the fencer's hand must be clearly extending towards their opponent's valid target in a threatening manner.

Front 3

Attack, Direct

Back 3

Simple offensive action executed in a straight line.

Front 4

Attack, Indirect

Back 4

Offensive action executed in a line other than the one in which it originated.

Front 5

Beat

Back 5

Sharp tap on the opponent's blade to initiate an attack or provoke a reaction.

Front 6

Disengage

Back 6

Evasive action in which the fencer avoids the opponent's attempt to take their blade. Is a semi-circular movement of the point with an extension of the arm that moves the point from one line to the opposite line.

Front 7

Double Advance

Back 7

A succession of two advances with a change of tempo.

Front 8

Double Retreat

Back 8

A succession of two retreats with a change of tempo.

Front 9

Engagement

Back 9

Contact between the fencers' blades - often as the prelude to an attack.

Front 10

En Garde

Back 10

The position taken before fencing begins. Position most favorable for equal readiness of offense, defense, counter-offence and mobility.

Front 11

Feint

Back 11

A false attack intended to get a defensive reaction from the opposing fencer, thus creating the opportunity for a genuine attack ("feint-disengage attack")

Front 12

Fleche

Back 12

Explosive, running attack (Foil and Epee only)

Front 13

Guard

Back 13

Part of the weapon between the blade and handle; protects the hand (also: "bell-guard")

Front 14

Parry &
Counter-Parry

Back 14

Defensive action in which a fencer blocks his opponent's blade.

Front 15

Parry, Lateral

Back 15

Parry made by moving the blade in a horizontal motion.

Front 16

Parry, Circular

Back 16

Parry made by moving the blade in a circular motion.

Front 17

Retreat

Back 17

Backward step of the rear foot followed by a backward step of the front foot.

Front 18

Lunge

Back 18

Most common attack technique, in which the fencer launches themselves at their opponent by pushing off from their back leg (which generally remains stationary).

Front 19

Line

Back 19

Area of target defined by the relative position of the weapon hand.

Front 20

Opposition "Thrust With Opposition"

Back 20

To simultaneously deflect the opponent's point with one's guard while making an attack of one's own. Commonly used in epee to avoid a double touch.

Front 21

Piste

Back 21

French term for the fencing strip.

Front 22

Point-in-Line

Back 22

Action in which the fencer, who is generally out of attacking range, points their weapon at their opponent with their arm fully extended. A fencer who establishes a point in line has right of way, and their opponent cannot attack until they remove the blade from line by executing a beat.

Front 23

Riposte

Back 23

Defender's offensive action executed after a parry. It may be either simple (in one line) or compound (multiple actions).

Front 24

Recover

Back 24

The return to the en garde position after lunging.

Front 25

Remise

Back 25

Attacking again immediately after the opponent's parry of an initial attack.

Front 26

Second Intention

Back 26

A tactic in which a fencer executes a convincing, yet false, action in hopes of drawing a true, committed reaction from their opponent.

Front 27

Stop Hit

Back 27

A counter-action made at the moment of an opponent's hesitation, feint, or poorly executed attack. To be awarded the point, the fencer attempting a stop hit must clearly catch their opponent's tempo. Hence, if their Stop Hit is not "in time," the referee may award the touch to their attacker.

Front 28

Strip

Back 28

Field of play or piste; 14 meters long by 2 meters wide.