Assault
Friendly combat between two fencers

Attack
Initial action made by extending the sword arm, continuously threatening the valid target of the opponent

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Balestra
A forward hop or jump, typically followed by an attack such as a lunge or fleche

Beat
Attempt to knock the opponent's blade aside or out of line by using one's foible (middle) against the opponent's foible

Bout
Assault at which the score is kept

Button
Safety tip on the end of practice (non-electrical) weapons

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Counter Attack
Attack made against the right of way, or in response to the opponents attack

Counter-Riposte
An attack that follows a parry of the opponents riposte

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Disengage
Circular movement of the blade that deceives the opponents parry, removes the blade from engagement or changes the line of engagement

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En-garde or 'On guard'
The fencing position, the stance that fencers assume when preparing to fence

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Feint
Attacking into one line with the intention of switching to another line before the attack is completed

FIE (Federdation Internationale d’Escrime)
The world governing body of fencing: www.FIE.ch

Fleche (arrow)
An attack in which the aggressor leaps off his leading foot, attempts to make the hit, and then passes the opponent at a run

Flick
A cut 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

Foible
The upper and the weakest part of the blade

Forte
The lower and the strongest part of the blade

French Grip
A traditional hilt with a slightly curved grip and large pommel

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Guard (meaning 1)
The metal cup or bow that protects the hand from being hit

Guard (meaning 2)
The defensive position assumed when not attacking

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Hilt
The handle of a sword consisting of the guard, grip and pommel

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Line
The main direction of an attack (e.g. high/low, outside/inside) often equated to the parry that must be made to deflect the attack, also point in line

Lunge
An attack made by extending the rear leg and landing on the bent front leg

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Middle
The middle third of the blade, between the foible and the forte

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Neuvieme Parry
Number 9 - blade behind the back, pointing down: alternatively similar to elevated sixte

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Octave Parry
Number 8 - blade down and to the outside, wrist supinated (the palm of your hand turned upwards)

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Parry
A block of the attack, made with the forte of one’s own blade

Piste
The liner strip which a fencing bout is fought - the piste is 2 metres wide and 14 metres long

Pistol Grip
A modern orthopaedic grip, shaped like a small pistol

Point in line
An extended arm and blade that threatens the opponent

Pommel
A fastener that attaches the grip to the blade

Preparation
The initial phase of an attack, before right of way is established

Prime Parry
Number 1 - blade down and to the inside wrist pronated (the palm of your hand turned downwards towards the floor)

Principle of Defence
The use of the forte against the foible when parrying

Priority
Rules that decided which fencer will be awarded the point in the event that they both attack simultaneously (also known as the Right of Way)

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Quarte Parry
Number 4 - blade up and to the inside - wrist supinated

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Referee
Also known as the director, the president or the mediator of the bout

Remise
Immediate replacement of an attack that missed or was parried without withdrawing the arm

Right of Way
Rules for awarding the point in the event of a double touch

Riposte
An attack made immediately after a parry of the opponent's attack

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Salle
A fencing hall or club

Salute
A customary acknowledgement of one’s opponent and referee at the start and the end of the bout

Seconde Parry
Number 2 - blade down and to the outside - wrist pronated

Septime Parry
Number 7 blade down and to the inside wrist supinated

Simple
An attack or riposte that involves no feints

Simultaneous
Two attacks for which the right of way is too close to determine

Sixte Parry
Number 6 - blade up and to the outside - wrist supinated

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Thrust
An attack made by moving the sword parallel to its length and landing with the point

Tierce Parry
Number 3 - lade up and to the outside - wrist pronated

Last updated on 2007-10-20 by Fighting Fit Fencing