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COMMOM TECHNICAL TERMS USED IN FENCING

Fencing Time
Fencing time is the time required to perform one simple fencing action (one tempo).

Offensive and Defensive Actions
The offensive actions are the attack, the riposte and the counter-riposte.

• Attack: The initial offensive action made by extending the arm and continuously threatening the opponent’s target, preceding the launching of the lunge or flèche.
• Riposte: The offensive action made by the fencer who has parried the attack.
• Counter-riposte: The offensive action made by the fencer who has parried the riposte.

The defensive actions are the parries.

• Parry: The defensive action made with the weapon to prevent an offensive action arriving.

Explanation of Offensive Actions

The Attack
The action is simple when it is executed in one movement and is

• either direct (in the same line)
• or indirect (in another line).

The action is compound when it is executed in several movements.

The Riposte
The riposte is immediate or delayed, depending on what action takes place and the speed at which it is carried out.

• The simple direct ripostes
  • Direct riposte: touches the opponent without leaving the line in which the parry was made.
  • Riposte along the blade: touches the opponent by grazing along the blade after the parry.
• The simple, indirect ripostes
  • Riposte by disengagement: touches the opponent in the opposite line to that in which the parry was formed (by passing under the opponent’s blade if the parry was formed in the high line, and over the blade if the parry was formed in the low line).
  • Riposte with a coupé: touches the opponent in the opposite line to that in which the parry was formed (the blade always passing over the opponent’s point).
• The compound riposte
  • Riposte with a doublé: touches the opponent in the opposite line to that in which the parry was formed, but after having described a complete circle round the opponent’s blade.
  • Riposte with a one–two: 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.

Counter-Attacks

Counter-attacks are offensive or offensive–defensive actions made during the offensive action of the opponent.

• Stop cut: A counter-attack made into an attack.
• Stop cut made with opposition: A counter-attack made while closing the line in which the opponent’s attack will be completed.
• Stop cut made within a period of fencing time: A counter-attack made into the opponent’s preparation of an attack (i.e. a stop cut ‘in time’).

Other Offensive Actions

• Remise: 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 broken contact with the blade without riposting or has made a riposte which is delayed, indirect or compound.
• Redoublement: 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.
• Reprise: A new attack executed immediately after a return to the on-guard position.
• Counter-time: Every action made by the attacker against a stop cut made by the opponent.

Explanation of Defensive Actions

• Parries are simple, direct, when they are made in the same line as the attack.
• They are circular (counter-parries) when they are made in the opposite line to that of the attack.

The ‘in-line’ Position
The point-in-line position is a particular position in which the fencer has his sword arm extended and continually threatens the valid target of the opponent with the point of his weapon.
(The above is referenced from the USFA’s Fencing Rules, 2002 Ed., Rev. C, p14.)

RIGHT-OF-WAY PRIORTY

1. Point In-Line
   The touch must arrive with the point; otherwise it is deemed passé, and will not count.
2. Attack
3. Riposte
4. Counter-Attack
5. Remise
6. Redoublement
7. Reprise

Although this constitutes the correct order for priority, note that directors often interchange the order of remise, redoublement, and reprise. Therefore, the emphasis on distinguishing between the three is drastically reduced.