Fencing words · Beginner

The words you will hear in your first match, grouped the way you meet them.

B · Beginner · 33 words · Step 1 of 2

Basic setup terms

Piste

The strip used for fencing, the same for all three weapons. It is 14 m long and its combat area is 1.50 m wide. The centre line is in the middle, the two on-guard lines are 2 m either side of it, and the rear limits are 7 m from the centre, with the last 2 m marked in a different colour.

Bout

A single contest between two fencers. In pools it is to five hits in three minutes; in direct elimination to 15 hits or nine minutes of fencing time in three three-minute periods. A team match is a relay of nine bouts.

Fencer

A competitor in the sport.

On guard

The ready position the fencers take on the referee's command On guard!, each with the front foot just behind the on-guard line. The referee then asks Are you ready? and gives the command Play! to start the bout.

Also called: en garde
See also: Bout, Referee

Referee

The official who directs the bout, checks the equipment, and decides which fencer scored, using the electrical apparatus and, where used, judges and a video referee. In FIE competitions the referee must be an FIE-licensed referee.

Also called: president
See also: Bout, Fencer, Judges, Video referee

Mask

The protective head mask, with a second security device that must be fixed so the mask stays on the head. The fencer keeps it on until the referee calls Halt.

Fencer's salute

A gesture of respect before and after the bout: the fencers face each other, still on their on-guard lines, with the mask under the non-sword arm, raise the guard to the chin and lower the blade. They salute the opponent, referee and spectators.

Pool

The first round of an event, in which each fencer fences each other in the pool in bouts to five hits, with a three-minute time limit.

Direct elimination

The knockout rounds, drawn as a table. Each bout is to 15 hits or nine minutes in three periods of three minutes with a minute's rest, and the loser is out.

Also called: DE, table
See also: Bout

Team match

A relay between two teams of three fencers (a team needs at least three present). Each bout adds five hits to the cumulative score (5, 10, 15 and so on, up to 45) within three minutes. The first team to 45 wins, or the one ahead when regulation time ends.

Deciding hit

When scores are level at the end of time, the fencers fence one more minute for a hit. Before they start the referee draws lots for who wins if there is still no hit. The referee must use video refereeing before giving the decision on that hit.

Also called: sudden death, priority
See also: Referee, Video refereeing

The three weapons

Foil

A thrusting weapon: hits are made only with the point, and only hits on the trunk count, from the collar to the line of the hip bones, excluding the head and limbs. The conventions of right of way decide who scores when both fencers hit.

Épée

A thrusting weapon: hits are made only with the point, and the whole body, clothing and equipment is target. Both fencers can score at once, which counts as a double hit, and there is no right of way.

Sabre

A weapon for cutting and thrusting: a hit with the point, cutting edge, flat or back of the blade counts, on any part of the body above a horizontal line through the hip bones, including head and arms. The conventions of right of way apply, and the flèche is forbidden.

Scoring terms

Hit

A valid hit on the opponent's target. It counts only if the electrical apparatus registers it (apart from limited exceptions such as a penalty hit). The referee then decides whether it is valid or has priority.

Also called: touch
See also: Referee, Deciding hit, Right of way, Penalty hit

Right of way

The convention at foil and sabre that decides who gets the hit when both fencers hit at about the same time. An attack that is correctly made must be parried or avoided, and gives the right to the hit; after a parry the right passes to the riposte. At épée there is none.

Also called: priority, convention
See also: Foil, Épée, Sabre, Parry, Riposte

The ruleWhat is right of way in fencing?

Electrical scoring apparatus

The equipment that registers hits: weapon, bodywire, conductive jacket at foil and sabre, and the box with lamps. The materiality of a hit comes from its indications, and the referee can annul a hit it registered, or order tests when it fails.

Also called: electric scoring system, scoring box
See also: Referee, Foil, Sabre, Lame, Body cord

Winning a bout

In pools, the first to five hits, or the higher score after three minutes. In direct elimination the first to 15 or the higher score after three three-minute periods. A tie goes to a deciding hit within one minute, with the winner drawn by lot if there is still no hit.

Also called: bout victory
See also: Direct elimination, Deciding hit

The ruleHow many hits win a fencing bout, and how long does it last?

Valid target

The area where a hit counts. At foil, the trunk from the collar to the hip bones; at épée, the whole body, clothing and equipment; at sabre, everything above a horizontal line through the hip bones, head and arms included.

Double hit

Both fencers hit. At épée a hit is scored against each. At foil and sabre it follows a faulty action by one fencer, and the referee gives the hit to the fencer who was not at fault.

Also called: coup double
See also: Fencer, Referee, Foil, Épée, Sabre

Penalty hit

A hit added to the opponent's score by a red card, even without any hit on the piste.

Right of way and the phrase

Fencing phrase

A continuous sequence of actions: every correct attack must be parried or completely avoided. The referee stops the bout when the phrase becomes confused and cannot be analysed.

Movement and technique terms

Lunge

A fast forward attacking movement where the fencer extends their front leg and arm to reach the opponent.

Parry

A defensive action made with the weapon to stop an offensive action arriving. Parries are direct when made in the same line as the attack and circular when made in the opposite line.

Riposte

The offensive action made by the fencer who has just parried. It must be done immediately to cancel the attacker's further actions.

Advance

Basic footwork moving forward (advance) or backward (retreat) along the piste.

Also called: retreat
See also: Piste

Feint

A false attack. In a compound attack a feint must be made with the arm straightened and the point threatening the target, so the opponent has to parry. If the opponent finds the blade during a feint they have the right to riposte.

See also: Parry, Riposte, Attack, Compound attack

Attack

The initial offensive action, made by extending the arm and continuously threatening the opponent's target, before the lunge or flèche starts. Actions made with a bent arm are preparations, not attacks.

Rules and boundaries

Leaving the piste

Crossing a lateral boundary with one or both feet. The referee calls Halt and the fencer must step back one metre, or return to the start of an attack and a further metre. Crossing the rear limit with both feet counts as a hit against the fencer. Going off with both feet to avoid a hit is penalised.

Also called: off the piste
See also: Fencer, Referee, Attack

The ruleWhat happens when a fencer steps off the piste?

Yellow card

A warning for a first-group offence. The fencer then knows any further offence in the bout will bring a penalty hit.

Red card

A penalty hit: a hit is added to the opponent's score, and it can decide the bout. It follows a second first-group offence, any second-group offence, and the first third-group offence.

Black card

Exclusion from the competition, with suspension for the rest of the tournament and the following 60 days of the active season. It follows the second third-group offence or the first fourth-group offence.

Officials and review

Video refereeing

Only the fencer on the piste may ask for a review. In pools a fencer has one appeal a bout and in direct elimination two, kept if the referee agrees; teams have one per relay. The referee watches with the video referee, up to four repetitions, and the decision is final.

Also called: video review
See also: Piste, Bout, Fencer, Referee, Direct elimination

The ruleHow do video reviews work in fencing?

I · Intermediate · 31 wordsNext: Intermediate words