What is right of way in fencing?
B · Beginner · The weapons · 4 of 4A set of conventions in foil and sabre that decides who scores when both fencers hit. The fencer who attacks first, with the arm extending and the point threatening the target, has priority. The defender must parry or avoid that attack before hitting back. A successful parry passes the priority to the defender.
How it works
- The basic rule: "Every attack, that is every initial offensive action, which is correctly executed must be parried or completely avoided".
- The attack: "the initial offensive action made by extending the arm and continuously threatening the opponent's target".
- Correctly made: the straightening of the arm, with the point threatening the valid target, comes before the start of the lunge.
- Bent arm: actions with a bent arm "are not considered as attacks but as preparations", and can be attacked into.
- The parry: "The parry gives the right to riposte".
- The riposte: must be made "immediately, without indecision or delay" to keep that right.
- Feints: if the defender finds the blade during a feint, the defender has the right to riposte.
- Stop hit: a hit into the attack scores only if it arrives a clear moment before the attacker's final movement.
- Renewals: a second effort by the attacker after being parried loses to an immediate riposte.
- Who decides: "The Referee alone decides as to the validity or the priority of the hit".
- Fencing time: "the time required to perform one simple fencing action". It is the unit the referee uses to separate two hits.
The glossary has the right of way entry, the attack, the parry, the riposte, the stop hit, the fencing phrase and the fencing time entry.
Tricky cases
Both fencers hit at the same moment. One started the attack. Who scores?
The attacker, if the attack was correctly made and was not parried or avoided.
The defender parries, pauses and then hits. Does the riposte still have priority?
No, not if the attacker renews the attack in the pause. A riposte must be immediate to annul what the attacker does next.
A fencer marches forward with the arm bent and is hit by a quick straight thrust. Who scores?
The fencer who thrust. Steps forward with a bent arm are a preparation and not an attack. A simple attack into them has priority.
Does the fencer who hits first win the point?
No, not in foil or sabre. The order of the lights does not decide it. The referee reconstructs who had priority.
Why the rule exists
With sharp weapons, hitting your opponent while being run through yourself is not a win. Right of way trains the sensible response: deal with the blade coming at you first, then hit. It also turns an exchange into something a referee can read as a sequence, called a phrase, in which the priority passes back and forth.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Foil | Priority, as above | FIE t.82 to t.89 |
| Sabre | The same conventions, with the hit due by the time the front foot lands | FIE t.100 to t.106 |
| Épée | No priority. Both hits count | FIE t.92 |
From the rule book
Fédération Internationale d'Escrime, Technical Rules (August 2026), articles t.8 to t.14, t.82 to t.89 and t.100 to t.106. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: FIE Technical Rules (PDF).