A

absence d’épée [Fr.]:  to come on guard or fence without engagement

actions of concealment:   generally, any action that a fencer takes to conceal another action, such as using distracting changes of engagement to conceal the fencer's entrance into medium distance or rapid footwork to conceal the fencer’s use of pressure to open the opponent's line

actions on the blade:  a category of actions that a fencer executes on the adversary’s blade;  in CCF, actions on the blade are divided into (1) attacks on the blade and (2) takings of the steel

advance:  a fencer’s forward step

aides:  the armed hand’s forefinger and thumb

·         see manipulators

Allez! [Fr., “Go!”]:  the command to begin fencing

attack: a general term referring to an offensive action intended to land a valid touch

attack on the blade:  an action that a fencer executes with his blade on the opponent's blade to displace the latter's blade; in CCF, attacks on the blade include beats, pressures, and froissements

·         see also, takings of the steel

attaque au fer [Fr.]:  an attack on the blade

attaque composée [Fr.]:  a composed attack

attaque sur préparation [Fr.]:  a fencer's attack into the opponent's preparation on the attack

B

battement [Fr.]: a beat

beat:  an attack on the blade in which the fencer, using the medium to forte of his own blade, crisply beats the weak part of the opponent's blade

·         Fr.,  battement

bind: a taking of the steel in which the fencer uses his blade to manipulate the opponent’s extended blade to the diagonally opposite line

bout:  generally, a contest between two fencers, usually to five touches

button:  the rubber tip of a foil or epee

C

central position:  an en garde position that places the foil at the center junction of the four lines (also, center position)

change of engagement:  to change the blades’ engagement into the laterally opposite line, such as from sixte to quarte, or septime to octave

·         Fr., changement d'engagement

changement d'engagement [Fr.]:  a change of engagement

changement de rhythme [Fr.]:  a sudden change in fencing tempo or rhythm for a strategic purpose

circular parry:  a parry in which the defending blade moves in a circular motion

classical fencing:  fencing as it was practiced in the West during  roughly the late 1700s and into the 1800s

close distance:  term used to describe the distance between two on guard fencers when one of the fencers can validly touch the other by extending the sword arm

·         see also, distance, long distance, and medium distance

close the line: to defend a line by positioning the blade and arm such that an attack into that line will not land on a valid target

composed attack:  an attack from long distance and composed of a single feint and an attack

contracted parry:  a parry that travels an inefficient path in deviating the incoming steel

contre-parade [Fr.]:  circular parry

coquille: the guard on a foil’s or épée’s handle (sometimes called the “bell” or “bell guard”)

correct measure:  the distance one must travel to lunge and validly touch one’s opponent

·         see also, distance, measure, medium distance

coulé [Fr., a “gliding” or “sinking”]:  a glide

counter-attack:  an attack against a preceding attack

counterdisengagement:  a disengagement executed upon the opponent’s attempted change of engagement, effectively returning the fencers to the previous engagement

coup d’arrêt [Fr.]:  a stop hit

coup de temps [Fr.]:  time thrust

coup droit [Fr.]:  a straight thrust

coup droit d’autorité [Fr.]:  a valid touch that, due to its force, lands despite the attempted parry

·         cf. mal paré

coupé [Fr.]:  a cut over

croisé [Fr., “crossed”]:  a taking of the steel in which the fencer uses his blade to manipulate the opponent's blade  vertically (either from the high line or the low line, or vice versa) on the same side

cross-over retreat:  a retreat in which an en garde fencer places his lead foot behind the rear foot and then replaces the latter behind the lead foot, returning to the en garde position

cut over:  a simple attack in which the attacker raises his blade over the tip of the defender’s blade, brings it down in the laterally opposite line, and immediately extends

·         see simple attack

D

deceive:  a blade movement that the attacker executes in order to evade the defender’s attempt to parry or engage the attacker’s extended blade or incoming attack

·         Fr., trompement

dégagement [Fr.]: a disengagement

dérobement [Fr.]:  a defensive blade movement—such as a change of engagement—that a fencer makes to defeat the opponent’s attempt to take or dominate the fencer’s blade

disarmament: an especially vigorous attack on the blade—usually a beat or froissement—which forces the opponent’s blade from the opponent’s hand, whether accidentally or deliberately

·         see attacks on the blade

disengagement:  a simple attack in which the fencer detaches his blade from the engagement and extends his arm while passing his blade’s tip into a laterally or vertically opposite line

·         Fr., dégagement

distance:  the space between two on guard fencers; in fencing, there are at least three distances:  close, correct measure (sometimes “medium distance”), out-of-measure (sometimes “long distance”)

droitier [Fr.]:  a right-handed fencer

·         cf. gaucher

E

eight (Fr. octave): a supinated guard which protects the outside-low line

engagement:  a description of fencers’ blades being in contact

·         cf. absence d'épée

en garde [Fr.]:  (1) a command to come on guard; (2) to be in the on-guard position

enveloppement [Fr.]:  an envelopment

envelopment:  a taking of the steel in which the defender engages the opponent’s extended blade in a line, uses his own blade to quickly move the defender’s blade in a circle, returning the opponent’s blade back to the original line

escrime [Fr.]:  fencing

esquive [Fr.]:  generally to dodge, duck, or sidestep the attacker’s attack

·         see also, volte, inquartata, intagliata, and passata sotto

extension:  the full extension of the sword arm which establishes a foilist’s or sabreist’s right-of-way

F

fausse attaque [Fr.]:  a probing action

feint:  a faked attack designed to provoke the defender’s response, either as a probing action or to allow for the attacker’s deceive

fencing time:  the time it takes to execute a single fencing action (such as an advance or simple attack)

feinte simple [Fr.]:  a single feint

first intention:  a description of an attack that is not predicated upon the defender’s parry-riposte

five:  a pronated guard which protects the inside-low line

free fencing: informal, nonjudged fencing against a noninstructor and outside of a given drill

free fencing privileges:  the privilege to free fence given by the CCF head instructor to a fencer

froissement [Fr.]:  an attack on the blade in which the fencer forcefully slides his blade down and out against the opponent's blade, displacing the opponent's blade

foible:  the distal, weakest part of a blade (the third of the blade closest to the button)

forte [Fr., “strong”]:   the proximal, strongest part of the blade (the third of the blade closest to the coquille)

four [Fr. quarte]:  a guard which protects the inside-high line

G

gain measure:  to come within measure

gain on the lunge:  to bring the rear foot up against the lead foot just before lunging in order to lengthen the lunge

gaucher [Fr.]:  a left-handed fencer

glide:  a simple attack in which the incoming blade runs down the length of the defender’s blade, landing a touch to the target area

guard:  the position of a fencer’s blade used to defend the lines; in classical French fencing, there are eight guards:  prime, seconde, tierce, quarte, quinte, sixte, septime, and octave

H

high line:  the two quadrants above the coquille, i.e., the inside-high line and the outside-high line

·         cf. low line

historical fencing:  fencing as it was practiced during roughly the 1600 and 1700s

I

in measure:  to be at one’s lunging distance against an opponent

infighting:  fencing at close distance

inquartata [It.]:   a counter-attack in which, from the perspective of a right-handed en garde fencer, the fencer reverse lunges obliquely to the right while extending the sword arm, timing the reverse lunge to evade the incoming thrust but land a touch against the opponent

inside-high line:  from the perspective of an en garde right-handed fencer, that part of the fencer’s target area to the left of the fencer’s blade and above the fencer’s coquille (for a left-hander fencer, the inside-high line is right of the blade)

inside-low line:  from the perspective of an en garde right-handed fencer, that part of the fencer’s target area to the left of the fencer’s blade and below the fencer’s coquille (for a left-hander fencer, the inside-high line is right of the blade)

inside line:  from the perspective of an en garde right-handed fencer, that part of the fencer’s target area to the left of the fencer’s blade (for a left-hander fencer, the inside line is right of the blade)

insistence:  delivering a valid touch with sufficient force that it lands despite an attempted parry

·         see coup droit d’autorité

intagliata [It.]:  a counter-attack in which, from the perspective of a right-handed en garde fencer, the fencer steps forward and obliquely to the left while extending the sword arm, timing the step such that the fencer’s blade both opposes the opponent’s incoming thrust and lands on the opponent’s target area

invalid touch:  a touch outside of the target area

invitation:  a deliberate exposure of a line in order to induce the opponent’s attack

J

judge:  an official observer in a judged bout who answers to the president’s questions regarding the touches’ validity

judged bout: a bout which is officiated by a president and four judges

L

la belle [Fr., “the beauty” or “the beautiful [one]”]:  the tie-breaking point in a bout

liement [Fr.]:  a bind

line:  one of the four quadrants on a fencer’s target area—i.e., outside-high, outside-low, inside-high, and inside-low—into which we attack

long distance:  the distance between you and your opponent, when, in order to land a touch, you must advance and then lunge (sometimes “out-of-measure”)

·         see also, close distance, distance, and medium distance

low line:  the two quadrants below the coquille, i.e., the inside-low line and the outside-low line

·         cf. high line

lunge:  the fundamental, offensive movement that a fencer uses to make a valid touch from measure, conducted with rapidity and in the following order:  (1) extension of the armed hand, (2) extension of the rear leg, thrusting the body forward, (3) lowering of the rear arm, and (4) landing on the front foot, knee over the ankle

M

mal paré [Fr.,  lit. “badly parried”]:  a parry that insufficiently blocks the attacker’s blade, allowing the attacker to validly touch the defender

·         cf. coup droit d'autorité

manipulators:  the armed hand’s middle, ring, and pinkie fingers

·         see also, aides

measure:  the distance one must travel to lunge and validly touch one’s opponent; sometimes a synonym for “distance”

medium distance:  the distance between  a fencer and an opponent when,  in order to land a valid touch, the fencer must lunge

·         see also, correct measure, distance, measure

modern fencing:  fencing as it was practiced during roughly the first half of the 20^th century

O

octave:  a supinated guard which protects the outside-low line

Olympic fencing:  fencing as it is practiced in the Olympic games, usually with electric scoring apparatus

·         see also, postmodern fencing

on-guard:  a fencer’s basic ready position  

·         Fr., en garde

opposition [Fr. opposition]:  (1) placement of the blade during the attack which occupies the line in which the attack is being delivered, preventing the opponent’s attempt to thrust in that line and hindering the parry; (2)  a prise de fer in which the attacker presses the opponent’s blade laterally asides as the thrust is delivered

out-of-measure:  the distance between you and your opponent, when, in order to land a touch, you must advance and then lunge (sometimes “long distance”)

outside-high:  from the perspective of an en garde right-handed fencer, that part of the fencer’s target area to the right of the fencer’s blade and above the fencer’s coquille (for a left-hander fencer, the outside-high line is left of the blade)

outside-low:  from the perspective of an en garde right-handed fencer, that part of the fencer’s target area to the right of the fencer’s blade and below the fencer’s coquille (for a left-hander fencer, the outside-high line is left of the blade)

outside line:  from the perspective of an en garde right-handed fencer, that part of the fencer’s valid target area to the right of the fencer's blade (for a left-hander fencer, the outside line is right of the blade)

P

parade circulaire [Fr.]:  a circular parry

parry:  the defender’s movement of the blade used to deflect the attacker’s incoming blade

passe arrière [Fr.]:  a cross-over retreat

passe avant [Fr., “pass forward”]:  a step in which, from the en garde position, the fencer places his rear foot in front of the lead foot and the latter is immediately replaced forward, returning the fencer to the en garde position

passé [Fr., “passed”]:  an attempted touch that does not land with the point, but instead passes or slides along the target area

·         cf. plaqué

pattinando [It., “skating”]:  an extension quickly followed by a rapid and fluid advance and lunge

pied ferme [Fr.]:  (1) immobility; (2) executing fencing actions without any movement of the feet, such as in a drill

piste [Fr.]:  the fencing strip

plaqué [Fr.]:  an attempted touch that does not land with the button, but instead lands flat against the target area

·         cf. passé

pommel:  the weighted knob at the end of a foil, epee, or sabre

postmodern fencing:  fencing that emerged in the latter part of the 20^th, frequently with an electrical scoring apparatus, a de-emphasis on form, and an emphasis on speed

preparation:  an action that a fencer takes to prepare an attack, such as a beat or feint

president:  the lead official in a judged bout who directs the bout and has one-and-a-half votes  (sometimes called the director)

pression [Fr.]: pressure

pressure:  an attack on the blade in which the fencer presses his blade’s medium or forte against the weak of the opponent’s blade in order to open a line

prime:  a pronated guard which protects the inside-high line

priority:  in foil and sabre fencing, the convention that establishes (1) the attacker’s right to attack without defending and (2) the defender’s obligation to sufficiently deviate the attacker’s blade before the defender can attack; priority goes to the fencer who extends his sword arm first, and is transferred to the defender by his deviation of the attacker’s properly-executed attack

·         see also, extension

prise de fer [Fr.]: taking of the steel

probing actions:  actions that a fencer takes—e.g., sudden changes in speed, a feint, repeated changes of engagement—that are not intended to land a valid touch but instead to provoke the opponent’s reactions in order to strategically assess those reactions

pronated:  placement of the armed hand with knuckles toward the ceiling; the pronated guards include prime, seconde, tierce, and quinte

·         cf. supinated

Q

quarte [Fr., fourth]:  a supinated guard which protects the inside-high line

quinte [Fr., fifth]:  a pronated guard which protects the inside-low line

R

rassemblement [Fr., a “gathering”]:  a counter-attack in which the defender extends into the attack while displacing his own target area upward and back by pulling his lead foot back to his rear foot, straightening his knees, and lowering his rear arm

reassemblement:  a rassemblement, to perform a rassemblement

redouble:  from the lunge position, to replace the rear foot close to the front foot in order to lunge again, thereby making a new attack; to perform a redouble

redoublement:  a redouble

remise [Fr., a “return” or “replacement”]:  an immediate replacement of the point on the defender’s target area after the attack missed or was parried and without withdrawing the sword arm, without returning en garde, and before the defender ripostes

reprise [Fr., a “resumption” or “retaking”]:  a different attack that a fencer makes immediately after returning en garde (also, reprise d’attaque)

retreat:  a fencer’s single step backwards

reverse lunge:  a backwards lunge in which the fencer (1) extends the sword arm, (2) steps back with the rear foot into a lunge position, bending the front leg as necessary, and (3) lowers the rear arm

right-of-way:  priority

riposte:  an attack delivered immediately after a parry

rompre:  to break distance

S

salle d’armes [Fr.]:  a fencing training room or hall (sometimes salle)

scrape: an action on the blade in which a fencer vigorously slides his blade down the length of the opponent’s blade in order to displace the opponent's blade or disarm the opponent

·         Fr. froissement

·         see also, disarmament

second intention:  an action taken that is designed to induce the opponent’s responding offensive action

seconde:  a pronated guard which protects the outside-low line

sentiment du fer [Fr.]:  a fencer’s ability to use his sword to feel and manipulate the opponent’s sword

septime [Fr., “seventh”]:  a supinated guard which protects the inside-low line

seven: a supinated guard which protects the inside-low line

·         Fr. septime

simple attack:  an attack that is executed in one motion and in a single fencing time

simple parry:  a parry executed by travelling directly—either laterally, vertically, or diagonally—to the threatened line

six:  a supinated guard which protects the outside-high line

·         cf. sixte

sixte [Fr., “sixth”]:  a supinated guard which protects the outside-high line

stop hit:  a counter-attack consisting of an extension into the attacker’s faulty attempted attack (e.g., attacking without extension)

straight thrust:  a simple attack which, without any contact with the opponent’s blade, starts from and attacks into the same line

supinated:  placement of the armed hand with knuckles toward the floor; the supinated guards include quarte, sixte, septime, and octave.

T

tac au tac:  a onomatopoeic description of a parry and riposte by detachment

taking of the steel:   a preparation on the attack in which a fencer uses his blade to maneuver, displace, or otherwise dominate the opponent’s blade

·         see also, bind, croisé, disarmament, envelopment, and scrape

·         Fr., prise de fer

target area:  the area on a fencer’s body on which a touch can be scored; the area varies according to the weapon

·         in foil, the target area is the fencer’s entire torso—from the shoulders (but not the area covered by the mask’s bib) to the groin lines

·         in épée, the target area is the entire body

·         in saber, the target area is from the waist up

three-finger bend:  term used to describe the bend in a foil or saber which lands with sufficient force to theoretically penetrate layers of clothing and flesh (that is, a blade bend of approximately two to three inches)

tierce:  a pronated guard which protects the outside-high line

time thrust: a counter-attack that the defender executes upon the attacker’s final blade movement (that is, the thrust intended to touch the defender), which simultaneously defends through opposition and touches the attacker

thrust:  an extension intended as an attack

touch:  the placement of a foil’s or épée’s tip or a saber’s cutting edge or tip on a fencer

touche [Fr., “touch”]:  a valid touch

touché [Fr., “touched”]: to be validly touched

touche donée [Fr., “touch given”]:  a term describing a fencer who lands a valid touch

touche reçu [Fr., “touch received”]:  a term describing a fencer who receives a valid touch

toucher et ne pas l’être [Fr.]: “to touch and not be touched,” the axiom of classical fencing, attributed to Molière, and the CCF motto

trompement [Fr.]: a deceive 

V

valid touch:  a touch landed on the target area with sufficient force; in foil, the action of landing your foil’s button on your opponent’s target area with at least a three-finger bend

·         see three-finger bend

volte [Fr.]:  an esquive in which the fencer straightens his legs, turns his rear foot to off the line of direction a counter-attack in which, from the perspective of a right-handed en garde fencer, the fencer staightens his legs, stands upright; obliquely turns the rear foot  to the right less than 45º off the line of direction, landing on the ball of the foot and thus removing the inside high line from attack; extends the left arm; and thrusts to the opponent’s high line (usually over the opponent’s arm)