Have you ever stood on the side lines of a fencing bout, completely baffled as coaches shouted terms like “riposte,” “en garde,” and “priority”? You’re not alone! Fencing has developed its own rich vocabulary over centuries, blending terms from multiple languages and traditions. Mastering this terminology isn’t just about sounding knowledgeable—it’s essential for understanding instructions, rules, and tactics as you begin your fencing journey.

This guide will walk you through the essential terms every beginner fencer in India should know, providing you with the linguistic foundation to fully engage with this exciting sport.

Basic Positions and Commands

Starting the Bout:

• En Garde: The starting position for fencers, with weapon arm partially extended, non-weapon arm raised for balance, and feet positioned at approximately right angles. When your coach calls “en garde,” adopt this ready stance immediately!

• Ready: The command that follows “en garde,” signaling fencers to prepare for action.

• Fence/Allez: The command that starts the action (similar to “go” or “begin”). When you hear “allez” (pronounced “ah-LAY”), the bout has officially begun.

• Halt/Stop: The command that stops all action immediately. In competitions across India, you’ll hear both English “halt” and French “arrêt” (pronounced “ah-RAY”) used.

Body Positions:

• Sixte (6th): The basic en garde position for foil and épée, with the hand slightly above waist level, palm facing slightly downward.

• Octave (8th): The basic en garde position for sabre, with the hand to the right (for right-handed fencers) at approximately shoulder height.

• Lines: The four areas of target divided vertically and horizontally (high inside, high outside, low inside, low outside). At Khelo India training centers, coaches often use colored targets to help beginners visualize these lines.

Basic Footwork Terms:

• Advance: A forward step, moving the front foot first, followed by the back foot (maintaining stance).

• Retreat: A backward step, moving the back foot first, followed by the front foot.

• Lunge: An attacking movement extending the weapon arm, followed by the front leg kicking forward while the back leg remains in place. The lunge dramatically extends your reach for an attack.

• Recovery: The action of returning to the en garde position after a lunge. A front recovery pulls the front foot back; a rear recovery brings the back foot forward.

• Fleche: A running attack (literally “arrow” in French) where the back foot crosses in front. Important note: the fleche is only legal in foil and épée, not in sabre! In many Indian competitions, beginners often receive warnings for accidental fleches in sabre.

Blade Actions and Techniques

Offensive Actions:

• Attack: Any offensive action intended to land a hit on the opponent.

• Direct Attack: A straight attack that proceeds in a single movement without any preparatory blade action.

• Compound Attack: An attack executed with multiple movements, typically involving one or more feints before the final action.

• Disengage: A blade action that moves your point from one side of the opponent’s blade to the other without crossing blades.

• Cut: In sabre, an attack made with the edge of the blade rather than the point. Indian sabre coaches often emphasize that cuts should still be made with precision, not wild swinging motions!

Defensive Actions

• Parry: A defensive movement that blocks or deflects an incoming attack with your blade.

• Numbered Parries: Defensive positions are numbered (1 through 8). The most common for beginners are:

• Parry 4: Blade positioned to protect the inside high line (to your left if right-handed)

• Parry 6: Blade positioned to protect the outside high line (to your right if right-handed)

• Parry 7: Blade positioned to protect the outside low line

• Parry 8: Blade positioned to protect the inside low line

• Circle Parry: A defensive action where the blade makes a complete circle to catch the opponent’s blade and deflect it.

Counter-Offensive Actions:

• Riposte: An offensive action made immediately after successfully parrying an attack. Rights to scoring are automatically given to the riposte in foil and sabre.

• Counter-attack: An offensive action made during the opponent’s attack. In épée, this can be an effective strategy; in foil and sabre, it must arrive before the opponent’s attack finishes to score.

• Stop-hit: A specific type of counter-attack aimed at landing before the opponent’s attack is completed.

Right of Way and Scoring Terms

Priority (Right of Way):

• Priority/Right of Way: The rules determining which fencer gets awarded the point if both land hits simultaneously (only in foil and sabre). The fencer who started their attack first generally has right of way unless it’s taken by the opponent through a parry or other defensive action.

• Established Attack: An attack that has begun with continuous forward movement and extension of the weapon arm.

• Point in Line: Extending your weapon arm directly toward your opponent’s valid target before they begin an attack, establishing right of way.

Referee Calls:

• Simultaneous Actions: When both fencers attack at the same time without either having priority. In foil and sabre, no point is awarded; in épée, both fencers receive a point.

• Off-target: In foil, a hit that lands outside the valid target area. This stops the action but awards no point.

• Attack-No/Nothing: Referee’s call indicating that an attack did not land.

• Attack-Touch/Yes: Referee’s call indicating that an attack landed successfully.

• Counter-time: A tactical sequence where a fencer deliberately draws a counter-attack from their opponent and then defends against it, usually with a parry-riposte.

Equipment Terminology

Basic Equipment:

• Mask: Protective headgear with a mesh face to allow visibility while protecting the face.

• Jacket: The protective outer garment covering the torso and arms.

• Plastron: An underarm protector worn beneath the jacket for additional safety.

• Lame: (Pronounced “lah-MAY”) The metallic over-jacket worn in foil and sabre to register valid hits.

• Glove: Protective hand covering with a gauntlet that overlaps the jacket sleeve.

• Knickers/Breeches: The short trousers ending just below the knee.

• Body Wire: The wire connecting the weapon to the scoring apparatus through the fencer’s clothing.

Weapon Parts:

• Blade: The flexible steel part of the weapon.

• Forte: The strong part of the blade near the guard, used for parrying.

• Foible: The weak part of the blade near the tip, used for hitting.

• Guard: The circular piece that protects the hand.

• Grip: The handle of the weapon. Common types in India include:

• French Grip: A straight grip that allows for greater reach but less control

• Pistol Grip: A shaped grip providing more control and power

• Pommel: The nut or cap at the end of the grip that holds the weapon together.

• Point/Tip: The end of the blade where the button or point is located.

Competition Terminology:

• Piste: The strip or playing field for fencing, measuring 14m long and 1.5-2m wide. Many clubs in India mark pistes with tape when dedicated metallic pistes aren’t available.

• Pool: A preliminary round where each fencer in a group fences against every other fencer in that group.

• Direct Elimination (DE): The knockout phase of competition following pools, where losers are eliminated.

• Seeding: Ranking of fencers based on results to determine matchups in direct elimination.

• Double Touch: When both fencers hit each other within timing specifications. In épée, both receive a point; in foil and sabre, the point goes to the fencer with right of way.

• Black Card: A penalty card signifying serious offense resulting in expulsion from the competition.

• Red Card: A penalty resulting in a point awarded to the opponent.

• Yellow Card: A warning card that doesn’t immediately result in a point penalty.

Learning in Action: Practical Applications

During Lessons:

When your coach tells you to “extend before you lunge,” they’re instructing you to straighten your weapon arm before your front foot moves forward—a crucial sequence for proper technique.

If your coach calls for a “parry-four riposte,” they want you to block your opponent’s blade to your inside high line (parry 4) and immediately counter-attack (riposte).

During Bouts:

When the referee calls “simultaneous attacks” in foil or sabre, neither fencer receives a point because both attacked at the same time without establishing priority.

If you hear “attack is short, riposte arrives,” it means the initial attack missed or fell short, and the defender’s counter-action scored.

At Competitions:

During Khelo India Youth Games or national competitions, understanding phrases like “on deck” (be ready, you’re fencing next) or “check your weapon” (test your equipment) keeps you prepared and prevents delays.

Regional Variations in India:

While fencing terminology is largely standardized internationally, you might encounter some variations across India

Beyond the Basics: Next Steps

As you become more comfortable with basic terminology, you’ll gradually pick up more advanced tactical terms like:

• “Second intention” (deliberately missing with a first action to set up a scoring opportunity)

• “Absence of blade” (attacking without blade contact)

• “False attack” (an attack meant to draw a reaction rather than score)

Don’t try to memorize every term at once! Focus on mastering the vocabulary relevant to your current training. Most coaches across India introduce terminology progressively as new techniques are taught.

Conclusion: Speaking the Language of Fencing

Learning fencing terminology is like learning any new language—it takes practice and immersion. Don’t be afraid to ask questions when you hear unfamiliar terms. Coaches and experienced fencers at clubs throughout India are typically eager to help newcomers understand the rich vocabulary of our sport.

Keep this guide handy during your first few months of training, and soon you’ll find yourself naturally speaking “fencer” without even thinking about it! Before long, you’ll be the one explaining terms to the next generation of beginners watching from the side lines.

Remember, every Olympic champion and national team member once stood where you are now, gradually building their fencing vocabulary one term at a time. The language of fencing connects you not just to other fencers in India but to a worldwide community spanning centuries of tradition and sporting excellence.

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This article was prepared by GMK Fencing Club, New Delhi, India, dedicated to developing the sport of fencing in India through education, training, and competitive opportunities.