Mastering the Lunge: A Beginner’s Guide to Fencing Terminology

Fencing, often called “physical chess,” is a dynamic and strategic sport that combines athleticism, technique, and mental acuity. However, before you can even begin to appreciate the nuances of a bout, you need to understand the language of fencing. This comprehensive guide will break down essential fencing terminology, providing you with a solid foundation to navigate the exciting world of swordsmanship.

Why Learn Fencing Terminology?

Understanding the terminology is crucial for several reasons:

* **Communication:** It allows you to communicate effectively with coaches, fellow fencers, and officials.
* **Comprehension:** It helps you understand instructions, strategies, and referee calls.
* **Appreciation:** It deepens your appreciation of the sport by allowing you to follow bouts and analyze tactics more effectively.
* **Safety:** Proper understanding contributes to a safer training environment by ensuring clear communication about techniques and movements.

Essential Fencing Terminology: The Basics

Let’s start with the foundational terms every fencer should know:

* **Fencer:** A person who participates in the sport of fencing.
* **Bout:** A match between two fencers.
* **Piste:** The metallic strip, usually 14 meters long and 1.5 to 2 meters wide, on which fencing takes place. It’s electrically grounded to register touches.
* **On-Guard Line:** The lines, located 2 meters from the center line, where fencers must stand at the beginning of a bout and after each touch.
* **Center Line:** The line in the middle of the piste, used as a reference point.
* **End Lines:** The lines at either end of the piste. Crossing the end line with both feet results in a penalty point for the fencer.
* **Warning Lines:** These lines are typically 2 meters before the end lines. If a fencer retreats past the warning line, the referee may warn them for passivity.
* **Weapon:** The sword used in fencing. The three types of fencing weapons are foil, épée, and sabre (more on these later).
* **Mask:** Protective headgear worn by fencers, essential for safety.
* **Jacket (Lamé):** An electrically conductive jacket worn in foil and sabre to register valid touches. In épée, the entire body is a valid target, so a lamé is not used.
* **Glove:** Worn on the weapon hand to protect it from injury.
* **Breeches:** Protective pants worn by fencers, typically made of durable, puncture-resistant material.
* **Plastron:** An underarm protector worn beneath the jacket for added protection on the weapon arm side.
* **Shoes:** Specialized fencing shoes with a flat sole for optimal movement and stability.

Key Actions and Movements

Beyond the basic equipment, understanding the actions performed during a bout is paramount:

* **On Guard (En Garde):** The basic stance in fencing, providing balance, mobility, and readiness to attack or defend. To get on guard, stand sideways to your opponent, with your weapon arm extended and your non-weapon arm raised for balance. Your knees should be bent, and your weight should be evenly distributed.

**How to Get On Guard:**

1. **Foot Placement:** Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, perpendicular to your opponent. Your front foot should point towards your opponent, and your back foot should be angled slightly outwards.
2. **Knee Bend:** Bend your knees to lower your center of gravity. This will give you better balance and allow you to move quickly.
3. **Arm Position:** Extend your weapon arm forward, pointing your weapon at your opponent. Keep your elbow slightly bent.
4. **Non-Weapon Arm:** Raise your non-weapon arm to shoulder height, slightly bent. This will help you maintain balance and protect your body.
5. **Weight Distribution:** Distribute your weight evenly between your feet. This will allow you to move quickly in any direction.

* **Advance:** Moving forward on the piste. Typically, this involves moving the front foot forward first, followed by the back foot, maintaining the on-guard stance. The distance advanced should be roughly the same as your on-guard stance.

**How to Advance:**

1. **Front Foot Movement:** Push off with your back foot and move your front foot forward. Keep your knee bent and maintain your balance.
2. **Back Foot Movement:** Quickly bring your back foot forward to maintain your on-guard stance. The distance your back foot moves should be roughly the same as the distance your front foot moved.
3. **Maintain Stance:** Keep your knees bent and your weight evenly distributed throughout the movement. Avoid crossing your feet or losing your balance.

* **Retreat:** Moving backward on the piste, usually to create distance or evade an attack. The back foot moves first, followed by the front foot, again maintaining the on-guard stance.

**How to Retreat:**

1. **Back Foot Movement:** Push off with your front foot and move your back foot backward. Keep your knee bent and maintain your balance.
2. **Front Foot Movement:** Quickly bring your front foot backward to maintain your on-guard stance. The distance your front foot moves should be roughly the same as the distance your back foot moved.
3. **Maintain Stance:** Keep your knees bent and your weight evenly distributed throughout the movement. Avoid crossing your feet or losing your balance.

* **Lunge:** An offensive movement where the fencer extends their weapon arm and front leg forward simultaneously to attack. The back leg provides the power, and the back foot remains firmly planted on the ground. It is often the primary attacking move in fencing.

**How to Lunge:**

1. **Preparation:** Start in the on-guard position.
2. **Arm Extension:** Extend your weapon arm forward, pointing your weapon at your target. This should be a smooth, continuous motion.
3. **Leg Movement:** Simultaneously push off with your back leg and extend your front leg forward. Your front knee should be directly above your ankle, and your thigh should be parallel to the ground.
4. **Back Leg Position:** Your back leg should remain straight, with your heel off the ground. This will help you maintain your balance and generate power.
5. **Recovery:** After the lunge, quickly return to the on-guard position by pushing off with your front leg and bringing your back leg forward.

* **Recovery:** Returning to the on-guard position after a lunge or other movement. This involves retracting the extended leg and returning to a balanced stance.

**How to Recover:**

1. **Push Off:** Push off with your front leg, using it to propel yourself backward.
2. **Leg Retraction:** Bring your back leg forward to return to the on-guard position. This should be a quick and controlled movement.
3. **Maintain Stance:** Keep your knees bent and your weight evenly distributed throughout the movement. Avoid losing your balance or stumbling.

* **Riposte:** An immediate attack made by the defender after parrying the opponent’s attack. It is a counter-attack launched directly after a successful defense.

**Performing a Riposte:**

1. **Parry:** Successfully defend against your opponent’s attack using a parry (see below).
2. **Immediate Attack:** Immediately after the parry, launch your own attack. This should be a quick and decisive movement.
3. **Maintain Distance:** Be aware of your distance from your opponent and adjust your attack accordingly.

* **Parry:** A defensive action used to deflect an opponent’s attack. Parries are numbered 1 through 8, each covering a different line of attack. The most common parries are Parry 4 (high inside line) and Parry 6 (low inside line).

**Common Parry Techniques:**

* **Parry 4:** Used to defend against attacks targeting the high inside line (the area above the wrist on the weapon arm side). Move your weapon to deflect your opponent’s blade outwards.
* **Parry 6:** Used to defend against attacks targeting the low inside line (the area below the wrist on the weapon arm side). Move your weapon downwards to deflect your opponent’s blade outwards.

* **Counter-Attack:** An attack made while retreating or evading an opponent’s attack, often used to disrupt the opponent’s offensive action.

**Executing a Counter-Attack:**

1. **Anticipate Attack:** Predict your opponent’s attack and prepare to evade it.
2. **Retreat:** As your opponent attacks, retreat slightly to create distance.
3. **Attack:** Simultaneously with your retreat, launch your own attack. This can be a simple point attack or a more complex combination.

* **Beat Attack:** A quick tap or strike on the opponent’s blade to disrupt their attack or set up an attack of your own. This is a form of offensive action used to gain control of the opponent’s blade.

**Using a Beat Attack:**

1. **Timing:** Choose the right moment to strike your opponent’s blade. This is typically when they are preparing to attack or when their blade is vulnerable.
2. **Precision:** Aim for the middle or weak part of your opponent’s blade. This will give you the most control.
3. **Follow-Through:** Immediately follow up your beat attack with your own attack. This will capitalize on the disruption you have created.

## Understanding Right-of-Way (Priority) in Foil and Sabre

In foil and sabre, the concept of “right-of-way” (also known as priority) determines which fencer is awarded the touch when both fencers hit simultaneously. This rule makes foil and sabre more strategic than épée. Épée awards touches to both fencers during a double touch (unless the double touch occurs outside of a very narrow time window).

The fencer who initiates the attack has the initial right-of-way. However, this right-of-way can be lost if the attack is not continuous, if the attack is parried, or if the attacker hesitates. The defender then gains the right-of-way to riposte. If the riposte is successful, the defender scores the point.

* **Attack:** An initial offensive action, extending the arm and continuously threatening the valid target area. The fencer initiating the attack generally has right-of-way.
* **Attack, No:** Called when an attack is not valid due to a lack of threat, hesitation, or incorrect form. The right-of-way can then pass to the other fencer.
* **Parry-Riposte:** The defender parries the attack and immediately follows with a riposte, gaining the right-of-way if the riposte is executed correctly.
* **Counter-Riposte:** An attack made after a parry of the riposte. This is a second level of counter-attacking and demonstrates advanced tactical thinking.

**How Right-of-Way is Determined (Foil and Sabre):**

1. **Initial Attack:** The fencer who begins the attack with a clear and continuous threat has the initial right-of-way.
2. **Continuity:** The attack must be continuous. Any hesitation or break in the attack can cause the fencer to lose right-of-way.
3. **Parry:** If the defender successfully parries the attack, they gain the right-of-way to riposte.
4. **Riposte:** The defender must riposte immediately after the parry. If there is a delay, the referee may not award the touch to the defender.
5. **Simultaneous Actions:** If both fencers attack simultaneously, the referee will analyze the actions to determine who initiated the attack and maintained right-of-way.

## The Three Weapons: Foil, Épée, and Sabre

Each weapon has its own set of rules, target areas, and strategies:

* **Foil:** A light thrusting weapon that targets the torso only (from the collarbone to the groin, front and back). Right-of-way rules apply. Touches are scored electronically via the lamé.

**Key Characteristics of Foil:**

* **Target Area:** Torso only (front and back).
* **Right-of-Way:** Applies.
* **Weight:** Lighter than épée.
* **Strategy:** Focuses on tactical attacks and parry-ripostes.

* **Épée:** A heavier thrusting weapon that targets the entire body. There is no right-of-way rule; the first fencer to hit scores a point. If both fencers hit within 1/25th of a second (a double touch), both score a point (unless the bout rules specify otherwise, such as sudden death overtime).

**Key Characteristics of Épée:**

* **Target Area:** Entire body.
* **Right-of-Way:** Does not apply.
* **Weight:** Heavier than foil.
* **Strategy:** Emphasizes precision and patience.

* **Sabre:** A light cutting and thrusting weapon that targets the torso above the waist, as well as the head and arms. Right-of-way rules apply. Touches are scored electronically via the lamé and conductive mask.

**Key Characteristics of Sabre:**

* **Target Area:** Torso above the waist, head, and arms.
* **Right-of-Way:** Applies.
* **Weight:** Light and fast.
* **Strategy:** Favors aggressive attacks and quick reflexes.

## Referee Commands and Terminology

During a bout, the referee uses specific commands to control the action:

* **En Garde:** (On Guard) – Command to take the on-guard position.
* **Prêt(e)s?** (Ready?) – Command asking if the fencers are ready to begin.
* **Allez!** (Fence!) – Command to begin fencing.
* **Halt!** (Stop!) – Command to stop the bout. The referee uses this to stop the action after a touch or when the situation requires.
* **Touché!** (Touched!) – Acknowledgment that a valid touch has been made.
* **Non Valable:** (Not Valid) – Indicates that a touch was made outside the valid target area (in foil and sabre).
* **Combativity:** A penalty given for passive fencing or avoiding combat. The referee may issue a warning or a penalty point.
* **Corps-à-corps:** (Body-to-body) – A situation where the fencers are too close, which is generally not allowed. The referee will typically halt the bout and reposition the fencers.
* **Avertissement:** (Warning) – A warning given by the referee for a minor infraction of the rules.
* **Penalty:** A penalty given for a more serious infraction of the rules. This can result in a point being awarded to the opponent.

## Additional Important Terms

* **Point Control:** The ability to accurately and consistently direct the point of your weapon.
* **Blade Work:** The techniques and skills involved in using the blade effectively, including parries, attacks, and feints.
* **Footwork:** The techniques and skills involved in moving efficiently on the piste, including advances, retreats, and lunges.
* **Feint:** A deceptive movement designed to mislead the opponent and create an opening for an attack. Feints can involve moving the blade, the body, or both.
* **Opposition:** Controlling the opponent’s blade by maintaining contact and pressure.
* **Engagement:** The initial contact of the blades between the two fencers.
* **Derobement:** Avoiding the opponent’s attempt to engage the blades.
* **Prise de Fer:** Taking the opponent’s blade. This involves using your blade to control or manipulate your opponent’s blade.
* **Remise:** An immediate continuation of an attack after it has been parried, without withdrawing the arm.
* **Redoublement:** A new attack made after the remise, typically involving a change of line or a feint.

## Tips for Learning Fencing Terminology

* **Take Notes:** Keep a notebook or use a digital document to record new terms and their definitions.
* **Watch Fencing Bouts:** Observe experienced fencers and listen to the referee’s commands. Pay attention to how the terminology is used in context.
* **Practice with a Partner:** Quiz each other on the terminology and practice using it in drills.
* **Read Fencing Articles and Books:** There are many resources available that can help you expand your knowledge of fencing terminology and technique.
* **Join a Fencing Club:** Immersing yourself in a fencing community will provide you with opportunities to learn from experienced fencers and practice using the terminology in a supportive environment.
* **Ask Questions:** Don’t be afraid to ask your coach or other fencers for clarification on any terms you don’t understand.
* **Online Resources:** Utilize online fencing glossaries and videos to supplement your learning.

## Conclusion

Mastering fencing terminology is an ongoing process, but with dedication and practice, you can build a strong foundation of knowledge. This will not only enhance your understanding of the sport but also improve your communication with coaches and fellow fencers. So, embrace the language of fencing and embark on your journey to becoming a skilled swordsman (or swordswoman!). Good luck, and *Allez!*