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Abstain: A neutral response by a member of a jury when questioned about a touch
Advance: front foot followed by the back in a forward movement
Attack: Initial offensive action executed by an extension of a weapon
Balestra: (Italian) meaning a forward hop or jump
Bib: lower part of the fencing mask
Barrage: bout between two or more opponents who are tied to determine the winner
Beat: attempt to knock the opponent's blade aside or out of line
Bind: action in which the opponent's blade is forced into the diagonally opposite line.
Black Card: used to indicate the most serious offence in competition. The fencer is usually expelled from the event or tournament completely
Body cord: electrical wiring attached to the blade(s) and connected to the reel
Bout: an assault at which the score is kept
Button: depressed on the tip of the blade to initiate the scoring signal
Circle step left: left foot followed by right foot movement clockwise around the circle strip ending in en guarde position with the left foot in front
Circle step right: right foot followed by left foot movement counter clockwise around the circle strip ending in en guarde position with the right foot in front
Circle strip: 20ft diameter grounded circle used for dagger fencing
Competition: a group of bouts that fencers participate in
Compound: attack or riposte incorporating one or more feints to the opposite line where the action is completed
Corps-a-corps: (French): "body-to-body", physical contact between two fencers during a bout
Counter-attack: attack made against the right-of-way, or in response to the opponent's attack.
Counter-disengage: disengage in the opposite direction, to deceive the counter-parry.
Counter-parry: parry made in the opposite line to the attack, to the opposite side of the opponent's blade.
Counter-time: attack that responds to the opponent's counter- attack, typically a riposte following the parry of the counter-attack.
Cross Parry: binding either or both of the opponents weapons with the epee and dagger blades in a cross.
Dagger: a fencing weapon with a short blade and a saber guard to protect the entire hand
Deceive: avoidance of opponents attempt to seize the blade
D.F.C. a comittee comprised of epee and dagger fencers, referees, coaches and judges to set forth the rules and regulations of the sport
Disarm: to deprive a fencer of the weapon
Disengage: a movement of the blade that deceives the opponent's blade action or changes the line of engagement
Double touch: simultaneous touch(s) from both opponents
Dry: fencing without electric scoring aids
Duel: a bout consisting of 3 rounds with a 1 minute break between each round
Engagement: when blades contact each other
En guarde: (French) the stance a fencer assumes when preparing to fence.
Epee: a fencing weapon with triangular cross-section blade and a large bell guard; also a light dueling sword of similar design, popular in the mid-19th century.
Event: a gathering of fencers that compete in one or several competitions
Expulsion: excessive pressure executed by sliding forward on the forte of the opponent’s blade
Feint: an attack to the opposite line.
FIE: Fédération Internationale d'Escrime (French) governing body of global fencing regulations
Fleche: (French) forward movement of body with trailing leg crossing the plane of the front foot
Flick: a cut-like action that lands with the point, often involving some whip of the foible of the blade to "throw" the point around a block or other obstruction.
Florentine: a secondary weapon is used in the opposite hand of the main fighting weapon
Foible: upper third of the blade
Footwork: controlled movement of legs and feet during fencing
Forte: bottom third of blade close to bell guard
French Grip: a traditional hilt with a slightly curved grip and a large pommel.
Froissement: an attack that displaces the opponent's blade by a strong grazing action.
Guard: bell shaped metal to protect the hand during fencing
Hilt: handle section of a weapon
Intention: tactic to draw a response (second) or intent to score (first) against the opponent
Judge: Officials who assist the referee during a bout
Jury: Officials who ensure all rules and regulations are observed
Line: Area of target defined by position of each weapon
Lunge: attack made by extending the rear leg and landing on the bent front leg
Maestro: (Italian) a certified teacher or mentor of fencing
Main Gauche: (French) name for Dagger weapon
Maraging: steel manipulated to be stronger and break more cleanly than conventional blades
Mask: wire mesh helmet required for fencing
Match: the aggregate of bouts between two fencing teams.
Measure: the distance between the fencers.
Middle: the middle third of the blade, between foible and forte.
Opposition: holding the opponent's blade in a non-threatening line
Pass: attack made with intention to move past the opponent with blade work of either hand
Piste: a square (6.5 meters x 6.5 meters) area used for wireless dagger fencing
Pistol Grip: a modern, orthopedic grip, shaped vaguely like a small pistol; varieties are known by names such as Belgian, German, Russian, and Visconti
Plastron: a partial jacket worn for extra protection; typically a half- jacket worn under the main jacket on the weapon-arm side of the body
Pommel: a fastener that attaches the grip to the blade.
Preparation: movement of blade preceding an action
Pronation: position of the hand with palm facing down
Quillon: A Protrusion of the guard to break or capture the opponents blade, illegal in Olympic style dagger fencing
Red Card: used to indicate a major rule infraction resulting in a point being given to the opponent
Referee: mediator of the fencing bout.
Remise: immediate replacement of an attack that missed or was parried, without withdrawing the arm.
Reprise: renewal of an attack that missed or was parried, after a return to en-garde
Retreat: step back; opposite of advance.
Riposte: an attack made immediately after a parry of the opponent's attack.
Round: the activity of dagger fencing lasting 5 minutes
Salle D’Armes: (French) fencing hall or club
Salute: customary acknowledgement to opponent and referee
Second Intention: a false action used to draw a response from the opponent, which will open the opportunity for the intended action that follows, typically a counter-riposte.
Simple: an attack (or riposte) that involves no feints.
Simultaneous: two attacks that result in points awarded to each fencer
Strip: term used for dagger fencing with a standard: 14 meters long by 1.5 to 2 meters wide area for combat
Sudden Death: fencing until a tie score is broken with no time limit
Supination: position of the hand with palm facing up
Tang: portion of blade that holds the guard, grip and pommel
Touch: point scored in a bout
Thrust: an attack made by moving the sword parallel to its length and landing with the point
Traverse step forward left: footwork movement in an angular direction starting with the left foot moving towards the left inside the circle strip
Traverse step forward right: footwork movement in an angular direction starting with the right foot moving towards the right inside the circle strip
Traverse step back left: footwork movement in an angular direction starting with the right foot moving backward towards the left inside the circle strip
Traverse step back right: footwork movement in an angular direction starting with the left foot moving backward towards the right inside the circle strip
Vest Protective: Plastic or heavy material used to protect the upper body
Weapon: fencing instrument
Yellow Card: warning; used to indicate a minor rule infraction by one of the fencers