Glossary: Glossary

350 Newton

Sometimes written as 350N this is the short term for the CEN European level 1 standard of protective clothing for fencing. It means that the clothing has been tested to withstand at least 350 Newtons of force.

800 Newton

This is also sometimes referred to as FIE or CEN level 2. Essentially it means that protective clothing has been tested to an even more stringent level than the 350 Newton protective equipment.

Balestra

A short, sharp jump forwards; usually used as a preparation for an attack. Often followed by a lunge.

Bib

A strong padded attachment to the lower part of the mask to protect the neck and throat.

Bodywire

Wire worn under a fencer's clothing to connect the sword terminal to the retractable spool cable, when using the electrical apparatus.

Breeches

Knee-length trousers made of robust material; side fastening must be on the non-sword-arm side, and legs must have fastenings below the knees.

Epee

Epee developed from the dueling swords that developed in the court of Louis XIV of France. In Epee the weapon used is a maximum of 770grams, with a maximum length of 110cm. The valid target area is the whole body, head to toe, including arms and hands. Any hit upon the earthed piste or on the opponent’s grounded weapon will not cause the apparatus to register. Epee evolved from the sword, favored by duelists of the time. It follows that, in modern fencing, the whole body is valid target area for epee, and that the basic rule of engagement is that the first to hit his or her opponent, has scored. Training for sword fighting (for dueling or combat purposes) concentrated on thrusts to the torso, where hits would have the most lethal effect. This training led to the development of blunt lightweight weapons, protective clothing, and limited "valid" target areas, which are now applicable to foil fencing.

FIE

The FIE or Federation International d'Escrime is the international governing body for the sport. Their website is : http://www.fie.ch/ The term FIE is also used to describe 800 Newton or CEN level 2 clothing and maraging blades.

Foible

The flexible half of the blade further away from the hilt.

Foil

The valid target area is the torso only, excluding arms, legs and head. The valid target area on the fencer is covered by a metallic jacket (lame), which causes a coloured lamp to light when the target area is hit by the opponent’s weapon. A hit on the non-valid area (not covered by the metallic jacket) causes a white lamp to light. Epee evolved from the sword, favored by duelists of the time. Training for sword fighting (for dueling or combat purposes) concentrated on thrusts to the torso, where hits would have the most lethal effect.

Forte

The half of the blade nearer to the hilt.

Hilt

The assembled parts of the sword excluding the blade, ie the guard, pad, grip and pommel Hit:to strike the opponent with the point of the sword clearly and distinctly and with character of penetration. A cut with a sabre.

Lame

Pronounced La-may not lame. This is the conductive over jacket that is used for electric scoring in both Foil and Sabre.

Maraging

This is the name of the type of steel most commonly used in FIE certified blades. FIE blades are tested to withstand a very high number of bending cycles so they break less often but are more expensive than standard blades.

Octave

Low line, semi-supinated guard on the sword-arm side.

Orthopaedic

Orthopaedic grip The generic term for a type of handles. General term for molded grips used on foils and epees. These are sometimes called pistol grips or Belgian grips.

Piste

The field of play on which a bout takes place. For all electric fencing the piste must be electrically conductive. The piste is 14 metres long, so that each competitor being placed at 2 metres from the centre line has at his disposal for retreating a total distance of 5 metres without it being necessary for him to cross the rear limit of the piste with both feet. Piste also have an extension of 1.50–2 m is added at each end of the piste to allow the fencer crossing the rear limits of the piste to retire on an even and unvarying surface. The conductive piste must therefore have a length of 17–18 m. The piste is 1.50 metres to 2 metres wide.

Plastron

Also sometimes called an underarm protector; this is worn under your jacket on your sword arm and gives extra protection to the most commonly hit part of your target area. The seams on a plastron are made so that they do not line up with the seams on a jacket for added safety.

Pommel

A metal cap screwed to the end of the handle which provides a counter-balance to the blade.

Prime

High line, pronated guard on the non-sword-arm side.

Priority

The right of way gained by the fencer at foil and sabre by extending the sword arm and continually threatening the opponent's target.

Quarte

High line, semi-supinated guard on the non-sword-arm side.

Quinte

Low line, pronated guard on the non-sword-arm side at foil and epee; and a high guard at sabre to protect the head.

Remise

The renewal of an action after being parried by replacing the point on the target in the line of the original action.

Riposte

An offensive action following a successful parry of an attack.

Sabre

Sabre is a both a cutting and thrusting weapon. The weapon weighs no more than 500 grams, with a maximum length of 105 cm. The valid target area is the whole body above the waistline, including arms and mask. In electric Sabre, the target area is covered by a metallic jacket, with the electrically conductive mask connected to the jacket. A hit on the valid target area causes a colored lamp to light on the registering apparatus. Sabre fencing evolved from cavalry swordsmanship where opponents were fighting on horseback. The opponent’s body above the saddle was most vulnerable, and evolved into the “valid" target area.

Seconde

Low line, pronated guard on the sword-arm side.

Septime

Low line, semi-supinated guard on the non-sword-arm side.

Sixte

High line, semi-supinated guard on the sword-arm side.

Tang

The part of the blade on which the hilt is mounted. See hilt.

Tierce

High line, pronated guard on the sword-arm side.