Fencing Terminology

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Instructions: En garde! Test your knowledge of fencing vocabulary!

1.
In fencing, what does 'en garde' mean?
A
The match is over
B
The ready position before fencing begins
C
Begin the match
D
Salute your opponent
2.
What is a 'riposte' in fencing?
A
A salute to the referee
B
A retreat backward
C
An opening attack
D
A counterattack made immediately after successfully parrying an opponent's attack
3.
In fencing, what is a 'parry'?
A
A thrust aimed at the chest
B
A defensive action using the blade to deflect an incoming attack
C
A scoring touch
D
A forward step toward the opponent
4.
What is a 'touché' in fencing?
A
A warm-up exercise
B
A type of fencing weapon
C
An acknowledgment that a valid hit has been scored
D
A penalty for misconduct
5.
In fencing, what is a 'lunge'?
A
A jump backward
B
A spinning attack
C
An attacking movement where the front leg extends forward while the back leg remains stationary
D
A defensive crouch
6.
What are the three weapons used in competitive fencing?
A
Foil, épée, sabre
B
Blade, point, edge
C
Sword, dagger, mace
D
Rapier, cutlass, broadsword
7.
In fencing, what does 'right of way' (priority) refer to?
A
The order in which fencers salute
B
The rule determining which fencer's touch scores when both hit simultaneously
C
The fencer who is standing on the right side
D
Which fencer enters the strip first
8.
What is a 'fleche' in fencing?
A
A type of fencing mask
B
A type of arrow
C
An explosive running attack where the fencer launches toward the opponent
D
A defensive stance
9.
In fencing, what is the 'piste' (or 'strip')?
A
The long, narrow playing area where bouts take place
B
The fencing uniform
C
The scoring display board
D
A practice drill
10.
What is a 'bout' in fencing?
A
A type of fencing shoe
B
A round of training exercises
C
A fencing tournament
D
A single competitive match between two fencers
11.
In fencing, what is a 'feint'?
A
The final touch of a bout
B
Fainting from exhaustion
C
A penalty for a false start
D
A deceptive attack intended to draw a reaction from the opponent
12.
What is the 'corps-à-corps' in fencing?
A
A team event in fencing
B
The corps of judges
C
A group training exercise
D
Body-to-body contact between two fencers, which is forbidden
13.
In fencing, what does the 'épée' target area include?
A
Only the torso
B
The entire body from head to toe
C
Only the arms and legs
D
Only above the waist
14.
What is 'appel' in fencing?
A
A sharp stamp of the front foot used to startle the opponent or initiate an attack
B
A type of apple-shaped guard on the weapon
C
An appeal to the referee
D
A greeting between fencers
15.
In fencing, what is a 'balestra'?
A
A ceremonial sword
B
A training dummy
C
A type of crossbow
D
A short forward jump followed immediately by a lunge

Answer Key

Question 1

B. The ready position before fencing begins

En garde (French for 'on guard') is the command telling fencers to assume the ready position, with knees bent, weapon raised, and body sideways to present a smaller target.

Question 2

D. A counterattack made immediately after successfully parrying an opponent's attack

A riposte is an offensive action made immediately after a successful parry (defensive block), taking advantage of the attacker's momentary vulnerability.

Question 3

B. A defensive action using the blade to deflect an incoming attack

A parry is a defensive blade movement used to deflect or block an opponent's attacking blade, redirecting it away from the target area.

Question 4

C. An acknowledgment that a valid hit has been scored

Touché (French for 'touched') is called to acknowledge that a valid hit has been scored. In everyday language, it has come to mean acknowledging a good point in an argument.

Question 5

C. An attacking movement where the front leg extends forward while the back leg remains stationary

The lunge is the most common attacking footwork in fencing, where the fencer extends the front leg forward while the rear leg stays planted, propelling the body toward the opponent.

Question 6

A. Foil, épée, sabre

The three weapons in competitive fencing are the foil (light thrusting weapon), the épée (heavier thrusting weapon), and the sabre (cutting and thrusting weapon).

Question 7

B. The rule determining which fencer's touch scores when both hit simultaneously

Right of way (priority) is a rule in foil and sabre that determines which fencer receives the point when both land touches simultaneously, favoring the fencer who initiated the attack.

Question 8

C. An explosive running attack where the fencer launches toward the opponent

A flèche (French for 'arrow') is an aggressive attacking action where the fencer pushes off the back foot and runs toward the opponent, used primarily in foil and épée.

Question 9

A. The long, narrow playing area where bouts take place

The piste (or strip) is the long, narrow playing area (14 meters long and 1.5 to 2 meters wide) where fencing bouts take place.

Question 10

D. A single competitive match between two fencers

A bout is an individual competitive match between two fencers, typically fenced to a set number of touches (5 in pool bouts, 15 in direct elimination).

Question 11

D. A deceptive attack intended to draw a reaction from the opponent

A feint is a false or deceptive attack designed to provoke a defensive reaction from the opponent, opening up a target area for the real attack.

Question 12

D. Body-to-body contact between two fencers, which is forbidden

Corps-à-corps (body to body) occurs when the two fencers come into bodily contact. In modern fencing, this results in a halt to the action.

Question 13

B. The entire body from head to toe

In épée fencing, the valid target area is the entire body, including the head, arms, legs, feet, and torso, making it the most open of the three weapons.

Question 14

A. A sharp stamp of the front foot used to startle the opponent or initiate an attack

An appel is a sharp stamp of the front foot on the piste, used to startle the opponent, create a rhythm, or initiate an attack.

Question 15

D. A short forward jump followed immediately by a lunge

A balestra is a technique combining a short forward hop with an immediate lunge, used to close distance quickly while attacking and to surprise the opponent.

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