The Fencer’s Codex: A reference of fencing terminology

By Andy Wilkinson

A comprehensive technical digest of the terminology and vocabulary of the art of fencing; from Olympic Competitive fencing to Theatrical Swordplay. This eBook has been designed for ease of access for the student swordsperson, available on all major digital platforms, from home computers to smart phones and everything in between. The Codex has all the answers you will require to pass your proficiency award qualifications from all recognised fencing governing bodies.

If you are studying further fencing qualification, to become a coach, this codex covers all the vocabulary you will require to teach others the sport of fencing.

If your aim is to become a fight director or sword master in the entertainment business, the codex will give you the international language of the sword. This eBook will give you the passport to communicate the skills required of a swordplay scene to the writer of an action sequence, to the cast, the stunt coordinator, and the director, as the correct fencing vocabulary is one recognised world-wide.

As a fencer and film / theatre swordsman, for over thirty-five years, I have found my notes on terminology and the relevant vocabulary, which I have transcribed for you here, the most valuable, irreplaceable tool in my kit bag, next to my mask, swords and protective jacket. To this day, I can recite a complex fencing definition, verbatim, with ease and without pause for thought. Thanks to my fencing master who gave me the golden ticket to the art of fencing. I now pass the golden ticket on to you.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Troubador Publishing Ltd
• Release date: Feb 28, 2023
• ISBN: 9781803137872

Andy Wilkinson

Andy Wilkinson is a home improvement contractor. He has degrees in electronics and theology.

Book preview

Contents

Introduction

PRACTICAL

Angulated Offensive Actions

Appel

Balestra

Basic Point Control

Broken Time Actions

Ceding Or Opposition Parries

Compound Attacks

Counter-Offensive Actions

Counter-Ripostes

Dérobement

Elementary Defence

Engagements

Flèche

Gaining and Breaking Ground

Guard Positions

Hit

Lunge

Offensive and Defensive Actions in Pronation

Offensive and Defensive Actions in Supination

Preparations For Attack

Takings of the Blade (Prise De Fer)

Renewed Attacks

Riposte

Simple Attacks

Successive Parries

Trompement

THEORY

Names for Parts of the Weapon

Steam Fencing

Rules And Dimensions of the Piste

Safety

The Duties of a Time Keeper

The Principle of Defence

The Target Area

Constitution of a Valid Hit

Tactics

A Glossary of Fencing Terminology

Introduction

Dear Fencer,

There have been a number of excellent books on fencing over the years. Instruction and technique manuals are still being published today, some with a specific weapon in mind, while others deal with the art of fencing on a much grander scale.

This is an eBook which you can carry with you to your Salle for training. On your tablet or kindle or even your phone, you can keep it in your kit bag and have an immediate reference guide at the push of a button!

I wish I had had something like this when I was starting out on my adventure in swordplay! As a fencer and then as a coach, I yearned for a book that I could carry with me in my kit bag to the Salle. A book which had an easy-to-use reference section, with clear definitions and notes, made by an experienced coach to help me over the, sometimes confusing terminology, complex physical movements and some of the more specific rules that related to my bouts with my fellow fencers. A book which also contained the practical and theory questions for the British Academy of Fencing Star Awards.

I thought it would a good idea if I were to sit down and write a fencing guide, with the accumulation of all my personal notes, coupled with my practical experience of many students of various ages and abilities.

This Fencer’s Codex is the result. The fundamentals of stance, body positioning and grip have been excluded to a large extent, since this fencing guide is intended for those fencers who are already working with a coach or who are about to commence their coaching training. I have also not included the latest Federation Internationale d’Escrime (F.I.E – fencing’s governing body) rules as these are regularly refreshed, renewed, and played around with to respond to new challenges. As I have mentioned in the text, please check the latest editions for your competitions.

Finally, I would like to wish you every success with your chosen sport of fencing.

Be safe, and have fun!

Andy Wilkinson

PRACTICAL

Angulated Offensive Actions

Definition: Bending the wrist when placing a hit in such a way that the point is presented at right angles to the target.

Andy’s Note:

Angulation is required when attempting to circumvent an opponent’s parry, especially at foil and épée or, as in sabre, when performing a stop cut to the wrist on an opponent’s attack to quarte.

However, angulation is best utilised in conjunction with the renewed attacks of the remise and reprise. We renew an attack by remise when an opponent parries incompletely and fails to riposte or parries and delays in riposting. By using a degree of angulation on the blade by bending the wrist you can circumvent the parry and score a valid hit.

If your opponent steps back while parrying on the rear foot and fails to riposte or delays in riposting, your reprise can incorporate a slight side step of the leading foot to aid the angulated renewed attack.

Appel

Definition: An appel is a footwork action achieved by a crisp stamping on the piste of the ball of the front or rear foot.

Andy’s Note:

The front foot appel is achieved by first raising the toes and lifting the foot approximately 15–20cm off the piste and crisply snapping it back down again, landing on the ball of the foot. A rear foot appel is achieved in the same way. The appel is used