S Glossary of fencing

a sabre fencer. valid target (everything waist up, including arms , head) in red.



sabre
a fencing weapon flat blade , knuckle guard, used cutting or thrusting actions; military sword popular in 18th 20th centuries; cutting sword used cavalry. modern fencing sabre descended dueling sabre of italy , germany, straight , thin sharp edges, had blunt end.
salle
(french: room ) fencing hall or club.
salut des armes
a sort of choreographed demonstration of arms, consisting of sets of fencers saluting, attacking, parrying, drilling , performing set routines in chorus.
salute
1.  a blade action performed before bout or lesson. indicates respect , sportsmanship. handshake exchanged after bout.
2.  a gesture of respect , civility performed weapon. performed @ start , end of bout (match, assault, etc.), , @ start , end of lesson. @ start of bout, traditional, , expected, salute adversary, referee of bout, additional judges bout, , then, optionally, others (the timekeeper, scorekeeper, etc.). fie rules state failure salute opponent , shake his/her hand @ end of bout offense punishable black card - meaning elimination competition.
second-intention
in general, term used imply first action initiated not 1 intended score. fencer may initiate move, anticipating (or intending draw) response opponent, against second action planned. example, lunge attack (anticipating parried), parry riposte, , hit counter-riposte.
seconde
parry #2; blade down , outside, wrist pronated. point lower hand. covers outside low line in sabre, replacing octave.
semicircular parry
a parry moves high line low line, or vice versa. parry can cross body. parry must made in semicircle provide enveloping movement needed trap attacking blade.
septime
parry #7; blade down , inside, wrist supinated. point lower hand. covers inside low line.
simple
an attack or riposte involves no feints.
simultaneous
in foil , sabre, 2 attacks right-of-way close determine.
sixte
parry #6; blade , outside, wrist supinated. point higher hand. covers outside high line. parry taught basic en garde position in foil , épée.
smallsword
also court sword. light dueling sword popular in 18th century. these were, not, fashion accessory as gentleman’s weapon, , decorated such.
stop cut
also stop thrust, stop-in-time. counter-attack attempts take advantage of uncertain attack. performed stop hit allows fencer counter-attack oncoming attack, hit opponent, , still parry oncoming attack (allowing possible valid riposte well). may try break continuance of attack stopping it. however, still counter-attack, , not have right-of-way against continuous attack.
strip (piste)
the fencing area, 14 metres long , between 1.5 , 2 metres wide. last 2 metres on each end hash-marked, warn fencer before he/she backs off end of strip. retreating off end of strip both feet gets touch against. going off side of strip 1 foot or both halts fencing action , gets penalty of loss of 1 metre. going off of piste both feet results in hit being awarded opponent. after each touch, fencers begin again @ center of strip, 4 metres apart.
supination
the position of hand when palm facing up. see #pronation.