Q&A for How to Understand Basic Fencing Terminology

A "redouble" if they did not parry or counterattack. If they parried but did not riposte, it's a "remise" instead.

The different colors of the fencing strips in the Olympics is mainly for aesthetics. Beyond helping the fencers who are competing find their correct strip and helping the announcers identify which fencers are on which strips, the colors mean very little.

The field of play on which a bout takes place is called a piste. Generally speaking, it is fourteen meters long by one and one-half meters wide.

There are three types of weapons in fencing: foil, sabre and epee. The foil is a mid-weight thrusting weapon that targets the torso. Right of way applies to it. Sabre, the lightest weapon, is the only weapon to attack with the blade rather than the point. Right of way also applies to this weapon. Epee, the heaviest weapon, is a thrusting weapon with no right of way, where the whole body is target.

You have to win 5 points. If you win at least 2-3 matches, you'll go to direct elimination, in which you have to win 15 points.

A competition between two fencers, whether to five or 15 touches, is called a bout. The series of blade actions between two fencers that result in a touch being scored during a bout are referred to as a "conversation."

A fencing school or hall is called a "salle" - a shortened form of the French term "salle d'armes." A fencing school or hall usually contains many fencing strips, or "pistes."

A chest protector made of plastic is worn by female and some male fencers. A lamé is a layer of electrically conductive material worn over the fencing jacket in foil and sabre fencing.

Before a bout, the fencer will salute his opponent, the judge, then the crowd. Salutes can differ from club to club (or even person to person), but it's a sign of respect.

Yes. In the Olympics, they are simply called "World Champions".

Mainly because it's easier for the director to see who scored first. Also, you wouldn't want someone to advance at whatever angle they wish, even to stab you in the back. That defeats the whole purpose of why fencing was made originally: to have a clean, fair duel.

Parries are when you block your opponent's attack. You simply move your sword in the way of your opponent's thrust, and tap his/her sword.

In fencing, a teacher is referred to as "maestro".

There is no fencing term for a win. Often a director will call "bout", but that just signifies the end of a bout, not a victory.

Each match is exactly three minutes long. When playing in teams, there are normally 10 matches, each switching fencers.