Fencing — Glossary

Every Fencing term explained in plain language: technique, equipment, rules and slang – with tips on avoiding the classic mistakes.

Fencing Mask (Equipment)

The head protection you never hold a blade without. Under FIE homologation the bib withstands 1600 newtons and the mesh 1000 newtons.

Gaze Anchor (Torso, Not Blade) (Cheat code)

Anchor your eyes on the torso and weapon hand instead of the blade. In one study experts dwelled on the blade only about 1% of the time, beginners over twice as long.

Guard (Movement)

The basic hand position protecting chin and body. Its height and width determine which punches get through at all.

Lunge (Fente) (Movement)

The explosive attacking step: the weapon arm extends first, then the back leg drives. Elite fencers cover around 1.17 m, beginners about 1.02 m.

Parry-Riposte (Movement)

Deflect and thrust back in one motion. The parry is a small, precise deflection of the opposing blade — not a swat; the riposte follows without a pause.

Poule (Pool Round) (Slang)

The tournament pool round where everyone fences everyone — usually to 5 hits. The direct elimination that follows goes to 15.

Right of Way (Rule)

The priority rule in foil and sabre: on a simultaneous hit only the fencer who started the action scores. Épée has no such rule.

General

Terms from training theory that apply in every sport.

1RM (One-Repetition Maximum) (Rule)

The maximum weight you can move for exactly one clean repetition. The reference value behind almost every training plan.

BMR & TDEE (Rule)

BMR is your basal metabolic rate at complete rest; TDEE is total daily expenditure including everyday movement and training. Nutrition targets always work off TDEE.

Cadence (Movement)

Steps per minute when running, or pedal revolutions when cycling. For most runners, 170–180 steps per minute sits in the sweet spot.

Core Tension (Movement)

Active stabilisation of abdomen, back and pelvis — the bridge that lets force travel between legs and arms at all.

Deload (Cheat code)

A deliberately lighter week with volume or intensity clearly reduced, so adaptation can catch up.

DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) (Cheat code)

Delayed muscle soreness 12–72 hours after unfamiliar load. Not a measure of training quality.

Knee Valgus (Movement)

The knees collapsing inward during squats, jumps and landings. One of the key risk markers in technique analysis.

Progressive Overload (Cheat code)

The one principle no training works without long-term: the stimulus has to grow over time, otherwise adaptation stops.

RIR (Reps in Reserve) (Rule)

How many clean reps you had left at the end of a set. RIR 2 means two more were available.

RPE (Rate of Perceived Exertion) (Rule)

A scale for perceived effort. In strength training it usually runs 1–10, where RPE 8 means you had two more reps in the tank.

Zone 2 (Aerobic Base) (Cheat code)

The easy endurance zone where you can still hold a conversation in full sentences. The base of almost every endurance plan.