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Parry (fencing)

This article is about the manoeuvre known as "Parry" in fencing. The word is also used in several other ways

In fencing, the parry is a maneuver intended to deflect the advancing blade of the opponents weapon, then riposte, counterattack, or obtain right of way.

From the engarde or extended position, there are standard formal positions for the parry, although there are many unrecognised variations in use by "instinctive" fencers.

Formal Positions

Positions of parry vary according to the particular school of fencing taught, although for foil and epee they generally take the form of the division of the opponents chest into numbered quarters. There is then a position for each quarter based on whether the hand is palm-up or palm-down. This provides 8 basic parry positions. These are often referred to by a standard number. For example, a "Parry Four" is the first parry learned by most foil fencers.

In sabre fencing the alteration of the target area and the method of attack make the former positions less than fully effective. Thus parrying positions for the sabre are varied.

Importance for Each Weapon

The relative importance of parrying varies depending on the weapon.

In foil, due to the limited target area, it is fairly easy to parry an attack. In addition, right of way requires that an opponent's attack be deflected before a fencer can counter. For these reasons, parrying is a key element in foil matches.

In sabre, the pace is very fast. Attacks can use either point or edge, and can change direction easily. This makes parrying difficult and unreliable. Skill at parrying tends to be less important than a fencer's ability to control the distance between himself and his opponent. Some sabre fencers rarely parry at all.

The epee is heavy and slow. However, there is no requirement to parry before making a counterattack, as there is in foil, and the entire body is legal target area. Hence, parrying takes on a role that is somewhat less important than in foil, but significantly more important than in sabre.

Right of Way

When fencing with Foil or Sabre, there exist rules of right of way (required prior to being able to execute a hit), which are obtained either by extension of the fencing arm, or by the way of contact with the opponents weapon while they have right of way.

Last updated: 05-07-2005 02:20:29
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