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Fencing, it is often said, is like high speed physical chess. Well, it isnt! Fencing, I am afraid to say, is a sport in which (mostly) strange people, dressed (mostly) in even stranger (mostly) white uniforms and masks, try to hit eachother without themselves being hit by their opponent. In other words Fencing is an entirely unique sport, which requires a unique set of skills and training. To compare it to any other activity is to do it a great injustice. And, what is more, is that both men and women can do it! Hey, maybe its not so different to chess after all.
The fundamental principle underlying fencing, is that of hitting without yourself being hit. The graphic below underlies this principle (please click 'Refresh' to activate the animation). The fencer on the right starts the phrase (the technical term used to describe a discrete exchange of attacks and counter attacks), with a fasle attack to his opponenet's torso. This attack is parried (parry quarte) by the fencer on the left. The fencer on the left then attempts a riposte. This riposte is parried by the fencer on the left (parry octave) and he then attempts a counter riposte, which lands on the flank.
