Names of fencing moves

[carlos]

Schiavona, in a thread about epee attacks under the hand, mentioned names of fencing actions (not individual actions, strictly defined, but moves).



"This is, dare I say it, a classic epee under the guard attack. Long ago, something like this was called a 'boar's head' thrust. Back when fencing had cool names for moves, like Kung Fu does.

Hey! Let's start a trend! Name common fencing actions! Ie, the 'death walk' aka a marching attack and so on."



Where can I find more good names? I'm surprised Richard Cohen didn't mention more in By the Sword.

[wflaschka]

I like the idea! For the longest time I didn't know the real names for most of the moves, so when I started teaching I had to go back figure out the nuances between reprise/remise, disengage/derobement/deceive, &etc. (On the other hand, I got to make up a bunch of terms.)

Some names I use:

Wrath of God attack -- a multi-step attack that commences with grabbing the blade and charging forward. They should be powerful, overwhelming and unstoppable.

Hesitation attack -- a lunging attack where the hand extends last, aka a pulled hand attack.

Invitation attack -- basically when a fencer opens target and jumps forward, and does a second intention parry riposte.

Insistence of the blade -- blanket term for a remise, reprise, replacement, or remise through the blade, if it scores a touch. "Attack from left. Right parries. Left insists, touch."

The 1-2 attack -- a fast double disengage attack, usually w/ lunge or advance-lunge, always in the high line.

Marching attack -- afaik, this is a nickname for a long compound attack.

[Victor]

Dragon magazine (D&D resource) once had an article that provided long lists of elements that you could mix and match for elaborate martial arts names. Stuff like (number)+(animal)+(attack mode) yielding "Nine Monkeys Kick" and (adjective)+(color)+(body part)+of+(adjective)+(feeling) producing "Screaming Jade Fist of Exquisite Agony." I can't remember the formats and details, but it was a lot of fun.

"Ah, yes. I see you use follow the Angry Wombat Parry with the Tumbling Oak Riposte of Death. Very ingenious, indeed..."

[Aeric]

I use the "1-2 attack" to describe that technique as well.

How about an Advance + Beat on 4 + Advance + Disengage + Advance + Disengage + Lunge + Recover Foward into Flesche.

My coach finishes that in less than 3 seconds. We call it the "Blitz Attack" because it's freakin' unstoppable once it gets moving.

I like the Japanese animes where they shout out the move before they do it, (DBZ is a classical example). They spend entire episodes just shouting out the names of techniques.

[Schiavona]

I like the Japanese animes where they shout out the move before they do it, (DBZ is a classical example). They spend entire episodes just shouting out the names of techniques.

Shouting out the target you're trying to hit is required in sport kendo, imagine having to do that in European fencing

On names, we can plumb historical sources for things like the coup de Jarnac(a cut to a calf followed by a cut to the other calf), or we can try and make them up. In keeping with our European heritage let's try to make them sound vaguely European.

Example; I hereby name the 'flunge' the Leaping Stag Attack

This could by fun. Where's Inquartata?

[Inquartata]

Call the Devil and he is here...

There're a lot of named actions, you just have to mine the older books and the non-English terminology. Then you get things like inquartata, botta lunga, passata soto, estramacon/stramazzone, etc. And quaint epithets like "Cobb's Traverse", for an over-hasty retreat...

Going back even farther you will find some really colorful names from medieval and Renaissance manuals, like the "murder stroke" or the zwerch.
( Admittedly, you can't do most of these in fencing. )

Look into the book Martini "A-Z Fencing" for an alphabetical list of some of these...it's an interesting browse in any event.

[Schiavona]

Look into the book Martini "A-Z Fencing" for an alphabetical list of some of these...it's an interesting browse in any event.

Forgot about Martini, I haven't looked at it in a few years.....

I have an old book that shows a swordsman doing an Inquartata, except it's named as a 'demi volte'. Can we call you 'Demi' for short now?

[Inquartata]

Here, no Moore of that, now!

But seriously, the demi-volte is just the footwork part, the balance of the inquartata is a croise with the blade. It's the combination of the two that properly gets the name...

[Schiavona]

Here, no Moore of that, now!

But seriously, the demi-volte is just the footwork part, the balance of the inquartata is a croise with the blade. It's the combination of the two that properly gets the name...

Always thought it was just the difference 'tween the Italians and the French

"I went over to France and it's like they have a different word for EVERYTHING there!"-Steve Martin



I think I rather like 'leaping stag' instead of flunge.

[dunastor]

The coup de Jarnac, although it isn't really usefull in modern fencing anymore...

[Schiavona]

The coup de Jarnac, although it isn't really usefull in modern fencing anymore...

Never said it was........But as a filck to the calf in epee?

[dunastor]

Could be... could be...

And if the fencer doesn't have a nice controlled flicking technique, the effect may be the same as the real coup de Jarnac...

[The0ne]

How about an Advance + Beat on 4 + Advance + Disengage + Advance + Disengage + Lunge + Recover Foward into Flesche.

My coach finishes that in less than 3 seconds. We call it the "Blitz Attack" because it's freakin' unstoppable once it gets moving.

here's a way to stop the attack. Retreat and make counter six when he felsches!

Whflaskasfhsafjas,

I use a lot of those names too, hesitation attack, and invitation are favorites of mine.

[wflaschka]

...like (number)+(animal)+(attack mode) yielding "Nine Monkeys Kick" and (adjective)+(color)+(body part)+of+(adjective)+(feeling) producing "Screaming Jade Fist of Exquisite Agony."..."

So if...
speed attack = "Arrow flight"
deceiving attack = "Hidden dragon"
remise = "Frustrated snake"
and
wrist = "Trunk of five fingered tree"
chest = "Cage of the spirit"
groin = "Marvelous makers"

So an epee flick to the wrist could be "Arrow flight to the trunk of the five fingered tree." And a 1-2 to the chest could be a "Twice hidden dragon scratching the cage of the spirit." A remise to the groin could be, "Frustrated snake bites the marvelous makers."

[Schiavona]

Very, very funny

Actually I really like arrow flight for the flick. It sort of describes the ballistic arc of the point...

Flick always bothered me. I always thought of a flick as something you did with an unwanted piece of mucus


I also liked the Wrath of God attack, very, umm........bibical

[dunastor]

So if...
speed attack = "Arrow flight"

To keep things organised, Fleche is already the french word for arrow, so it would be appropriate to keep that one...

[FoilyGeezer]

And so lacks in flavor.

Marching attack with absence of blade = Drunken Monkey's Heroic Assault of Confusion!

[noodle]

give them zenlike taiji names
beat 1-2 ==> needle to sea bottom
hesitation attack ==> tiger returns to mountain
invitation attack ==> grasp swallow's tail
marching attack ==> riding the tiger

[oiuyt]

Shouting out the target you're trying to hit is required in sport kendo, imagine having to do that in European fencing

To be fair to Kendo, one must note that the shout should come coincidently with the strike. Kendo's very big on correct timing; the hit, the landing of the foot, and the shout should all be together. It's not like you call your shot and then attempt to execute it while your opponent attempts to prevent it.

-B :)

[Artisan]

But why try to create a nomenclature / identity for modern fencing based on eastern martial arts legacy? Its a bit like a middle aged white guy from the midwest getting a tattoo of tribal runes on his arm - doesn't come off as very genuine...

Sorry...guess I'm not in a romantic mood today.