2. Respect of the fencing phrase
t.75 (a) Any attack properly executed (cf. t.7) must be parried, or
completely avoided, and the phrase must be followed through.
(b) The attack is correctly carried out when the extending of the
arm, with the point or the cutting edge continuously threatening
the valid target, precedes the initiation of the lunge.
1. An attack with a lunge is correctly carried out:
— in a simple attack (cf. t.8) when the arm is extended with
the lunge and the touch arrives at the latest when the front
foot touches the strip;
— in a compound attack (cf. t.8) when, with the arm
extending in the correct forming of the first feint (cf. t.77),
the touch arrives at the latest when the front foot touches
the strip or immediately afterwards.
2. An attack with a step-forward-lunge is correctly carried out:
— as a simple attack (cf. t.8) when the arm is extending
before the completion of the step-forward and when the
touch arrives at the latest at the end of the lunge;
— as a compound attack (cf. t.8) when, with the arm
extending in the correct forming of the first feint (cf. t.77)
during the step-forward, the touch arrives at the latest at
the end of the lunge.
3. The flèche and any forward movement crossing the legs or
feet is forbidden. Any offence will be penalized as specified
in Articles t.114, t.116, t.120. Any touch scored by the fencer
at fault will be annulled. However, any touch correctly
executed by his opponent is valid.
t.76 (c) In order to judge the correctness of an attack, the following
points must be considered:
1. If the attack is initiated when the opponent has his point ‘in
line’ (cf. t.10) the attacker must first deflect his opponent’s
weapon. Referees must ensure that a mere grazing of the
blades is not considered as sufficient to deflect the
opponent’s blade.
2. If, when attempting to find the opponent’s blade to deflect it,
the blade is not found (dérobement), the right of attack passes
to the opponent.
3. If the attack is commenced when the opponent’s blade is not
‘in line’, the attack may be completed either direct, or by a
disengagement or by a cutover, or else be preceded by feints
(cf. t.77) which oblige the opponent to parry.
t.77 (d) In compound attacks the feint must be correctly carried out, i.e.:
1. A feint with the point, with the arm extended and the point
threatening the target continuously.
2. A feint with a cut, the arm extended, the blade and the
arm forming an obtuse angle of about 135°, with the
cutting edge threatening a valid part of the target.
(e) If during a compound attack the opponent finds the blade
during one of the feints, he has the right to riposte.
(f) In a compound attack the opponent has the right to stophit;
but, in order to be valid, the stop hit must precede the
last movement of the attack by one period of fencing time,
i.e. the stop hit must arrive before the attacker has started
the last movement of the attack itself.
t.78 (g) Attacks by beats on the blade
1. In an attack by beating on the blade, this attack is
correctly carried out and retains its priority when the
beat is made on the foible of the opponent’s blade, i.e.
the two-thirds of the blade furthest from the guard.
2. In an attack by beating on the blade, when the beat is
made on the forte of the opponent’s blade, i.e. the onethird
of the blade nearest the guard, the attack is badly
executed and the beat gives the opponent the right to
an immediate riposte.
t.79 (h) The parry gives the right to riposte; a simple riposte may
be direct or indirect, but in order to annul any subsequent
movement by the attacker, it must be carried out
immediately, without any hesitation or pause.
Against cuts with the cutting edge, the flat or the back of
the blade, the object of the parry is to prevent touches
made by the opponent arriving on the valid target;
therefore:
1. The parry is properly carried out when, before the
completion of the attack, it prevents the arrival of that
attack by closing the line in which that attack is to
finish.
2. When a parry is properly executed, the attack by the
opponent must be declared parried, and judged as such
by the Referee, even if, as a result of its flexibility, the
tip of the opponent’s weapon makes contact with the
target.
3. Judging of touches
t.80 In applying these basic conventions of saber fencing, the
Referee should judge as follows.
When during a phrase both fencers attack simultaneously there
is either a simultaneous action or a double touch:
1. The first of these conditions is due to simultaneous
conception and execution of an attack by both fencers; in
this case the touches exchanged are annulled for both
fencers.
2. The double touch (coup double) on the other hand, is the
result of a clearly faulty action on the part of one of the
fencers.
Therefore, when there is not an interval of fencing time
between the touches:
1. The fencer who is attacked is alone counted as touched:
(a) If he makes a stop hit on his opponent’s simple attack.
(b) If, instead of parrying, he attempts to avoid the touch
and does not succeed in so doing.
(c) If, after making a successful parry, he makes a
momentary pause (delayed riposte) which gives his
opponent the right to renew the attack (redoublement,
or remise or reprise).
(d) If, during a compound attack, he makes a stop hit
without being in time.
(e) If, having his point ‘in line’ (cf. t.10) and being
subjected to a beat or a taking of the blade (prise de
fer) which deflects his blade, he attacks or places his
point in line again instead of parrying a direct touch made by
his opponent.
2. The fencer who attacks is alone counted as touched:
(a) If he initiated his attack when his opponent had his point ‘in
line’ and without deflecting the opponent’s weapon. Referees
must ensure that a mere grazing of the blades is not
considered as sufficient to deflect the opponent’s blade.
(b) If he attempts to find the blade, does not succeed (because of
a derobement) and continues the attack.
(c) If, during a compound attack, he allows his opponent to find
the blade, and continues the attack while his opponent
ripostes immediately.
(d) If, during a compound attack, he bends his arm or makes a
momentary pause, during which time the opponent makes a
stop hit or an attack while the attacker continues his own
attack.
(e) If, during a compound attack, he is stop-hit one period of
fencing time (temps d’escrime) before he makes his final
movement.
(f) If he makes a touch by a remise, redoublement or reprise
following a parry by his opponent which has been followed
by a riposte which is immediate, simple and executed in one
period of fencing time without withdrawing the arm.
3. When there is a double touch (coup double), and if the Referee is
unable clearly to judge from which side the fault has come, he
must replace the competitors on guard.
One of the most difficult cases to judge arises when a stop hit is
made and there is doubt as to whether it was made sufficiently in
time in relation to the final movement of a compound attack.
Generally, in such cases, the double touch occurs through the
fault of both fencers concerned, which justifies the Referee
replacing them on guard. (The fault of the attacker consists of
indecision, slowness of execution or the making of feints which
are not sufficiently effective. The fault of the defender lies in
delay or slowness in making the stop hit.)
Originally Posted by rcmatthews 
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