Help: russian terminology

[Goofy]

I can do the translation, but only if it's really needed - I mean, most people interested in Russian fencing terminology already know Russian to some degree and already know English fencing terminology - making the connection should not be that hard...

And, of course, there are sites like this for quick translations...

http://www.freetranslation.com/

[needle]

And, of course, there are sites like this for quick translations...
http://www.freetranslation.com/

Thank you, but ... no, thank you. These sites provide great entertainment value. Here's an example:
Russian original: "тактическая правота - преимущество, определяемое правилами соревнований для атак и ответов при взаимных уколах (ударах) в фехтовании на рапирах и саблях"
Correct translation: "right of way - tactical advantage, defined by competition rules, for attacks and parries at double touches (cuts) in fencing foil and saber"

Their "translation": "Tactical correctness - the advantage determined by rules of competitions for attacks and answers at mutual injections (impacts) in fencing on rapiers and sabres"
Yey, I just won a bout at 5 injections against 4 ;-)

[needle]

OK, work starting slowly, so I had a bit of time. Russian/English glossary didn't sound interesting, but English/French/Russian - that's something I could use. So, taking the famous English/French fencing glossary and adding Russian to it was the task I attempted. Please jump in with corrections/additions. There's a number of terms in the English/French glossary for which I did not know correct Russian terms and did not want to provide just a dumb translation. There were also some interesting terms in the Russian glossary that didn't have an equivalent in the English/French one - I would appreciate correct French terms for those too.

English/French/Russian glossary:
Advance : Marche. Наступление (Nastuplenie)
a movement forward by step, cross, or balestra.
Assault : Assaut, Combat. Бой (Boy)
friendly combat between two fencers.
Attack : Attaque. Атака (Ataka)
the initial offensive action made by extending the sword arm and continuously threatening the valid target of the opponent.
Attack au Fer : Attaque au fer Атака с действиями на оружие (Ataka s deystviyami na oruzhie)
an attack that is prepared by deflecting the opponent's blade, eg. beat, froissement, pressure.
Balestra : Balestra Скачок (Skachok)
a forward hop or jump, typically followed by an attack such as a lunge or fleche.
Beat : Battement Батман (Batman)
an attempt to knock the opponent's blade aside or out of line by using one's foible or middle against the opponent's foible.
Bind : Liement Завязывание (Zavyazyvanie)
an action in which the opponent's blade is forced into the diagonally opposite line.
Black Card : Carton noir Черная Карточка (Chernaya Kartochka)
used to indicate the most serious offences in a fencing competition. The offending fencer is usually expelled from the event or tournament.
Bout : Match Бой (Boy)
an assault at which the score is kept.
Change of Engagement : Changement d'engagement Перемена Соединения (Peremena Soedineniya)
engagement of the opponent's blade in the opposite line.
Compound : Attaque composée ou parade composée Комбинированная Атака (Kombinirovannaya Ataka)
also composed; an attack or riposte incorporating one or more feints to the opposite line that the action finishes in.
Corps-a-corps : Corps à corps Столкновение (Stolknovenie)
lit. "body-to-body"; physical contact between the two fencers during a bout, illegal in foil and sabre.
Counter-attack : Contre-attaque Контратака (Kontrataka)
an attack made against the right-of-way, or in response to the opponent's attack.
Counter-parry : Contre-parade Контрзащита (Kontrzaschita)
a parry made in the opposite line to the attack; ie. the defender first comes around to the opposite side of the opponent's blade.
Counter-riposte : Contre-riposte Контрответ (Kontrotvet)
an attack that follows a parry of the opponent's riposte.
Counter-time : Contre-temps Контртемп (Kontrtemp)
an attack that responds to the opponent's counter- attack, typically a riposte following the parry of the counter-attack.
Coupé : Coupé Перенос (Perenos)
also cut-over; an attack or deception that passes around the opponent's tip.
Cross : Passe avant, passe arrière Скрестный шаг (Skrestniy Shag)
an advance or retreat by crossing one leg over the other; also passe' avant (forward cross), passe' arriere (backwards cross).
Cut : Coup de taille Удар (Udar)
an attack made with a chopping motion of the blade, landing with the edge or point.
Direct : Coup droit Простая Атака (Prostaya Ataka)
an attack or riposte that finishes in the same line in which it was formed, with no feints out of that line.
Disengage : Dégagement Перевод (Perevod)
a circular movement of the blade that deceives the opponent's parry, removes the blades from engagement, or changes the line of engagement.
Displacement : Esquive Уклонение (Uklonenie)
moving the target to avoid an attack; dodging.
Double : Coup double Обоюдная Атака (Oboyudnaya Ataka)
in epee, two attacks that arrive within 40-50 ms of each other.
Doublé : Doublé Удвоенный Перевод (Udvoenniy Perevod)
an attack or riposte that describes a complete circle around the opponent's blade, and finishes in the opposite line.
Engagement : Engagement Соединение (Soedinenie)
when the blades are in contact with each other, eg. during a parry, attack au fer, prise de fer, or coule'.
En Garde : En garde As description of positioin : Боевая Стойка (Boevaya Stoyka) ; As director’s command: Готовы (Gotovy)
also On Guard; the fencing position; the stance that fencers assume when preparing to fence.
Epee : Épée Шпага (Shpaga)
a fencing weapon with triangular cross-section blade and a large bell guard; also a light duelling sword of similar design, popular in the mid-19th century.
False : Fausse attaque Ложное нападение (Lozhnoe Napadenie) or Ложная Атака (Lozhnaya Ataka)
an action that is intended to fail, but draw a predicted reaction from the opponent; also, the back edge of a sabre blade.
Feint : Feinte Финт (Fint)
attacking into one line with the intention of switching to another line before the attack is completed.
Fencing Time : Temps d'escrime Фехтовальный Темп (Fehtovalniy Temp)
also temps d'escrime; the time required to complete a single, simple fencing action.
Fleche : Flèche Стрела (Strela)
lit. "arrow"; an attack in which the aggressor leaps off his leading foot, attempts to make the hit, and then passes the opponent at a run.
Foible : Le faible de la lame Слабая Часть Клинка (Slabaya Chast Klinka)
the upper, weak part of the blade.
Foil : Fleuret Рапира (Rapira)
a fencing weapon with rectangular cross-section blade and a small bell guard; any sword that has been buttoned to render it less dangerous for practice.
Forte : Le fort de la lame Сильная Часть Клинка (Silnaya Chast Klinka)
the lower, strong part of the blade.
French Grip : Poignée droite Прямая Рукоять (Pryamaya Rukoyat)
a traditional hilt with a slightly curved grip and a large pommel.
Guard : Coquille Гарда (Garda)
the metal cup or bow that protects the hand from being hit. Also, the defensive position assumed when not attacking.
In Time : Coup de temps Атака На Подготовку (Ataka Na Podgotovku)
when a stop-hit arrives at least one fencing time before the original attack.
Invitation : Invite Вызов (Vyzov)
a line that is intentionally left open to encourage the opponent to attack.
and sabre.
Line : Ligne Линия (Liniya)
the main direction of an attack (eg., high/low, inside/outside), often equated to the parry that must be made to deflect the attack; also point in line.
Lunge : Fente Выпад (Vypad)
an attack made by extending the rear leg and landing on the bent front leg.
Match : Match Матч (Match)
the aggregate of bouts between two fencing teams.
Measure : Mesure Дистанция (Distantsiya)
the distance between the fencers.
Middle : Milieu de la lame Средняя Часть Лезвия (Srednyaya Chast Klinka)
the middle third of the blade, between foible and forte.
Neuvieme : "Septime haute" Девятая (Devyataya)
an unconventional parry (#9) sometimes described as blade behind the back, pointing down (a variant of octave), other times similar to elevated sixte.
Octave : Octave Восьмая (Vosmaya)
parry #8; blade down and to the outside, wrist supinated.
Opposition : Opposition Оппозиция (Oppozitsiya)
holding the opponent's blade in a non-threatening line; a time- hit; any attack or counter-attack with opposition.
Parry : Parade Защита (Zaschita)
a block of the attack, made with the forte of one's own blade.
Piste : Piste Дорожка (Dorozhka)
the linear strip on which a fencing bout is fought; approx. 2m wide and 14m long.
Pistol Grip : Crosse; poignée orthopédique Пистолет (Pistolet)
a modern, orthopaedic grip, shaped vaguely like a small pistol; varieties are known by names such as Belgian, German, Russian, and Visconti.
Point : Touche Укол (Ukol)
a valid touch; the tip of the sword; an attack made with the point (ie. a thrust)
Point in Line : Menace Прямая Рука (Pryamaya Ruka), Оружие в Линии (Oruzhie v Linii)
also line; an extended arm and blade that threatens the opponent.
Pommel : Pommeau Гайка (Gayka)
a fastener that attaches the grip to the blade.
Preparation : Préparation Подготовка (Podgotovka)[/B]
the initial phase of an attack, before right-of-way is established.
Prime : Prime Первая (Pervaya)
parry #1; blade down and to the inside, wrist pronated.
Prise de Fer : Prise de fer Захват (Zahvat)
also taking the blade; an engagement of the blades that forces the opponent's weapon into a new line. See : bind, croise, envelopment, opposition.
Quarte : Quarte Четвертая (Chetvertaya)
parry #4; blade up and to the inside, wrist supinated.
Quinte : Quinte Пятая (Pyataya)
parry #5; blade up and to the inside, wrist pronated. In sabre, the blade is held above the head to protect from head cuts.
Red Card : Carton rouge Красная Карточка (Krasnaya Kartochka)
used to indicate repeated minor rule infractions or a major rule infraction by one of the fencers; results in a point being given to the other fencer.
Redoublement : Redoublement Повторная Атака (Povtornaya Ataka)
a new action that follows an attack that missed or was parried; see also Reprise.
Referee : Arbitre, Président Рефери (Referi), Судья (Sudya)
also director, president; the mediator of the fencing bout.
Remise : Remise Ремиз (Remiz)
immediate replacement of an attack that missed or was parried, without withdrawing the arm.
Reprise : Reprise Повторная Атака (Povtornaya Ataka)
renewal of an attack that missed or was parried, after a return to en-garde; see also Redoublement.
Retreat : Retraite Шаг Назад (Shag Nazad)
step back; opposite of advance.
Right-of-way : Raison, Priorité Тактическая Правота (Takticheskaya Pravota)
rules for awarding the point in the event of a double touch in foil or sabre.
Riposte : Riposte Ответ (Otvet)
an attack made immediately after a parry of the opponent's attack.
Sabre : Sabre Сабля (Sablya)
a fencing weapon with a flat blade and knuckle guard, used with cutting or thrusting actions; a military sword popular in the 18th to 20th centuries; any cutting sword used by cavalry.
Salle : Salle d'armes Зал (Zal)
a fencing hall or club.
Salute : Salut Салют (Salyut)
with the weapon, a customary acknowledgement of one's opponent and referee at the start and end of the bout.
Second Intention : Seconde intention Второе Намерение (Vtoroe Namerenie)
a false action used to draw a response from the opponent, which will open the opportunity for the intended action that follows, typically a counter-riposte.
Seconde : Seconde Вторая (Vtoraya)
parry #2; blade down and to the outside, wrist pronated.
Septime : Septime Седьмая (Sedmaya)
parry #7; blade down and to the inside, wrist supinated.
Simple : Attaque simple Простая Атака (Prostaya Ataka)
an attack (or riposte) that involves no feints.
Simultaneous : Attaques simultanées Обоюдная Атака (Oboyudnaya Ataka)
in foil and sabre, two attacks for which the right-of- way is too close to determine.
Sixte : Sixte Шестая (Shestaya)
parry #6; blade up and to the outside, wrist supinated.
Thrust : Coup de pointe, coup d'estoc Укол (Ukol)
an attack made by moving the sword parallel to its length and landing with the point.
Tierce : Tierce Третья (Tretya)
parry #3; blade up and to the outside, wrist pronated.
[B]Yellow Card : Carton jaune Желтая Карточка
also advertissement, warning; used to indicate a minor rule infraction by one of the fencers.

English/French terms without Russian equivalent:
Absence of blade : Absence de fer.
when the blades are not touching; opposite of engagement.
Aids : Aides.
the last three fingers of the sword hand.
Bayonet : Connecteur à baïonnette
a type of electrical connector for weapons.
Broken Time : Changement de Rythme
a sudden change in the tempo of one fencer's actions, used to fool the opponent into responding at the wrong time.
Button : Mouche; Bouton
the safety tip on the end of practice swords.
Conversation : Conversation
the back-and-forth play of the blades in a fencing match, composed of phrases (phrases d'armes) punctuated by gaps of no blade action.
Counter-disengage : Contre-dégagement
a disengage in the opposite direction, to deceive the counter-parry.
Coulé : Coulé
also graze, glise', or glissade; an attack or feint that slides along the opponent's blade.
Coup lancé : See flick ; "Coup déjà lancé" (Art. 32.2; 46; 47) :
a launched hit; an attack that starts before a stop in play but lands after. Valid for normal halts, but not valid at end of time.
Croisé : Croisé
also semi-bind; an action in which the opponent's blade is forced into the high or low line on the same side.
Deception : Dérobement
avoidance of an attempt to engage the blades; see disengage, coupe'
Derobement : Dérobement
deception of the attack au fer or prise de fer.
Dry : Fleuret (épée, sabre) mécanique
also steam; fencing without electric scoring aids.
Envelopment : Enveloppement
an engagement that sweeps the opponent's blade through a full circle.
Finta in tempo : Finta in tempo
lit. "feint in time"; a feint of counter-attack that draws a counter-time parry, which is decieved.
Flick : Coup lancé, "Bingo"
a cut-like action that lands with the point, often involving some whip of the foible of the blade to "throw" the point around a block or other obstruction.
Flying Parry or Riposte :
a parry with a backwards glide and riposte by cut-over.
Froissement : Froissement
an attack that displaces the opponent's blade by a strong grazing action.
Glide : Coulé
see coule'.
Hilt : Garde
the handle of a sword, consisting of guard, grip, and pommel.
Homologated : Homologué
certified for use in FIE competitions, eg. 800N clothing and maraging blades.
In Quartata : In quartata
an attack made with a quarter turn to the inside, concealing the front but exposing the back.
Indirect : Attaque indirecte
an attack or riposte that finishes in the opposite line to which it was formed, by means of a disengage or coupe'.
Insistence : Coup droit d'autorité
forcing an attack through the parry.
Interception :
a counter-attack that intercepts and checks an indirect attack or other disengagement.
Italian Grip : Poignée italienne
a traditional hilt with finger rings and crossbar.
Jury : Jury
the 4 officials who watch for hits in a dry fencing bout.
Lamé : Plastron électrique
a metallic vest/jacket used to detect valid touches in foil
Mal-parry : Parade insuffisante
also mal-paré; a parry that fails to prevent the attack from landing.
Manipulators : Manipulateurs
the thumb and index finger of the sword hand.
Maraging : Maraging
a special steel used for making blades; said to be stronger and break more cleanly than conventional steels.
Marker Points :
an old method of detecting hits using inked points.
Martingale : Martingale
a strap that binds the grip to the wrist/forearm.
Pass : Dépassement
an attack made with a cross; eg. fleche, "Russian lunge". Also, the act of moving past the opponent.
Passata-sotto : Passata Sotto
a lunge made by dropping one hand to the floor.
Passé : Coup passé
an attack that passes the target without hitting; also a cross- step (see cross).
Phrase : Phrases d'armes
a set of related actions and reactions in a fencing conversation.
Plaqué : Coup plaqué
a point attack that lands flat.
Plastron : Plastron
a partial jacket worn for extra protection; typically a half- jacket worn under the main jacket on the weapon-arm side of the body.
Presentation :
offering one's blade for engagement by the opponent.
Principle of Defence : Principe de défense
the use of forte against foible when parrying.
Press : Presser v. pression
an attempt to push the opponent's blade aside or out of line; depending on the opponent's response, the press is followed by a direct or indirect attack.
Stop Hit : Coup d'arrêt
a counter-attack that hits; also a counter-attack whose touch is valid by virtue of it's timing.
Stop Cut : Coup d'arrêt
a stop-hit with the edge in sabre, typically to the cuff.
Three Prong : "Fil de corps épée"
a type of epee body wire/connector; also an old- fashioned tip that would snag clothing, to make it easier to detect hits in the pre-electric era.
Thrown Point : Coup lancé, "bingo"
a "flick".
Time Hit : Coup de temps
also time-thrust; old name for stop hit with opposition.
Trompement : Trompement
deception of the parry.
Two Prong : "Fil de corps fleuret / sabre"
a type of body-wire/connector, used in foil and sabre.
Whip-over : Coup fouetté
in sabre, a touch that results from the foible of the blade whipping over the opponent's guard or blade when parried.
Whites : "Tenue"
fencing clothing.

Russian/English terms without French equivalent:
[B]Ближний Бой (Blizhniy Boy) Infighting
Наступательный Бой (Nastupatelniy Boy) Offensive game
Оборонительный Бой (Oboronitelniy Boy) Defensive game
Выжидательный Бой (Vyzhidatelniy Boy) Waiting game
Двойной Перевод (Dvoynoy Perevod) One-Two
Действие (Deystvie) Action
Закрытие Назад (Zakritie Nazad) Recovery (from lunge)
Закрытие Вперед (Zakritie Vpered) Recovery forward
Игра Оружием (Igra Oruzhiem) Bladework
Разведка (Razvedka) Reconnaissance
Укол с Углом (Ukol s Uglom) Angulation

[Lemberg]

Wow Needle, that'seally neet, thanks a lot.....
The only thing from your list of "no Russian equivalents" is that of maraging - I dunno how correct this term is, but I heard the word "maragen" being used countless times. Might be just an adaptation from english.
Then.... (and I'm sure you're aware of that) no one calls fleche "strela" or ataka streloj.... It's just a "flesh"...
Was intrigued by a word "perenos" as a translation for coupe... But i guess it's just a more scientific term for a word "zahlest" that the coaches and fencers I know use.
But anyway, Needle, thanks for your hard work and making a boring day at work more interesting.

[needle]

The only thing from your list of "no Russian equivalents" is that of maraging - I dunno how correct this term is, but I heard the word "maragen" being used countless times. Might be just an adaptation from english.
Then.... (and I'm sure you're aware of that) no one calls fleche "strela" or ataka streloj.... It's just a "flesh"...

I know. I tried to get the "official" terminology right and clean first before adding in slang.

Was intrigued by a word "perenos" as a translation for coupe... But i guess it's just a more scientific term for a word "zahlest" that the coaches and fencers I know use.

Are you sure zahlest is used for coupe and not for flick?

[Lemberg]

Ya you might be right re: Zahlest-Coupe-Flick.....

[FencingKitten]

Holy crap nice!!!!

Thanks, needle. I'd like to be able to fill in the blanks, but I don't have the skills. Still, that's really awesome!

[Mario_Pegrini]

Needle, I have few corrections:
Counter-parry : Contre-parade means 'защита круговая' (zaschita krugovaja) if we look to english definition, which you wrote

Атака На Подготовку (Ataka Na Podgotovku) is atack in preparation
and
In Time : Coup de temps i think is Атака На темпо (don't know exactly)

[needle]

Needle, I have few corrections:
Counter-parry : Contre-parade means 'защита круговая' (zaschita krugovaja) if we look to english definition, which you wrote

Атака На Подготовку (Ataka Na Podgotovku) is atack in preparation
and
In Time : Coup de temps i think is Атака На темпо (don't know exactly)

You're right, I can't correct the original post anymore, but will make correction in my copy of the glossary and post new version when I have some more corrections and feedback.
"Атака на темпо" doesn't sound right, though. Does anyone know for sure what is the right term?
Thanks.

[Mario_Pegrini]

Wow Needle, that'seally neet, thanks a lot.....
The only thing from your list of "no Russian equivalents" is that of maraging - I dunno how correct this term is, but I heard the word "maragen" being used countless times. Might be just an adaptation from english.
Then.... (and I'm sure you're aware of that) no one calls fleche "strela" or ataka streloj.... It's just a "flesh"...
Was intrigued by a word "perenos" as a translation for coupe... But i guess it's just a more scientific term for a word "zahlest" that the coaches and fencers I know use.
But anyway, Needle, thanks for your hard work and making a boring day at work more interesting.

I think that there are two meanings for french 'coupe'
1) 'Perenos' - from (perenesti or smth like that: my russian is very weak) - is similar action to 'perevod' but in this case action is about pasing your point over/under opponent's blade instead of pasing around it. Just imagine two actions : 'perevodit' and 'perenesti'.
2) second meaning is about hit made by 'perenos'

[Feltan]

Needle,

You forgot an important Russian word: Blyat.

Regards,
Feltan

[needle]

Needle,
You forgot an important Russian word: Blyat.
Regards,
Feltan

Reminded me of the old joke. Russian class in CIA school:
"Excuse me, professor, where in the Russian sentence 'Muzhiki, kto posledniy za vodkoy' (Guys, who is last in line for vodka) should I put indefinite article 'blyad'?"
"Well, that article can really be placed in any part of this sentence and in quantities directly proportional to the lenght of the line..."

[EDIT] What I meant by that is that this word can be successfully used as a substitute for any fencing term ... and understood correctly too

It's especially funny to hear it used instead of "et la"

[Dmitrivna]

wow - that glossary is awesome!!! THANKS! ^_^

[DHCJr]

That wouldn't explain the name for epee, though.


Anybody have a good resource for fencing terms in Russian, anyway?

I have a manuscript that was used for the 1980 Olympics and copied for the Armorers for the 1984 Olympics that has the different fencing terms. I will need to find it in storage. Contact me by e-mail, DHCJr@juno.com and I will photocopy it and mail it to you.

Needle, you might e-mail me also. This may help some. It is impressive with what you have done.

[secretly]

Reminded me of the old joke. Russian class in CIA school:
"Excuse me, professor, where in the Russian sentence 'Muzhiki, kto posledniy za vodkoy' (Guys, who is last in line for vodka) should I put indefinite article 'blyad'?"
"Well, that article can really be placed in any part of this sentence and in quantities directly proportional to the lenght of the line..."

[EDIT] What I meant by that is that this word can be successfully used as a substitute for any fencing term ... and understood correctly too

It's especially funny to hear it used instead of "et la"

haha, you can also describe a whole bout by using only "3 popular words" and some articles and everyone will understand what you are talking about

oh and thank you for translating "flick" - now I can use "zahlest" instead of "za**jaritj s razmahu" which is not always appropriate