Footwork - A general term for proper movement techniques.

1. Strip - The fencing area, typically a rectangle measuring 14 meters by 1.5 meters.
   

2. On guard -The basic stance, balanced to allow equal readiness for offense, defense and mobility.
   

3. Advance - The basic footwork used to move forward.
   

4. Retreat - The basic fencing footwork for moving backward.
   

5. Lunge - a quick movement forward used for attacking an opponent, but that also allows a fencer to recover quickly.
   

Bladework - A general term for proper weapon techniques.

1. Attack -The initial offensive action made while moving toward the opponent with the weapon ready, typically done with a lunge.
   

2. Parry - a defensive action using your weapon to block the opponent's blade from hitting you.
   

3. Riposte -The defender’s return attack after they parry.
   

4. Disengage - avoiding an opponent’s parry while attacking.
   

5. Right-of-way - The conventions in foil and saber fencing used to determine who scores if they both hit at the same time. If a fencer attacks, their opponent must parry or otherwise interrupt their attack.
   

6. Counter Attack - an attempt to hit the opponent while they are attacking you, but without trying to defend yourself first. 
   

Competition - Tournaments will typically include a variety of events with different weapons, ages and are sometimes divided by gender. However, mixed gender events are commonplace.

1. Bout - a single match between two fencers.
   

2. Touches - another term for points in a bout.
   

3. Referee - also sometimes called a director, the referee runs the bouts, awards points and records results.
   

4. Pool Round - The first round of a tournament has the competitors divided into small groups, or pools, where everyone in that pool fences each other in a round robin format. Each bout is fenced until one fencers has 5 touches or 3 minutes have passed, whichever comes first.
   

5. Direct Elimination Round - The second half of a tournament is an elimination round. Results from the pool round determine placement on the table. Bouts are fenced to 15 touches with up to 9 minutes of fencing time.
   

6. Ratings - Fencers who place highly during tournaments earn ratings, from E up to  A. The level of ratings that can be earned are determined by the number and level of competitors.
   

Foothills fencing academy offers competitive training for students of all ages and has students successfully competing in all levels of domestic tournaments from local USFA sanctioned events at our own academy to Summer National Championships.

Members of Foothills fencing academy are encouraged to take classes to improve their skills, regardless of whether or not they compete. However, we gladly provide a basic membership for those with experience who only wish to fence recreationally which entitles you to come for open fencing whenever we’re open.