Key vocabulary (like ‘en garde’ and ‘parry’) to help your child feel confident in lessons.
Imagine stepping into your first fencing class. The floor squeaks under your sneakers, and you see other fencers practicing quick moves with their swords. A friendly coach waves you over. “Let’s begin,” they say. “En garde!”
You pause, wondering what that means. But don’t worry—before long, you’ll feel right at home with fencing’s special words. Here’s a little story to help you learn:
Meet Mia at Her First Lesson
Coach: “Mia, stand en garde.”
Mia: “What does that mean?”
Coach: “It means ‘on guard,’ and it’s the basic ready position. Feet apart, knees slightly bent, and your blade pointing at your opponent.”
Mia tries to copy the coach. It feels a bit awkward, but she’s excited.
Coach: “Now, let’s practice an advance—that’s just moving forward one small step while staying balanced. Then a retreat—one step back.”
Mia: “Advance… retreat… got it!”
Mia feels like she’s dancing as she moves back and forth.
Suddenly, the coach moves in with their sword. “Time for a parry!” they call out. Mia wonders what that is, but she sees the coach’s blade coming toward her and lifts her own sword to block it.
Coach: “Perfect! A parry is just a fancy word for blocking an attack. Now counterattack with a riposte!”
Mia pushes the coach’s blade aside and extends her own to score a light tap.
Coach: “Great! That’s how you turn defense into offense. Now we’ll learn the lunge, which is a bigger step forward to reach your target.”
Mia practices extending her arm, stepping forward, and feeling the excitement of a proper lunge. She can picture herself in a real match.
Coach: “During a bout, you’ll hear the referee say Allez (French for ‘Go!’) to start fencing, and Halt to stop. When you hear ‘Halt,’ you must freeze immediately.”
At the end of the lesson, Mia has learned new words that once seemed strange, but now make perfect sense. She can’t wait to show off her en garde stance and a perfect lunge next time.
Becoming Fluent in Fencing
Like Mia, every new fencer starts out hearing terms they don’t recognize. With practice, you’ll soon slip these words into conversation as easily as saying “hello.” Knowing fencing’s unique vocabulary not only helps you keep up in class, it also makes the sport feel more like a grand adventure!
Next time, we’ll explore the most important moves you’ll ever learn: the footwork basics that keep you balanced and ready for anything!