Arm-Band Programme

Allez! Fencing Club

Fencers at the advanced level will begin training for Foil Yellow and then Foil Orange band levels. A description of the program and the criteria for each level are at

www.fencing.ca/downloads/armband_program_eng.pdf

The technical rules

For Yellow and Orange, fencers need to know:

The valid target (section t.47, t.48)
The dimensions of the piste (t.12--t.14)
The method of scoring a hit (t.46.1 t.40--t.42, t.51)

For Orange, fencers need to additionally know:

The conventions of foil fencing (t.55--t.60, t.6--t.10, and see also below)
The role of the referee (t.34,t.35)

If you find sections t.55-t.60 confusing, don't worry. Read the following summary of the conventions of foil and sabre fencing by Morgan Burke; then read sections t.55-t.60 again.

The right-of-way relationships between common fencing actions are as follows:

dérobement has right-of-way over attacks on the blade
attacks on the blade have right-of-way over the point in line [see regulation t.60.5.a]
point in line has right-of-way over the attack
the simple attack has right-of-way over the stop-hit
the stop-hit has right-of-way over the renewal of the attack
the stop-hit in time has right-of-way over the compound attack
the [immediate] riposte has right-of-way over the renewal of the attack
the [immediate] counter-riposte has right-of-way over the renewal of the riposte
the remise of the attack has right-of-way over the delayed riposte [Burke, Fencing FAQ (part 1)]

Editorial remarks in brackets added by Theodore Norvell.

Terminology relevant to right-of-way conventions:

Dérobement. An evasion of an attack on the blade.
Attack on the blade. An attack that involves an attempt to deflect the opponent's blade. For example, a beat attack or a prise-de-fer attack.
Point in line. A defensive position in which the arm is straight and the point threatens the opponent's target.
Simple attack/riposte/remise. An attack, riposte or remise in one movement. For example, a direct or indirect attack or a direct or indirect riposte.
Compound attack/riposte. An attack or riposte made with more than one movement. For example, an attack or riposte that includes one or more feints. Also, footwork takes time; so a step-step-and-lunge is a compound attack with three movements.
Stop-hit in time. A counter-attack that arrives prior to the start of the final movement of a compound attack. For example a stop-hit that lands during a feint or a step.
Stop-hit or counter-attack. An attack started after one's opponent has initiated an attack.
Riposte. An attack that follows on a parry.
Counter-riposte. A riposte made after parrying a riposte.
Remise. An immediate and simple (not compound) renewal of an attack or riposte made without withdrawing the arm.
Renewal. This term is a bit broader than "remise". Any remise is a renewal, but renewals may involve withdrawing the arm (redoublement), be delayed, or be compound.