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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →In fencing, a parry is a defensive action made with the weapon to prevent an opponent’s attack from arriving. If it succeeds, it can create an opportunity to answer with a riposte—but the parry itself does not guarantee a point. How the exchange is judged depends on whether the bout is foil, epee, or saber.
What a parry means in fencing
The International Fencing Federation’s December 2025 technical rules define a parry as “the defensive action made with the weapon to prevent an offensive action arriving.” The FIE technical rules also distinguish a parry from the offensive action that may follow it. In beginner terms, USA Fencing describes it as a movement that deflects the opponent’s blade. USA Fencing’s competition basics explains the parry-and-riposte exchange.
A riposte is the defender’s answering attack after a parry. The sequence is not an automatic score: the parry must prevent the incoming action from arriving, and the riposte must then land in a valid target under the rules for that weapon.
Why the weapon changes how a parry is judged
Fencing has three weapons, and they differ in target area, how a hit may be made, and whether right-of-way rules apply. That context matters when deciding what a successful defense means in a scoring exchange.
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| Weapon | Target area | How a hit may be made | Right-of-way |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foil | Torso | Point only | Applies |
| Epee | Whole body | Point only | Does not apply |
| Saber | Above the waist | Edge or point | Applies |
These weapon distinctions are summarized by USA Fencing’s weapons guide; its competition overview explains right-of-way. In foil and saber, right-of-way determines which fencer has priority in an exchange of attacks. Epee has no right-of-way, so the scoring logic differs. A parry can set up a riposte in any of the three weapons, but it should not be described as automatically awarding a point.
Blade contact alone is not necessarily a parry
In foil and saber, the FIE rules caution that mere contact between blades is not sufficient to count as deflecting the opponent’s blade. A touch or clash is therefore not automatically a successful parry. The relevant question is whether the defensive weapon action actually prevents the offensive action from arriving, as judged under the weapon’s rules.
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How to learn parrying safely
Parrying is a weapon-specific skill best learned in supervised practice, rather than from equipment or a generic written sequence. A qualified coach can teach the appropriate action for the weapon and correct it in context. USA Fencing advises beginners to seek safe, equipped instruction and notes that clubs may offer beginner classes. Its Try Fencing page is a starting point for finding instruction.
- Check a nearby club’s current beginner schedule and whether its classes suit your age and experience.
- Ask what protective equipment is provided and what you need to bring.
- Confirm the club teaches the weapon you want to learn: foil, epee, or saber.
Class times, age ranges, locations, and equipment arrangements vary, so confirm those details directly with the club.
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Checking the current rules
The FIE rules index lists a technical-rules update dated August 3, 2026. The definition quoted above is from the December 2025 PDF; consult the FIE rules index for the current edition before relying on verbatim wording or detailed rule interpretations.
Quick Recap
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