Fencing · Parries & ripostes · Decision-making

Parry 4, parry 6 and riposte

One partner lunges slowly to the inside or outside line; the other takes parry 4 or parry 6 and ripostes straight back while the attacker is still in the lunge.

A1D1A2D2C
Start / 6
Time
15 min
Players
2–16
Age
U9+
Area
Piste or sports hall
Equipment
masksjackets, underarm protectors and gloveschest protectors (compulsory for girls and women)weapons (foil or épée)

Setup

  1. Full kit for both partners: mask, jacket, underarm protector on the weapon-arm side, glove with the cuff over the jacket sleeve, and a chest protector for girls and women. Masks stay on from the first salute until 'Halte!' at the end.
  2. Blade check first: no kinks, cracks or loose points. Check the mask mesh isn't dented and the back strap is fastened.
  3. Pairs en garde at lunge distance, at least 2 metres from the next pair. A attacks, D defends.
  4. Written for foil and épée, for right-handers. Left-handers mirror the lines. Sabre fencers can run it with parry 3 (tierce) in place of parry 6 and riposte with a cut.

How it runs

  1. Parry 4 (quarte) protects the inside line, the side of the chest away from the weapon arm. A extends and lunges slowly to D's inside line; D moves the hand across to the inside, point up, so the forte (strong part near the guard) meets A's foible (the weak end) and pushes it aside.
  2. Riposte: straight away, D extends the arm and hits A's chest while A is still in the lunge. Light hits only. A then recovers.
  3. Six attacks to the inside, then six to the outside line for parry 6 (sixte): D's hand moves only a little to the weapon-arm side, nails up, point still threatening.
  4. Swap roles and repeat both parries.
  5. Mixed lines: A chooses the line without saying it; D has to read it and take the right parry. Six attacks each, keep score of clean parry-ripostes.
  6. Finish: A recovers quickly after the lunge, so D has to riposte with a lunge of their own to reach.

Coaching points

  • Small parries. The hand moves no wider than your own body; big sweeps leave the other line open.
  • Forte on foible: block with the part of your blade near the guard, never with the tip.
  • Parry and riposte are one action, 'click-hit', with no pause between.
  • The riposte goes straight from where the parry finished; don't pull the arm back first.
  • Attackers: lunge slowly and honestly at first, so the defender can learn the shape.

Common mistakes

  • Parrying by swinging the whole arm instead of moving the hand and fingers.
  • Dropping the point after the parry, so the riposte has to come back up.
  • Stepping back as well as parrying, which takes the riposte out of reach.
  • Attackers recovering before the riposte has landed in the early stages.

Say it: “Small parry, click-hit.”

Make it harder

  • A attacks at full speed with a feint before the final action.
  • D gives ground with a retreat-parry, then ripostes with a lunge.
  • A may answer the riposte with a parry and counter-riposte.

Make it easier

  • A extends without lunging, standing still, so D can practise the parry shape.
  • Parry 4 only until it is tidy, then add parry 6.

Pairs well with

Reviewed by the Sportdify coaching team.