My A to Z theme is fencing and swordplay, focusing mainly on fencing terminology, but with a few favorite movie fencing moments thrown into the mix too.
Nouvieme: an unconventional parry (#9) sometimes described as blade behind the back, pointing down (a variant of octave), other times similar to elevated sixth.
My fencing coach actually taught this one, even though he stated at the time that it was unlikely that any of us would use it, unless we went to the Olympic level. I have searched and searched for pictures or video of this unconventional party - I know I've seen it somewhere - but I can't seem to find it.
The closest thing I found, and it doesn't look like what I learned, is in the Princess Bride Sword Fight scene between 2:07 and 2:10. The man in black does it, but it's pretty low, and the nouvieume I remember was up higher.
I love that scene! Love, love, love it. It not only captures some well-done stage fencing by actors who've been trained by a fencing coach, but it also captures some of what I consider to be saber fencer attitude.
My A to Z theme is fencing and swordplay, focusing mainly on fencing terminology, but with a few favorite movie fencing moments thrown into the mix too.
Moulinet: a whirling cut, executed from the wrist or elbow.
Ok, when I re-read this term (remember it's been a number of years since I fenced), I got really excited. I thought, hey, that's the move that I injured myself with! I know, it's a strange thing to get excited about, but I decided to research the term more fully because of that "personal" connection.
After doing a great deal of searching, and reading, I decided that actually the move that I injured myself with couldn't be a moulinet. Moulinets start with a whirling cut that exposes the arm and elbow to the opponent. Most modern saber fencers would take a quick cut at the exposed arm and elbow and get a point before the fancy whirling move finished. However, small moulinet type moves are still used, executed from the wrist and fingers.
Basically all that big circling stuff we see in movies is the stuff that makes most fencers say, "I could have hit them five times by the time they got their blade around!"
I couldn't find a good saber fencing video of a moulinet, so I searched around and found this one from a two handed long-sword coach. This video is long, but it shows both the move, and the determination of dedicated practice. And remember, he's going practice speed, so he's probably not going full out.
Other "M" fencing terms:
Mal-parry: also mal-pare'; a parry that fails to prevent the attack from landing.
Manipulators: the thumb and index finger of the sword hand.
Maraging: a special steel used for making blades; said to be stronger and break more cleanly than conventional steels.
Marker Points: an old method of detecting hits using inked points. (old, never used anymore)
Martingale: a strap that binds the grip to the wrist/forearm. (I've never seen one used)
Match: the aggregate of bouts between two fencing teams.
Measure: the distance between the fencers.
Middle: the middle third of the blade, between foible and forte.
On a personal note (the injury lowdown):
The move that I injured myself was a diagonal saber cut from shoulder to waist, circling around back into various parry/guard positions. It's a great saber move, as long as the fencer doesn't get their elbow involved in the circling. Most modern fencing is executed from the wrist and fingers. Elbows don't take to certain types of circular motions.
I practiced the move wrong repeatedly over several hours (at a coaches camp at the Olympic training center in Colorado Springs) and even though I kept feeling a painful twinge, I kept going. I'm not talking about muscle fatigue or soreness, I mean that "wrong" odd twinge feeling that often is a part of actual injury. My body warned me, my coaches told me I could take a break, and I didn't listen. I nearly lost the use of my left hand entirely from the injury I gave myself. I ended up having the worst surgery and post-op recovery of my life because I was too stubborn to stop when something was wrong.
So, for anyone who has wondered about injuries and modern fencing, I can say from my experience that fencers who get injured are often fencers who have over-extended themselves. It's actually a pretty safe sport. (Yes, I did collect bruises at aggressive fencing matches, but that's usually the worst thing. and I felt oddly proud of those bruises, especially ones I got from the top competitors. "Look, that stripe on the back of my arm there, it was from _!")
So, have you ever over-extended yourself doing something you love? Become obsessed with learning a particular move and wanted to get it perfect? Or am I the only one that's become a bit obsessive-compulsive over a sport/athletic move? And what did you think of the video?
Oh, and in book marketing news . . . not a single book has sold at Smashwords, Kobo, or Nook since I went for the 99 cent spring sale. I decided to do something totally crazy and go for Kindle Select status and put it on 99 cent sale there. So, if you've been waiting for a sale price for Kindle, it's here.
I don't like changing things up midstream, but I want to get books into the hands of readers.
My A to Z theme is fencing and swordplay, focusing mainly on fencing terminology, but with a few favorite movie fencing moments thrown into the mix too.
L is for Lunge
Lunge: an attack made by extending the rear leg and landing on the bent front leg.
This is the move that everyone thinks of when they think of fencing, because it is THE attack position. A fencer can attack and have the right of way without the lunge, but a lunge is usually part of the attack position.
(This is a very clear picture of a fencer establishing right of way, in a nice lunge, and getting the hit/point because his opponent's parry has been unsuccessful)
In any attack, the attacker's blade must be moving towards the target (opponent) first to establish right of way, which then lets the director/referee know who started the attack and who "should" get the point. So, a lunge usually starts with the blade arm moving forward first, followed by the front leg and the rest of the body.
(Inigo has a partial lunge and an attack, but the man in black successfully parries)
Of course, in a live fencing match between Olympic fencers, the blade is usually moving forward a fraction of a second before the fencer's body. Or the lunge could be preceded or replaced by any kind of forward movement. And that's just in the first established attack - this isn't getting into ripostes or what happens when both fencers seem to attack at the same exact time.
(And this is what it often looks like and feels like in a competition - stretched out beyond the limits and in full movement)
Other L fencing words:
Lame': a metallic vest/jacket used to detect valid touches in foil and sabre. (This is worn with electrics, and not used when fencing "dry")
Line: the main direction of an attack (eg., high/low, inside/outside), often equated to the parry that must be made to deflect the attack; also point in line.
In honor of this post today, I added 20 fencing lunges per leg into my exercise routine, and then did 20 front lunges. Ouch. I used to be in better shape. I think I need to add them in regularly.
My A to Z theme is fencing and swordplay, focusing mainly on fencing terminology, but with a few favorite movie fencing moments thrown into the mix too. Warning: This post has a long "extra" list attached. If you are in a hurry, just read the main part, and then skip the rest.
For those of you who have asked recently, yes, I have fenced before, but I haven't fenced in many years. My best fencing year was also my worst. I went from going to a United States Fencing Association Coaching Camp at an Olympic training center to serious injury that resulted in the worst surgery I've ever had (I've had many, included 2 C-sections) and months of major recovery while fencing right-handed, doing which I actually landed a spot to go to Nationals (I didn't go and kicked myself afterwards for being a coward). Years and years later, I keep meeting teens and adults who fence, and I keep thinking about going back. At the moment, with a crazy busy life, it just doesn't seem reasonable, but I keep thinking about it. Now and then I pull out my old fencing rule book and coaches manual, and do footwork and blade-work in my living room. My novel, Champion in the Darkness has some swordplay in it, and I was hoping to write in more swordplay terms in my second novel, Champion in Flight, so the vocabulary you find here is a refresher for me.
F is for Foil:One of the three competition weapons for the U.S.F.A. and the Olympics. a fencing weapon with rectangular cross-section blade and a small bell guard. Foil with a French Grip.
Foil is the basic weapons that all fencers start with, and many continue to compete with for all time. The target area for foil is the torso only, front and back. The foil, like the epee, is a point weapon in which points are scored only with the tip of the blade.
As I said in my previous post about epees, the three competition weapons and those who fence with them have a tendency to draw stereotypes in personalities and manners. Foil fencers are seen as relaxed, every day "joes and jills" who enjoy discussing rules, but who also are cool enough to joke around and have fun now and then.
(I fenced foil and sabre, and well, you'll see what the stereotypes are like for sabre fencers when we get to 'S')
Other Fun "F" fencing terms (this list is long so feel free to ignore it):
False: an action that is intended to fail, but draw a predicted reaction from the opponent; also, the back edge of a sabre blade.
Feint: an attack into one line with the intention of switching to another line before the attack is completed.
Fencing Time: also temps d'escrime; the time required to complete a single, simple fencing action.
FIE: Federation Internationale d'Escrime, the world governing body of fencing.
Finta in tempo: lit. "feint in time"; a feint of counter-attack that draws a counter-time parry, which is decieved; a compound counter-attack.
Fleche: lit. "arrow"; an attack in which the aggressor leaps off his leading foot, attempts to make the hit, and then passes the opponent at a run.
Flick: a cut-like action that lands with the point, often involving some whip of the foible of the blade to "throw" the point around a block or other obstruction.
Florentine: an antiquated fencing style where a secondary weapon or other instrument is used in the off hand.
Flying Parry or Riposte: a parry with a backwards glide and riposte by cut-over.
Foible: the upper, weak part of the blade.
Forte: the lower, strong part of the blade.
French Grip: a traditional hilt with a slightly curved grip and a large pommel.
Froissement: an attack that displaces the opponent's blade by a strong grazing action.
Fuller: the groove that runs down a sword blade to reduce weight.
My A to Z theme is fencing and swordplay, focusing mainly on fencing terminology, but with a few favorite movie fencing moments thrown into the mix too. Why: I love fencing and swordplay!
E is for Epee: One of the three competition weapons in the U.S.F.A. and Olympics. a fencing weapon with triangular cross-section blade and a large bell guard; also a light duelling sword of similar design, popular in the mid-19th century; epee de terrain; dueling sword.
Epee with a French grip.
The target area for each weapon is different. The Epee target area is the entire body from head to toe with the exception of the back of the head and the back of the neck. The Epee is a point weapon where touches/points are counted when the tip of the weapon hits the opponents' target area.
The three competition weapons and those who fence with them have a tendency to draw stereotypes in personalities and manners. Epee fencers are often seen as graceful, ultra polite, quiet, and reserved.
(I never fenced Epee, but my coach and his youngest daughter did)
Four other "E" Fencing terms:
Engagement: when the blades are in contact with each other, eg. during a parry.
En Garde: also On Guard; the fencing position; the stance that fencers assume when preparing to fence.
Envelopment: an engagement that sweeps the opponent's blade through a full circle
Electrics - my second "main" term of the day, just for those who've asked about them, or thought that maybe electrics were like cattle prods . . .you know who you are :)
Electrics are used for competition, and the fencers do not get electric shocks from them. They make it slightly easier for the directors (referees) to judge the competition.
A wire from a box is plugged into a "body wire" that the fencer wears inside their jacket and running down their sleeve (on their blade side), which then plugs into the "electric" fencing blade with has a sensor on the tip. When the tip is depressed, a signal runs through the wires back to the box, which is also attached to a center box that lights up and lets the judge know who hit first.
Of course, if you're in the Olympics, they have cordless electrics - way cooler.
Why are electrics useful? Competition fencing moves fast.
Why is the director still needed? A fencer, even if they hit first, does not always get awarded the point. The point is awarded to the fencer who has "right-of-way" and hits their opponent. The sensor helps the judge know if the "right-of-way" fencer actually made the touch.
We'll get to "right of way" with "R" . . . trust me, it's an interesting concept, and one that fencers love to argue over before, during, and after competitions.
My A to Z theme is fencing and swordplay, focusing mainly on fencing terminology, but with a few favorite movie fencing moments thrown into the mix too. Why: I love fencing and swordplay!
D is for Disengage: a circular movement of the blade that deceives the opponent's parry, removes the blades from engagement, or changes the line of engagement.
Disengage is my all time favorite type of attack or riposte while foil fencing, and when I fenced I found a great deal of success with it. There is nothing else like circling your blade around and around in an attack while your opponent tries to parry it unsuccessfully.
Other Good "D" fencing terms:
Deception: avoidance of an attempt to engage the blades; see disengage
Derobement: deception of the attack au fer or prise de fer.
Direct: a simple attack or riposte that finishes in the same line in which it was formed, with no feints out of that line. .
Displacement: moving the target to avoid an attack; dodging.
Double-time: also "dui tempo"; parry-riposte as two distinct actions.
Dry: also steam; fencing without electric judging aids.
My A to Z theme is fencing and swordplay, focusing mainly on fencing terminology, but with a few favorite movie fencing moments thrown into the mix too. Why: I love fencing and swordplay! Warning: Today's post is a little long, especially in the extra word section. Just skip it if you need to run!!
Conversation: the back-and-forth play of the blades in a fencing match, composed of phrases (phrases d'armes) punctuated by gaps of no blade action. (I love this definition of a conversation)
Chest Protection: gear required for women fencers. The only reason I included this one is that I often get the "you used to fence, but isn't that uncomfortable for women?" with a pointed look at my chest. Excuse me? Women aren't stupid. There are different types of chest protection, but I prefer the full chest protection like this:
BTW: Guys are required to wear the usual protection for contact sport. (And I don't look pointedly when I tell guys that)
More fun C Fencing terms:
Change of Engagement: engagement of the opponent's blade in the opposite line.
Commanding the blade: grabbing the opponent's blade with the off-hand, illegal in sport fencing.
Compound: also composed; an action executed in two or more movements; an attack or riposte incorporating one or more feints.
Counter-attack: an offensive action made against the right-of-way, or in response to the opponent's attack.
Counter-disengage: a disengage in the opposite direction, to deceive the counter-parry.
Counter-parry: a parry made in the opposite line to the attack; ie. the defender first comes around to the opposite side of the opponent's blade.
Counter-riposte: an attack that follows a parry of the opponent's riposte.
Counter-time: an attack that responds to the opponent's counter-attack, typically a riposte following the parry of the counter-attack.
Corps-a-corps: lit. "body-to-body"; physical contact between the two fencers during a bout, illegal in foil and sabre.
Coule': also graze, glise', or glissade; an attack or feint that slides along the opponent's blade.
Coup lance': a launched hit; an attack that starts before a stop in play but lands after. Valid for normal halts, but not valid at end of time.
Coupe': also cut-over; an attack or deception that passes around the opponent's tip.
Croise: also semi-bind; an action in which the opponent's blade is forced into the high or low line on the same side.
Cross: an advance or retreat by crossing one leg over the other; also passe' avant (forward cross), passe' arriere (backwards cross).
Cut: an attack made with a chopping motion of the blade, normally landing with the edge
Insecure Writer's Support Group was started by the amazing Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh to give each of us time to share our insecurities, or our way of dealing with those insecurities, or some positive inspiration with each other. It's a safe group, a loving group of bloggers who support one another through the trials and the triumphs of the writing life.
IWSG - I almost forgot, oops.
Despite many reminders, I almost forgot to write my IWSG for the month, and . . .that's the point. Life has been Crazy, blessedly busy, and I'm had to re-learn how to be Creative about Carving out time for writing and blogging. I say re-learn because finding time is a struggle I've faced before this, and I know I can Conquer it.
How do you Creatively Carve out time to write in your day and Conquer the evil twin challenges of distraction and "busy-ness"?
Alex J. Cavanaugh is hosting a weekly Wednesday movie quote, and this week's theme/grouping is light fantasy.
I had a tough time choosing just one quote so I'm going to go with my favorite three, all from the same movie:
"Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die."
"Why are you smiling?"
"Because I know something you don't know. I am not left-handed."
"As you wish."
And it's hard for me to stop there. I love, love, love this particular movie, and can mostly quote it from beginning to end. The rhyming section on board the ship is tempting . . . but I'll stop now.
If you don't know this movie . . .well, you haven't lived yet. Really. It has one of the best choreographed sword fight scenes in a movie and they had a fencing master teach the actors. The only other movie I know with sword work that excellent is Pirates of the Caribbean. (the first one)
Long pause, while I think/daydream through various fight scenes from various movies . . .I feel an idea for a blogfest coming on, but there's no time now . . .maybe in late May? Would anyone be up for a Favorite Fight Scene Fest in late May? Or is that too violent? Or should I write a series of fight scene blog posts?
Have I mentioned I like sword fight scenes before this, and that a long time ago, in this galaxy, I used to fence foil and sabre?
So, do you know the movie? Are you taking part in Alex's ongoing quote fest? Do you like sword fight scenes? Do you fence?
A fun, upcoming blogfest that I couldn't resist adding into my February blog tour craziness: Level Up Blogfest brought to you by Allison of Geek Banter and Jamie of Mithril Wisdom invites us to share our favorite games. Check it out! I'm so excited, I already wrote my post.
1. Getting published! Whether on-line at a web-zine or in actual print, getting published is exciting.
2. Every Day Poets will be publishing four of my poems in the next five months!!! So cool!
3. Every Day Poets is putting out a print anthology of poetry, and one of my earlier poems will be published in that!
4. I just wrote a sea serpent scene for The Crystal Sword! I may be behind on my word count, but I am loving my story right now!!!
5. There is nothing like battling a sea serpent with fangs and acid venom to get me going in the morning. It's all in my imagination, but hey, it's probably more fun that way.
6. I know I've mentioned it before, but I'll mention this one again: the pep talk e-mails from NaNoWriMo have kept me writing on through the doldrums and back into the action of my novel. Thank you NaNoWriMo!
7. I like sword fight scenes and I am thankful for my favorites from the movies like this one from The Princess Bride: Princess Bride Sword Fight - who couldn't love that line "There's something I have to tell you, I'm not left-handed either." You can actually tell that although they are stage-fighting, they've had training from a fencing master. It's in the stance, and the way they grip their weapons. It's all in the fingers and the wrist.
8. Hmm, can I add fencing to our homeschool lessons today? I have my old gear, and it could be fun.
9. Looking forward to the sea serpent scene in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Anticipation + imagination = sweet daydreams. Oops, I have to get back to life soon.
10. Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath.
Scripture Blessings: "Then he (Jesus) said to them, 'The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." Mark 2:27
This awesome challenge is hosted by founder Arlee Bird at 
