Glossary

Terms related to Fencing

HOLD

A call to immediately stop all activity on the field for safety concerns. Any person may call a HOLD

Line

In melee combat, a minimum of two combatants, on the same side, in contiguous mutual weapons support range.

Terms related to Types of Blows

Thrust

Scoring a hit on an opponent by touching them with the front (i.e. head-on cross section) of the point of the blade.

Tip Cut

Scoring a hit on an opponent by placing the point of the blade upon them and pulling the point across in a line.

Draw Cut

Scoring a hit on an opponent by placing the edge of the blade upon them opponent and pulling or pushing the edge across their body.

Percussive Blow

In Cut and Thrust Fencing, scoring a hit on an opponent by cutting with the edge of blade in a single, smooth motion, using controlled force.

Terms related to Acknowledging Blows

Body

The body includes the head and entire helmet, the neck, chest, abdomen, back, and the regions on the inner part of the upper arm and the inner thigh extending 10cm down from the armpit and the groin, respectively.

Hand

The hand, including all fingers, up to and including the wrist.

Arm

The arm not including the hand or the area defined as part of the body.

Upper Leg

The upper leg, not including the area defined as part of the body, down to and including the top of the kneecap and the crease at the back of the knee.

Lower Leg

The foot, lower leg, and knee below the upper leg.

Torso

The torso includes the chest, abdomen, back, and the regions on the inner part of the upper arm extending 10cm down from the armpit.

Terms related to Equipment

Abrasion-resistant material

Material that will withstand normal combat stresses (such as being snagged by burr on a metal blade) without tearing. Examples include, but are not limited to:

• broadcloth
• a single layer of heavy poplin cloth (35% cotton, 65% polyester; "trigger" cloth)
• track pants
• opaque cotton, poly-cotton or lycra/spandex mix tights. Nylon pantyhose and cotton gauze shirts are examples of unacceptable materials.

Blunt

A protective covering for the tip of a sword or dagger:

• A blunt can be made of shatter-resistant polymer, rubber or leather.
• It must have a minimum size of 10mm in any direction that strikes the opponent.
• Polymer and rubber blunts must be at least 3mm thick between the striking surface and the tip or edge of the blade.
• Leather blunts must be at least 1.6mm thick.

External Reproductive Organs

In this context, external reproductive organs refers to penis and/or testicles.

Hemangioma

A collection of blood vessels at the surface of the skin, characterised as a raised red growth. Hemangiomas that bleed more easily than regular skin must be covered by rigid material.

Penetration-resistant material

Material that will predictably withstand a puncture as shown by passing a penetration test. (see Appendix 4). The following materials are known to pass these tests when new:

• ballistic nylon rated to at least 550 Newtons
• commercial fencing clothing rated to at least 550 Newtons
• mail made of welded or riveted steel rings that will not admit a 5/32 inch (4 mm) diameter probe. Rings no greater than 0.155 inches (4 mm) in internal diameter made of wire no less than 0.020 inches (0.5 mm) thick meet this requirement

The above materials need only be tested at the marshal's discretion; all other materials must be tested the first time new gear is used, or if no marshal on the field knows a given piece of gear to have been tested.

Under Armour, Spandex, and other similar stretchy materials are not suitable as components of penetration-resistant material and must not be included in testing. Kevlar is not an acceptable material, as it degrades rapidly.

Resilient padding

Material that compresses under pressure from a thumb but returns to its shape within 3 seconds of the pressure being removed.

Rigid material

Material that will not significantly flex, spread apart, or deform under pressure of 12kg applied by a standard mask tester, repeatedly to any single point. Examples of rigid material are:

• 22 gauge stainless steel (0.8 mm)
• 20 gauge mild steel (1.0 mm)
• 16 gauge aluminium, copper, or brass (1.6 mm)
• one layer of hardened heavy leather (8 ounce, 3.2 mm)

Perforated material that meets this requirement must have holes no larger than 3 mm in any direction, and a spacing of at least 5 mm centre-to-centre.

Terms related to Weapons

Blade

The part of a sword or dagger used to strike an opponent. The blade must have, at most, no more than one substantial curve. Blades that are so curved that the tip does not touch the ground, when the weapon is held vertically to the ground (that is, with the grip held straight above), are not allowed for Fencing Combat.

Blunt

A cover secured over the tip of a blade or metal spear-head to prevent the tip making contact with an opponent.

Draw length

The distance that a rubber band is stretched from the front of a rubber band gun to be secured to the firing mechanism.

Grip

The part of the sword or dagger that a fencer holds. Sometimes described as a Handle or Hilt.

Guard

A general term used to describe parts of a sword or dagger designed to protect the hand. Components of a guard may include a cup, dish, knucklebow, rings and swept bars. see also Quillons

Haft

The part of a spear that a fencer holds.

Quillons

Bars that extend from the guard of a sword or dagger as part of protection for the hand. The ends of quillons must blunt.

Spear-head

The part of a spear used to strike the opponent. Different requirements apply to Rubber and Metal spear-heads.