En Garde! Tutorial
0
En Garde·RifkinHabsburg
Learn to play En Garde! The strategic fencing game by Reiner Knizia, brought to Second Life by Procyon Games. Visit t…
En Garde
SubFamilyアン・ガルド(An Garudo)
loanword-frenchTranslation: On guard / In guard (French — directly translates to 'on guard,' the call by the referee announcing readiness for combat)
Overview
The En Garde is the fundamental ready position in modern Olympic fencing — feet at right angles with the front foot pointing toward the opponent, rear foot perpendicular and roughly shoulder-width behind, both knees deeply bent so the centre of gravity sits between the feet, weapon arm extended toward the opponent, and rear arm raised behind for balance. [1],[2] The stance enables explosive forward lunges, equally fast retreats, and the small constant footwork (advances, retreats, ballestras, balestra-lunges) that defines fencing engagements. [1] Each fencing weapon (foil, épée, sabre) has subtle variations in en garde depending on target area and tempo conventions, but the core posture — bent knees, sideways body, weapon-out — is universal. [1],[3]
On GuardGuard Position (Fencing)Fencing StanceEn-Guarde
History & Origin
The en garde position evolved from late-medieval and Renaissance European swordsmanship traditions and was codified into modern Olympic fencing pedagogy in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. [1],[2] French and Italian schools developed slightly different orthodox postures, both of which persist as recognised variants today. [1],[3] The deep-knee bent posture is a relatively modern adaptation — earlier engravings of historical fencers show shallower stances, and the deep posture became standard as electrical scoring rewarded the fastest lunges. [2]
Effectiveness
En garde is universally recognised as the standard fencing ready position — it is the only sanctioned starting position in FIE (Fédération Internationale d'Escrime) competition and forms the basis of every footwork drill. [1],[2] The depth and bend of the stance directly correlate to lunging speed; world-class fencers can hold deep en garde for entire bouts (15+ touches) without form degradation, while novices typically lose form within minutes. [1],[2],[3] Empirical analysis of Olympic-level matches shows that the distance the lead toe travels during a championship-winning lunge can exceed twice the fencer's leg length — entirely dependent on the loaded en garde from which the lunge is launched. [3] Modern electric-scoring fencing has rewarded ever-deeper en gardes, with the Italian school favoring a more extended posture and the French/Russian schools tending toward a slightly higher, more mobile stance.
Lineage
Late-Renaissance European swordsmanship (Italian masters Capo Ferro, Marozzo, Agrippa) → 17th-18th century French school (Le Perche du Coudray, Olivier de la Marche) → 19th-century French school under Louis Rondelle and Italian school under Masaniello Parise → 20th-century codification by Aldo Nadi (Italian) and Lucien Gaudin (French) → modern Olympic fencing under FIE codification (founded 1913). [1],[2],[3] The deep-knee bent posture is a relatively modern adaptation: earlier engravings show shallower stances, and the deep posture became standard as electrical scoring (introduced 1933 for épée, 1955 for foil, 1988 for sabre) rewarded the fastest lunges. [1],[4]
Competition Record
Required ready position in every FIE-sanctioned competition since the federation's founding in 1913; foundation of all sport fencing. [1] Has appeared at every modern Summer Olympic Games (1896-present, with brief interruptions). Notable Olympic competitors whose en garde mechanics have been studied as exemplary include Aladár Gerevich (Hungary, sabre, 7-time Olympic gold), Edoardo Mangiarotti (Italy, foil/épée, 6 Olympic golds), and Valentina Vezzali (Italy, foil, 6 Olympic golds). The position is technically present in every NCAA collegiate fencing match (USA), Pan-American Games, World Championships, and World Cup events. [1],[3]
Images
No images yet for this technique.
Sign in to suggest an image.
Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Athletic ready position optimised for explosive lateral / forward / backward movement along a single line
Joints Involved — Hips (deep flexion), knees (90-110° flexion, weight evenly split), ankles (front foot dorsiflexed, rear foot plantar-flexed for push), shoulder (weapon arm extended)
Force Vector — Loaded for forward lunge (rear leg push) and quick retreat (front leg push) — directional motion is preferred to lateral
Stance Mechanic — Body turned sideways to minimise target presented to opponent; weapon arm extended toward opponent's centre line; rear arm posted up and back for counterbalance during the lunge
Position & Entry
From standing — Salute the opponent, step back into the en garde, rear arm up
From recovery — After a lunge, the front knee retracts and the body returns to en garde — recovery to en garde is a standard skill
From a passé / running attack — After a flèche, the fencer recovers back to en garde to face the opponent
Variants
Standard French Foil En Garde — orthodox sport fencing posture, bent knees ~100°, weapon shoulder-relaxed
Italian School En Garde — slightly higher stance, more upright torso
Sabre En Garde — slightly squared body, sabre held with point higher to defend the head and shoulders
Épée En Garde — typically deeper stance with weapon arm fully extended (longer reach reward in épée's no-priority rule set)
HEMA Longsword 'Posta di Guardia' — adjacent concept; not the same stance
Videos
1 video
Learn This Technique
No instructional courses yet for this technique.
Sign in to suggest a course.
Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
1
Low1/10
Stance — no inherent danger. Sustained training in deep en garde does load the front knee; alignment matters
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Beginner
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
FIE Fencing — Required ready position {src
Training Notes
✓Practice descents into en garde slowly to maintain knee alignment — knees over toes, not inward
✓Hold en garde during shadow drills (no opponent) to build endurance — aim for 2-3 minutes without elevation change
✓The lunge starts from en garde — practice both en-garde-to-lunge and lunge-to-en-garde transitions as a single motion
✓Footwork drills (advance-advance-retreat-advance-lunge) all assume return to en garde between each step
Common Mistakes
!Standing too tall — the bent-knee position is what enables the explosive lunge; high stance loses the spring loading
!Squared body — exposes too much of the trunk as a target; the side-on posture is non-negotiable
!Weapon arm dropped or bent — slows the parry and reduces reach
!Rear foot lifted or pivoted — loses the push platform for the lunge
!Extending the lunge from a shallow en garde — produces overextension and inability to recover
Related Techniques
Lunge (Fente) — primary attack motion launched from en gardeFlèche — running attack initiated from en garde, primarily in foil and épéeAdvance (Marche) — incremental forward footwork preserving en garde postureRetreat (Recule) — backward footwork preserving en gardeRecovery — controlled return to en garde from a lungeSalute — pre-bout courtesy that bookends en gardePatinando — ballestra-lunge combination from en garde, often used in Italian schoolPassé Avant — passing forward step (running attack precursor)
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Step Back from Salute
2Drop Hips into Bent-Knee Position
3Square Front Foot Toward Opponent
4Extend Weapon Arm to Centre Line
5Raise Rear Arm for Balance
6Hold or Initiate Footwork
Sources & References
Primary Source
FIE Rules of Competition (Fédération Internationale d'Escrime, latest annual edition)
1BookAldo Nadi, On Fencing (1943)
Description sources — [1] FIE Rules; [2] Aldo Nadi On Fencing; [3] Italian/French school comparative texts
2BookLukovich, Fencing: The Modern International Style (1986)
3BookFIE Rules of Competition
4BookAldo Nadi — On Fencing (Putnam, 1943; reprinted Laureate Press, 1994)pp. On Fencing: pp. 23-41 (en garde fundamentals); The Science of Fencing: pp. 88-104 (Italian-school en garde); Fencing: Modern International Style: Ch. 4 (footwork basics)
Description sources — [1] FIE Rules of Competition (current edition is canonical); [2] Aldo Nadi On Fencing (Italian school); [3] Lukovich Fencing: Modern International Style (Hungarian school technical analysis); [4] Gaugler Science of Fencing (comprehensive Italian-school treatment); [5] Maître d'Armes French Master at Arms certification standards
6BookWilliam M. Gaugler — The Science of Fencing: A Comprehensive Training Manual for Master and Student (Laureate Press, 1997)
7BookJulio Martínez Castelló — The Theory and Practice of Fencing (Charles Scribner's Sons, 1933)
8BookFIE Rules of Competition (Fédération Internationale d'Escrime, latest edition)
9BookFrederick Rohdes — Beginning Fencing (Sterling, 1973)
10BookMaître d'Armes (French Master at Arms) certification curriculum (Académie d'Armes de France)
11CitationAldo Nadi — On Fencing (Putnam, 1943; reprinted Laureate Press, 1994)pp. On Fencing: pp. 23-41 (en garde fundamentals); The Science of Fencing: pp. 88-104 (Italian-school en garde); Fencing: Modern International Style: Ch. 4 (footwork basics)[link]
Description sources — [1] FIE Rules of Competition (current edition is canonical); [2] Aldo Nadi On Fencing (Italian school); [3] Lukovich Fencing: Modern International Style (Hungarian school technical analysis); [4] Gaugler Science of Fencing (comprehensive Italian-school treatment); [5] Maître d'Armes French Master at Arms certification standards
12CitationLukovich István — Fencing: The Modern International Style (Yale University Press, 1986)[link]
13CitationWilliam M. Gaugler — The Science of Fencing: A Comprehensive Training Manual for Master and Student (Laureate Press, 1997)
14CitationJulio Martínez Castelló — The Theory and Practice of Fencing (Charles Scribner's Sons, 1933)
15CitationFIE Rules of Competition (Fédération Internationale d'Escrime, latest edition)
16CitationFrederick Rohdes — Beginning Fencing (Sterling, 1973)
17CitationMaître d'Armes (French Master at Arms) certification curriculum (Académie d'Armes de France)
Community
Athletics
Requires
quadriceps endurance, ankle dorsiflexion, hip flexor mobility, shoulder endurance for the extended weapon arm
Key muscles
quadriceps (sustaining bent-knee posture), glutes (hip stability), deltoids and forearm extensors (weapon arm)
Notes
En garde is sport fencing's universal ready position. Distinct from HEMA longsword 'guards' (Vom Tag, Ochs, Pflug, Alber, Posta di Guardia) which are weapon-specific stances rather than a generic ready position. Sport fencing en garde is foundational and pre-bout-mandatory at all FIE levels. The French and Italian schools use slightly different orthodox postures, both of which persist as recognized variants. Sabre en garde is somewhat squarer than foil/épée to defend the head and shoulders, which are valid target areas in sabre.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I defend against an attack in En Garde?
To defend, you need to be holding a card that matches the distance to your opponent. When your opponent attacks, parries happen automatically if you have the right card—you don't need to click anything, but the card is used up and becomes unavailable for your next turn.
What do I need to do to make a successful attack?
To attack, you must play a card that matches the current distance between you and your opponent. A successful attack scores 1 point, and 5 points wins the game.
What happens if I don't have the right card to attack or defend?
If you don't have the matching card to attack, you can select any other card and retreat, which dodges the attack but uses up your turn. If neither player has the right card for a last-second attack, whichever player has advanced farther down the board towards their opponent's side wins the point.
How does the En Garde work?
The En Garde is the fundamental ready position in modern Olympic fencing — feet at right angles with the front foot pointing toward the opponent, rear foot perpendicular and roughly shoulder-width behind, both knees deeply bent so the centre of gravity sits between the feet, weapon arm extended toward the opponent, and rear arm raised behind for balance. The stance enables explosive forward lunges, equally fast retreats, and the small constant footwork (advances, retreats, ballestras, balestra-lunges) that defines fencing engagements.
Where does the En Garde come from?
The en garde position evolved from late-medieval and Renaissance European swordsmanship traditions and was codified into modern Olympic fencing pedagogy in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. French and Italian schools developed slightly different orthodox postures, both of which persist as recognised variants today.
Is the En Garde legal in competition?
FIE Fencing: legal — Required ready position; All competitive fencing federations: legal — universal mandatory starting position
How dangerous is the En Garde?
Danger rating 1/10. Stance — no inherent danger. Sustained training in deep en garde does load the front knee; alignment matters
How do I set up the En Garde?
The standard setup chain: Step Back from Salute → Drop Hips into Bent-Knee Position → Square Front Foot Toward Opponent → Extend Weapon Arm to Centre Line → Raise Rear Arm for Balance → Hold or Initiate Footwork.
How do I defend against the En Garde?
Standard counters include: Disengage attacks that bypass the extended weapon arm / Tempo-disrupting feints that exploit a deeply-set en garde's slow lateral motion / Long-distance running attacks (flèche) that catch the static en garde.
What are the variants of the En Garde?
Common variants: Standard French Foil En Garde (orthodox sport fencing posture, bent knees ~100°, weapon …); Italian School En Garde (slightly higher stance, more upright torso); Sabre En Garde (slightly squared body, sabre held with point higher to de…); Épée En Garde (typically deeper stance with weapon arm fully extended (l…); HEMA Longsword 'Posta di Guardia' (adjacent concept; not the same stance).
How effective is the En Garde in competition?
Required ready position in every FIE-sanctioned competition since the federation's founding in 1913; foundation of all sport fencing. Has appeared at every modern Summer Olympic Games (1896-present, with brief interruptions).
What are common mistakes when doing the En Garde?
Top errors to watch for: Standing too tall — the bent-knee position is what enables the explosive lunge; high stance loses the spring loading / Squared body — exposes too much of the trunk as a target; the side-on posture is non-negotiable / Weapon arm dropped or bent — slows the parry and reduces reach / Rear foot lifted or pivoted — loses the push platform for the lunge.
What are other names for the En Garde?
The En Garde is also known as An Garudo, On Guard, Guard Position (Fencing), Fencing Stance, En-Guarde.