03 Parries and circle parries - How to Italian smallsword - step by step fundamentals
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Quarte Parry·Oliver Janseps
This is the main basic exercise Paolo de Scalzi wants us to do every training! It contains the four primary parries: Qua…
Quarte Parry
Genusカルト受け(Karuto Uke)
HybridTranslation: quarte parry
Overview
The Quarte Parry (4th parry) defends the high inside line by moving the blade across the body to the inside (left side for a right-handed fencer), with the hand in pronation (palm down) or semi-supination, deflecting attacks directed at the inside of the torso. [1] Quarte is one of the two most frequently used parries in foil because a large proportion of attacks target the high inside line, which is the most direct path to the torso for a right-handed fencer attacking another right-hander. [1],[2] The quarte parry requires precise lateral blade movement — enough to deflect the incoming point but not so wide as to leave the outside line open. [2],[3]
History & Origin
Effectiveness
Lineage
Quarte (parry 4) is one of the oldest and most fundamental fencing parries, protecting the high inside line. It was a central technique in both Italian and French fencing schools. [1]
Competition Record
Tactical analysis of elite foil bouts shows that quarte and sixte together account for over 70% of all parries executed, with quarte being the single most common defensive blade action. [1]
Images
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Cutting, thrusting, or striking with a bladed weapon — edge alignment and trajectory determine cutting effectiveness
Joints Involved — Wrists (edge alignment and rotation), elbows (extension for thrusts, chambering for cuts), shoulders (arc of the cut), hips (power generation)
Force Vector — Varies — downward diagonal cut (kesa-giri), horizontal cut (yoko-giri), thrust (tsuki), or rising cut (kiri-age)
Weapon Mechanic — Edge alignment (hasuji) is critical — the blade must travel along its cutting plane for effective cuts
Position & Entry
From en garde position — Establish distance, extend the blade toward the target with a lunge or advance-lunge, recover to guard
As riposte (counter-attack) — Parry the opponent's attack and immediately riposte with a thrust or cut to the exposed target
From distance (preparation) — Use blade work (beats, feints, engagements) to create an opening before the final attack
Variants
Simple attack — single blade action (disengage, beat, or direct) to score
Compound attack — multiple blade actions (feint then disengage) to create an opening
Riposte — immediate counter after a successful parry
Counter-attack — attacking into the opponent's attack with priority or right-of-way
Videos
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Battlefield Swordsmanship Basics - The Four Winds Drill [katana training / sword talk]
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Quarte Parry·Just a Bug
Today we run through one of my favourite battlefield swordsmanship drills, the four winds drill. This is a basic but ver…
Learn the Art of Combat - Pike techniques #1: Pike vs shorter weapons
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Quarte Parry·Björn Rüther
With weapons that are much shorter than the pike, running in is an essential part of mixed weapon fencing. Here the carr…
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3 videosWhat Instructors Say
The quarte parry is a foundational defensive position in foil fencing that protects the high inside line of the body. Oliver Janseps describes quarte as one of four classical parry positions (alongside tierce, seconde, and quinte), positioning it in the high inside line with the arm extended and blade angled appropriately. He emphasizes that quarte parry is a core element of systematic training, particularly within Italian smallsword methodology where it appears in fundamental drills repeated continuously to build muscle memory. The technique is typically combined with offensive responses; Janseps demonstrates how practitioners execute a thrust in opposition immediately following a successful quarte parry, maintaining blade contact with the opponent's weapon to control their movement and prevent counterattack. The parry can be executed as a simple lateral deflection or as a circular parry that follows the opponent's disengagement, allowing the defender to track the attacking blade through its movement. Janseps stresses that mastering quarte parry through repetitive drilling in structured exercises—where the sequence cycles through all four main parries in opposition—is essential for developing reliable, reflexive defense in foil technique.
Synthesized from 1 instructor
- Oliver Janseps — 03 Parries and circle parries - How to Italian smallsword - step by step fundamentals: Identified quarte as one of four classical parries protecting the high inside line; demonstrated quarte execution within systematic drilling exercises; showed integration of quarte parry with thrust in opposition response; emphasized repetition as core training methodology
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
2
Low2/10
Modern sport fencing uses blunted weapons and full protective gear; injury rate ~2.5 per 1000 exposures (Harmer 2008)
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
— FIE — Legal fencing technique — governed by FIE rules for...
FIE Rules of CompetitionPDFHEMA — Legal in historical fencing competition {src— various organizations
Training Notes
✓Quarte parry covers the inside high line — the blade moves to the left (for a right-handed fencer) to deflect attacks aimed at the inside of the torso (Evangelista, The Art and Science of Fencing, 1996)
✓Quarte is the most commonly used foil parry: it covers the largest area of the torso (the chest) and defends against the most common attack line
✓Quarte execution: from en garde, the hand moves slightly to the left with the blade angled to deflect the incoming blade outward — the hand stays at chest height
✓The quarte parry uses the forte (strong part near the guard) of the blade to contact the attacking blade's foible (weak part near the tip)
✓After the quarte parry, the riposte travels to the inside line: direct riposte (straight thrust to the opening) or compound riposte (disengage to the outside)
✓The circular quarte (counter-quarte) describes a circle that catches any blade attempting to enter the inside line — effective against disengage attacks
✓In competition, the quarte parry-riposte is the single most common defensive action: it reliably defends the inside and creates the riposte opportunity
Common Mistakes
!Moving the hand too far to the left — the parry should be just enough to deflect the blade
!Dropping the hand during the parry — the hand must stay at chest height to cover the torso
!Not using the forte to contact the opponent's blade — weak-on-weak parries are ineffective
!Pausing between the parry and riposte — the riposte must follow the parry immediately
!Not returning to en garde after the riposte — the defensive position must be resumed
!Using quarte against low-line attacks — quarte covers the inside high; use septime for inside low
!Making the parry with a large arm movement — the parry should be a small, precise movement of the hand and wrist
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1En Garde — assume the fencing ready position with proper blade presentation
2Advance/Lunge Preparation — close distance with footwork
3Attack — execute the touch with right-of-way (if applicable) and proper point/edge
4Recovery — return to en garde after the action
Sources & References
Primary Source
The Art of Fencing (Luigi Barbasetti, 1932)
1BookThe Art of Fencing (Barbasetti, 1932)
Alias sources — [1] FIE Rules of Competition [2] Classical Fencing (Rogers, 2014) [3] Classical Fencing (Rogers, 2014)
2BookOn Fencing (Nadi, 1943)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Czajkowski, Z., Understanding Fencing (SKA Swordplay Books, 2005) [2] Barbasetti, L., The Art of the Sabre and the Epée (E.P. Dutton, 1936)
3OtherJapanese Martial Arts Hybrid Terminology
Mixed Japanese-Western terminology — combines traditional Japanese terms with katakana loanwords
4CitationThe Art of Fencing (Barbasetti, 1932)
Alias sources — [1] FIE Rules of Competition [2] Classical Fencing (Rogers, 2014) [3] Classical Fencing (Rogers, 2014)
5CitationOn Fencing (Nadi, 1943)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Czajkowski, Z., Understanding Fencing (SKA Swordplay Books, 2005) [2] Barbasetti, L., The Art of the Sabre and the Epée (E.P. Dutton, 1936)
Community
Athletics
Requires
explosive lunge speed, finger/wrist dexterity, cardiovascular endurance
Favours
long reach (tall, long arms), fast-twitch legs
Key muscles
quadriceps (lunge), calves, forearm/finger flexors, core
Frequently Asked Questions
How is battlefield swordsmanship different from dueling swordsmanship?
In dueling, you keep your sword facing forward and stay mobile before attacking to prevent counterattacks. In battlefield swordsmanship, you cut through the target, take a longer path around, and remain mobile while attacking simultaneously to conserve energy against multiple opponents.
Why is energy conservation important in battlefield swordsmanship?
Because there are many enemies on the battlefield, stopping after each cut wastes energy that could be used attacking more opponents. In dueling you cut and stop, but in battlefield swordsmanship you minimize this stopping motion to maintain offensive momentum.
What's the main challenge when transitioning from dueling to battlefield swordsmanship?
You must overcome base instincts developed from dueling practice, including learning to overswing and keep your sword in constant motion rather than returning to a defensive guard position after each technique.
How does the Quarte Parry work?
The Quarte Parry (4th parry) defends the high inside line by moving the blade across the body to the inside (left side for a right-handed fencer), with the hand in pronation (palm down) or semi-supination, deflecting attacks directed at the inside of the torso. Quarte is one of the two most frequently used parries in foil because a large proportion of attacks target the high inside line, which is the most direct path to the torso for a right-handed fencer attacking another right-hander.
Where does the Quarte Parry come from?
The quarte parry has been a fundamental defensive position since the earliest fencing treatises, named from the French 'quatrieme' (fourth). It is one of the first parries taught to beginning foil fencers and remains the most commonly executed parry in competitive foil.
Is the Quarte Parry legal in competition?
FIE: legal — Legal fencing technique — governed by FIE rules for foil, épée, and sabre; HEMA: legal — Legal in historical fencing competition
How dangerous is the Quarte Parry?
Danger rating 2/10. Low — modern sport fencing uses blunted weapons and full protective gear; injury rate ~2.5 per 1000 exposures (Harmer 2008)
How do I set up the Quarte Parry?
The standard setup chain: En Garde → Advance/Lunge Preparation → Attack → Recovery.
How do I defend against the Quarte Parry?
Standard counters include: Guard Position — return to a defensive ready stance / Distance Management — control the measure to avoid being in range / Counter-Attack — strike during the opponent's recovery or between movements.
What are the variants of the Quarte Parry?
Common variants: Simple attack (single blade action (disengage, beat, or direct) to score); Compound attack (multiple blade actions (feint then disengage) to create a…); Riposte (immediate counter after a successful parry); Counter-attack (attacking into the opponent's attack with priority or rig…).
How effective is the Quarte Parry in competition?
Tactical analysis of elite foil bouts shows that quarte and sixte together account for over 70% of all parries executed, with quarte being the single most common defensive blade action.
What are common mistakes when doing the Quarte Parry?
Top errors to watch for: Moving the hand too far to the left — the parry should be just enough to deflect the blade / Dropping the hand during the parry — the hand must stay at chest height to cover the torso / Not using the forte to contact the opponent's blade — weak-on-weak parries are ineffective / Pausing between the parry and riposte — the riposte must follow the parry immediately.
What are other names for the Quarte Parry?
The Quarte Parry is also known as Karuto Uke, Parade de Quarte, Fourth Parry, Quarta.