Foil Lesson, Feint Deceive
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Foil Riposte·Coach GerryD
Foil Feint Deceive Part 1 from CoachGerryD
Foil Riposte
SubFamilyフルーレリポスト(Furūre Riposuto)
TransliterationTranslation: foil riposte
Overview
The Foil Riposte subfamily covers all counter-attacking actions executed immediately after a successful parry, which under right-of-way rules gives the defender priority to score. [1] The riposte is the second half of the parry-riposte sequence — the fundamental defensive-offensive combination in foil — and it carries priority, meaning that if the riposte and a remise (renewed attack) both land, only the riposte scores. [1],[2] Ripostes can be direct (thrusting immediately back in the same line as the parry), indirect (changing line via disengage or coupe before thrusting), or compound (using multiple blade movements before the final thrust). [2],[3]
History & Origin
The riposte (from Italian 'risposta' meaning response) has been a fundamental concept in fencing since the earliest treatises, codified as the natural follow-up to a successful parry. [1] The parry-riposte sequence became the cornerstone of classical fencing pedagogy, teaching fencers the principle of defence followed by counter-attack. [2],[3]
Effectiveness
Lineage
The riposte concept was formalised in European fencing academies as part of the parry-riposte defensive system developed by French and Italian masters. [1]
Competition Record
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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
Videos
1 video
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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
✓The foil riposte is the counter-attack that follows a successful parry — it has right of way (priority) and should be delivered immediately while the opponent recovers from their failed attack (Evangelista, The Art and Science of Fencing, 1996)
✓The riposte has right of way: after a parry, the defending fencer has priority for their riposte — this is the fundamental defensive-offensive action in foil
✓Riposte types: direct riposte (straight thrust to the opening), disengage riposte (pass the blade to another line), and compound riposte (feint then thrust)
✓The speed of the riposte determines its effectiveness: the riposte must arrive before the opponent can recover and re-establish their defence
✓The parry-riposte is one action: the parry deflects the attack and the riposte exploits the opening — there should be no pause between them
✓The riposte targets the opening created by the parry: after quarte, riposte to the inside; after sixte, riposte to the outside
✓In competition, the parry-riposte is the most reliable scoring action in foil: it combines defence (parry), right of way (priority), and offence (riposte) in one sequence
Common Mistakes
!Pausing between the parry and the riposte — the two actions must be continuous
!Not extending the arm for the riposte — the riposte is a thrust; the arm must extend toward the target
!Riposting to a closed line — the riposte should target the opening created by the parry
!Making the riposte too complex when a direct riposte would score — use the simplest riposte that works
!Not maintaining right of way during a compound riposte — the arm must continue extending
!Riposting without targeting — the riposte must be directed at a specific part of the valid target
!Not training the parry-riposte as a single unit — they are one action, not two separate techniques
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)
2BookOn Fencing (Nadi, 1943)
Effectiveness sources — [1] The Art and Science of Fencing (Evangelista, 1996) [2] FIE coaching manuals
3OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
4CitationThe Art of Fencing (Barbasetti, 1932)
Alias sources — [1] FIE Rules of Competition [2] Classical Fencing (Rogers, 2014)
5CitationOn Fencing (Nadi, 1943)
Effectiveness sources — [1] The Art and Science of Fencing (Evangelista, 1996) [2] FIE coaching manuals
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
Sub-techniques
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the key to making a feint work in foil riposte?
Coach GerryD emphasizes that timing and distance are critical—use a small point drop with minimal forward foot movement to provoke your opponent's parry, then disengage and hit when they commit to the parry.
How do I keep control of my point during a feint and tempo?
Keep your point moving forward continuously throughout the feint and tempo—it should never stop or go off-target ('Never Never Land'), allowing you to recover quickly for your final attack.
What happens if I hold my feint too long?
If you pop and hold your point, the referee will consider it a feint, and if your opponent counter-attacks into it while you disengage or hit later, they'll be awarded the point instead.
How does the Foil Riposte work?
The Foil Riposte subfamily covers all counter-attacking actions executed immediately after a successful parry, which under right-of-way rules gives the defender priority to score. The riposte is the second half of the parry-riposte sequence — the fundamental defensive-offensive combination in foil — and it carries priority, meaning that if the riposte and a remise (renewed attack) both land, only the riposte scores.
Where does the Foil Riposte come from?
The riposte (from Italian 'risposta' meaning response) has been a fundamental concept in fencing since the earliest treatises, codified as the natural follow-up to a successful parry. The parry-riposte sequence became the cornerstone of classical fencing pedagogy, teaching fencers the principle of defence followed by counter-attack.
Is the Foil Riposte 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 Foil Riposte?
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 Foil Riposte?
The standard setup chain: En Garde → Advance/Lunge Preparation → Attack → Recovery.
How do I defend against the Foil Riposte?
Standard counters include: Parry (Absetzen) — deflect the incoming blade with a counter-displacement / Void (Step Back) — withdraw from measure to avoid the cutting arc / Counter-Cut (Nachreisen) — strike into the opponent's opening during their attack.
What are the variants of the Foil Riposte?
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 Foil Riposte in competition?
Parry-riposte is statistically the most common scoring pattern in Olympic foil competition. Champions like Valentina Vezzali built careers on superior parry-riposte timing.
What are common mistakes when doing the Foil Riposte?
Top errors to watch for: Pausing between the parry and the riposte — the two actions must be continuous / Not extending the arm for the riposte — the riposte is a thrust; the arm must extend toward the target / Riposting to a closed line — the riposte should target the opening created by the parry / Making the riposte too complex when a direct riposte would score — use the simplest riposte that works.
What are other names for the Foil Riposte?
The Foil Riposte is also known as Furūre Riposuto, Riposte au Fleuret, Counter-Attack After Parry.