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Right of Way and Priority Rules

General Principles

  1. The Referee alone decides as to the validity or the priority (Vor/right of way) of the hit by applying the following basic rules which are the conventions applicable to priority-based weapons (longsword and sabre).

  2. Any attack properly executed must be parried, or completely avoided, and the phrase must be continuous.

  3. Priority rules are used to resolve double hits when both fencers are hit within one period of fencing time.

Attack Definition and Requirements

  1. The attack is correctly carried out when the straightening of the arm, with the point or the edge continuously threatening the valid target, precedes the initiation of the footwork action.

  2. An attack with a lunge (or other offensive footwork) is correctly carried out:

    1. in a simple attack when the beginning of the straightening of the arms precedes the launching of the lunge or other offensive footwork, and the hit arrives at the latest when the front foot hits the ground
    2. in a compound attack when the beginning of the straightening of the arms, on the first feint, precedes the launching of the lunge or other offensive footwork, and the hit arrives at the latest when the front foot hits the ground.

  3. Attacks with step-forward-lunge or other compound footwork are not defined in this rulebook. Priority is assigned based on the start of the (attack with) lunge other simple offensive footwork, while steps in any case are considered as preparations.

  4. Actions, simple or compound, steps or feints, which are executed with bent arms, are not considered as attacks but as preparations, laying themselves open to the initiation of the offensive or defensive/offensive action of the opponent. Hits received from attacks/counterattacks initiated during these actions are counted as valid and score a point against the preparing fencer.

Fencing Actions and Priority

For definitions of fencing actions (attack, feint, compound attack, counterattack, riposte, remise, etc.), see Glossary.

Priority assignment for specific actions:

  • Attacks gain priority when properly executed with blade commitment
  • Blade commitment requirement - Priority will not be given for pure footwork without blade commitment or actions not demonstrating forward commitment of blade
  • Ripostes gain priority when immediate and simple after a parry
  • Counterattacks cannot be assigned priority
  • Remise can only gain priority if the defender's riposte was clearly and significantly delayed

Attack Validity Rules

  1. Point-in-line situations: If the attack is initiated when the opponent has their point passively in line, the attacker must first deflect the opponent's weapon. Referees must ensure that a mere contact of the blades is not considered as sufficient to deflect the opponent's blade.

  2. Failed blade finding: If, when attempting to find the opponent's blade to deflect it, the blade is not found, the right of attack passes to the opponent.

  3. Attack completion: If the attack is commenced when the opponent's blade is not in line, the attack may be completed either direct, or by a disengagement or by a cutover, or else be preceded by feints which oblige the opponent to parry.

  4. Stop hits in compound attacks: In a compound attack the opponent has the right to stop-hit; but, in order to be valid, the stop hit must precede the last movement of the attack by one period of fencing time, i.e. the stop hit must arrive before the attacker has started the last movement of the attack itself.

Parry and Riposte

  1. The parry - properly carried out - gives the right to riposte; a simple riposte may be direct or indirect, but in order to annul any subsequent movement by the attacker, it must be carried out immediately, without any hesitation or pause. However, if the riposte is delayed so that a renewed attack clearly starts before the riposte, then the renewed attack gains priority.

  2. Against thrusts, and cuts with the edge, the flat, or the back edge of the blade, the object of the parry is to prevent hits made by the opponent arriving on the valid target; therefore:

    1. The parry is properly carried out when, before the completion of the attack, it prevents the arrival of that attack by closing the line in which that attack is to finish.
    2. When a parry is properly executed, the attack by the opponent must be declared parried, and judged as such by the Referee, even if, as a result of its flexibility, the tip of the opponent's weapon makes contact with the target.

Priority Assignment in Double Hits

  1. Priority rules are only used in assessing double hits. If there is a delay of a fencing time or more between hits, the fencer who landed first is assessed to have scored.

  2. Priority rules are only used when one fencer can be clearly assessed to have made a mistake.

The fencer who is attacked is alone counted as hit:

  1. if he makes a counter-attack on his opponent's simple attack
  2. if, instead of parrying, he attempts to avoid the hit and does not succeed in doing so
  3. if, after making a successful parry, he makes a momentary pause (delayed riposte) which gives his opponent the right to renew the attack (redoublement, or remise, or reprise)
  4. if, during a compound attack, he makes a stop hit without being in time
  5. if, having his point 'in line' and being subjected to a beat or a taking of the blade which deflects his blade, he attacks or places his point in line again instead of parrying a direct hit made by his opponent

The fencer who attacks is alone counted as hit:

  1. If he initiated his attack when his opponent had his point 'in line', without deflecting the opponent's weapon. Referees must ensure that a mere contact of the blades is not considered as sufficient to deflect the opponent's blade.
  2. If he attempts to find the blade, does not succeed (due to the opponent's avoiding reaction) and continues the attack.
  3. If, during a compound attack, he allows his opponent to find the blade, and continues the attack while his opponent ripostes immediately.
  4. If, during a compound attack, he bends his arm or makes a momentary pause, during which time the opponent makes a stop hit or an attack while the attacker continues his own attack.
  5. If, during a compound attack, he is stop-hit one period of fencing time before he makes his final movement.
  6. If he makes a hit by a renewed attack following a parry by his opponent which has been followed by a riposte which is immediate, simple and executed in one period of fencing time without withdrawing the arm.

Both fencers are at fault (no points awarded)

  1. Similar conception and execution of the same action by both fencers at once, without either of them taking the initiative sooner than the other.
  2. Similar failure to initiate or execute the appropriate actions, of both fencers at the same time, resulting in the loss of priority gained by previous actions, and without any of the fencers taking the initiative sooner than the other afterwards.
  3. When both fencers are at fault, NO POINTS are awarded to either fencer.

Weapon-Specific Variations

See individual weapon rules for specific applications and variations of these priority principles: