the eighth parry. A low-line parry, the had waist high, with the hand supinated, the blade angled downwards and the arm on the same side of the body, so that the blade is protecting the sword-arm side.
Opposition
an attacking action in which the fencer keeps the blades in contact
Parry
a defensive action in which the fencer uses his own blade to deflect his opponent's attack.
Passata-sotto
a lunge made by dropping one hand to the floor and leaning forward to gain extra length.
Passé
an attack that passes the target without hitting.
Phrase
a set of related actions and reactions without a significant break.
Piste
the linear strip on which a fencing bout is fought; approx. 2m wide and 14m long.
Pistol Grip
a modern, orthopaedic grip, shaped vaguely like a small pistol.
Plaqué
also flat: an attempted point attack that hits with the side of the blade rather than the point, and therefore doesn’t count.
Plastron
a half-jacket worn under the main jacket on the weapon-arm side of the body for extra protection. It has no seams which align with the seams under the arm of the jacket.
Point
the tip of the sword; an attack made with the point (i.e. a thrust)
Point in Line
also line; a static position with an extended arm and blade that threatens the opponent.
Pommel
a large nut that attaches the grip to the blade.
Preparation
the initial phase of an attack, before the attack proper begins and right-of-way is established.
Presentation
offering one's blade for engagement by the opponent.
President
the former term for the referee of a fencing bout
Prime
a parry essentially similar to septime, but made with the hand pronated. The hand is waist high, and the blade angled downward, with the arm across the body. In high prime, the features of the parry are the same except that the hand is held shoulder high.
Priority
in competition, in order to avoid a draw when the scores are equal at the end of normal time, a coin is tossed to give one fencer 'priority'. A further minute's fencing then starts, and if no hits are scored during that time, the fencer with priority is declared the winner.
Prise de Fer
also taking the blade; an engagement of the blades that forces the opponent's weapon into a new line. See bind, croisé, envelopment, opposition.
Pronated
refers to the hand being held with the thumb underneath.
Prime
a parry in which the hand is shoulder high, the hand supinated the blade angled upwards and the arm across the body.