Abstain: French for “so sorry, I wasn’t paying attention.” Advance: Forward motion made by male fencers toward female fencers, usually resulting in a three-yard penalty, a red card, and a slap across the face....

The following are well-recognized scoring “moves” in fencing competitions. Some require additional props, but most can be improvised. The Back up the Stairs Retreat Usually executed mid-match, this maneuver features one combatant backing up...

You can pick them out of the crowd. They travel in little groups that have “Attitude” written all over them. They sneer. They like to jostle strangers and push elderly women into the bus...

To the Point, this Fencing is the Stuff of Soaps If you want to see a sport that combines the element of fast-paced action with the element of people screaming in French, you should...

The outlook wasn’t brilliant for the foil squad that night; The score stood seven bouts to five, with three more left to fight, And after Cooney’s body cord had snapped – and so he...