fencing Fencing is a group of three related combat sports. The three disciplines in modern fencing are the foil, the épée, and the sabre (also ''saber''); winning points are made through the weapon's contact with an opponent. A fourth discipline, s ...

, a riposte ( French for "retort") is an offensive action with the intent of hitting one's opponent made by the fencer who has just

parried A parry is a fencing bladework maneuver intended to deflect or block an incoming attack. Execution To execute a parry, fencers strike the opponent's foible, or the area near the tip of the blade, with their forte, or the part of the blade near t ...

an attack. In military usage, a riposte is the strategic device of hitting a vulnerable point of the enemy, thereby forcing them to abandon their own attack. In everyday language, a riposte is synonymous with a retort and describes a quick and witty reply to an argument or an insult.

Etymology

sabre A sabre ( French: �sabʁ or saber in American English) is a type of backsword with a curved blade associated with the light cavalry of the early modern and Napoleonic periods. Originally associated with Central European cavalry such as th ...

and

foil Foil may refer to: Materials * Foil (metal), a quite thin sheet of metal, usually manufactured with a rolling mill machine * Metal leaf, a very thin sheet of decorative metal * Aluminium foil, a type of wrapping for food * Tin foil, metal foil ...

, the priority switches when the parry is successfully executed; the defending fencer now has ''right of way'' and may immediately attack with a riposte. The riposte may be direct, or may include compound footwork. If the riposte is delayed, the original attacker's remise gains priority. Riposte is analogous to ''kaeshi'' techniques in

kendo is a modern Japanese martial art, descended from kenjutsu (one of the old Japanese martial arts, swordsmanship), that uses bamboo swords (shinai) as well as protective armor (bōgu). Today, it is widely practiced within Japan and has spread ...

. When one sets up a ''second intention'' attack, the reactions of one's opponent must be predicted. A fencer may execute an attack expecting to be parried, preparing to ''counter-parry'' and counter-riposte.

Military usage

André Beaufre defines riposte in military usage as the act of striking a vulnerable point of an enemy, forcing them to abandon their own attack. The chosen target must be vital to the enemy or at least highly important, so that it becomes imperative to the enemy to defend it. The overall objective is to regain the initiative in battle.

References

Fencing {{Fencing-stub