Parry Quarte & Parry Sixte

The parry is used to deflect the attacker’s blade from the defender’s target and take “right of way” to score a hit.  The offensive action that follows a successful parry is called a “riposte“.

In week 3, we practiced 2 lateral (side to side) parries.  The parry quarte protects against attacks to the high outside line, and the parry sixte defends against attacks to the high inside line.

As your attacker’s point passes your guard, make brief contact with the attacker’s foible with the forte of your blade, moving your arm and blade at the same time.  It is important to keep the point of your weapon pointed at your opponent during your parry, so that your riposte can follow immediately.

When visualizing a parry, we thought about a car windshield wiper moving from side to side.  We practiced clapping our hands in front of our bodies, but only moving our weapon hand.  This action is very similar to the parry quarte.