A “parry” is a defensive maneuver in swordsmanship, fencing, and various forms of armed combat that involves diverting or blocking an opponent’s incoming attack. At its most basic level, to parry is to use your own blade—or sometimes another defensive tool, such as a dagger or shield—to stop a strike in a manner that leaves you positioned to immediately counterattack. The concept of parrying has existed for centuries, traceable to historical fencing manuals from the medieval and Renaissance periods, where knights and duelists honed their technique for both battlefield and dueling scenarios.
In modern fencing, the parry is one of the most fundamental skills for any practitioner to learn. By deflecting an adversary’s blade with a swift, precise motion, the fencer not only halts the oncoming threat but also establishes control of the opponent’s weapon. This brief window of control allows for follow-up actions such as ripostes or counters, making the parry an integral cornerstone of strategic swordplay. Unlike a simple block, a successful parry often relies on finesse rather than brute force. It channels the momentum of the opponent’s attack in such a way as to conserve energy and maintain balance.
