Please note that this is not meant to be a comprehensive list, only a list of basic terms appropriate to Lightspeed-saber fencers at an initiate level. There is still much, much more to explore.

  • ATTACKS

    • Generic

      • Cuts: Any of four kinds of attacks delivered with an arcing motion and landing on the target primarily with the broadside of the blade.

        • Semi-cut: A one-handed cut delivered with the intent to land on target and not pass any further.

        • Sweep: A one-handed cut delivered with the intent to land on target and pass through, using a yielding wrist.

        • Strike: A two-handed cut delivered with the intent to land on target and not pass any further.

        • Slash: A two-handed cut delivered with the intent to land on target and pass through, using yielding wrists.

      • Shot: A replacement for the thrust-- which is illegal in Lightspeed-saber fencing-- which similarly drives the tip of the blade in the opponent's direction but outside the opponent’s target silhouette. The blade is then turned at the last moment to redirect the broadside of the blade toward the opponent’s target area for a legal touch.

    • Derived (attacks with specific footwork or evasions associated with them)

      • Skyhook: A counterattack which displaces the hands to a higher elevation while attacking into a lower one.

      • Slipcut: Any attack combined with a slip. See Evasions.

  • DEFENSES

    • Shields: These are static blade positions which protect the body and head from attacks.

      • Shield-3: Protects the shoulders and above from lateral attacks on the right side.

      • Shield-4: Protects the shoulders and above from lateral attacks on the left side.

      • Shield-5: A pronate shield which protects the head from overhead attacks.

      • Shield-6: A supinate shield which protects the head from overhead attacks.

      • Shield-7: Protects the front leg from low lateral attacks from the left side.

      • Shield-8: Protects the front leg from low lateral attacks from the right side.

    • Deflectors: Active defensive motions which knock away attacks to the hands and head.

      • Deflector-3: Protects against diving attacks from the right.

      • Deflector-4: Protects against diving attacks from the left.

    • Evasions: Any movement which displaces target area in order to avoid being hit.

      • Fade (Back-stance): Leaning or shifting the weight backward to protect the upper body from attack.

      • Pull (Sash-guard): Retracting the weapon-hand from a forward position to protect it from attack.

      • Slip: Pulling the front foot back behind yourself while keeping bodyweight forward. Used to protect the front leg from attack.

  • FOOTWORK

    • Steps

      • Advance: A linear movement where the front foot moves forward and the back foot follows an equal amount.

      • Retreat: A linear movement where the back foot moves backward and the front foot follows and equal amount.

      • Power-advance: An advance in which the forward movement of the front foot is accompanied by a propulsion from the back foot. Slower in sequence than a regular advance but has more acceleration.

      • Power-retreat: A retreat in which the backward movement of the rear foot is accompanied by a propulsion from the front foot. Slower than a regular retreat in sequence but has more acceleration.

      • Crossover-retreat: A retreat in which the front leg moves first by crossing over the back leg, followed by the movement of the back leg, which uncrosses the legs. Faster than any other retreat but less balanced.

      • Lunge (basic): Stepping forward deeply with the front foot without the back foot following. Many variants with increased power, range, and utility.

      • Recovery: Pushing backward off the front foot after a lunge to return to a standing position.

      • Traverse: A small sideways movement.

    • Pivots

      • Inside-pivot: Turning of the back foot off the heel toward the outside hemisphere.

      • Square-pivot: Turning of the back foot off the toes toward the outside hemisphere.

      • Back-pivot: Turning of the feet and hips to the inside hemisphere.

  • ORIENTATIONS

    • Flat: Refers to attacks cutting through an imaginary line running through the midsection of the body, approximately where a fencer’s hand is in a Forward-guard position.

    • Inside/inner: Refers to the half of the body (hemisphere) furthest from the opponent.

    • Lateral: Horizontal.

    • Low: Refers to the half of the body below the midsection.

    • Outside/outer: Refers to the half of the body (hemisphere) nearest to the opponent.

    • Pronate: Meaning “turned down,” as in the palm or wrist.

    • Straight: Refers to attacks that are extended straight from the shoulder with no chambering.

    • Supinate: Meaning “turned up,” as in the palm or wrist.

  • POSITIONS

    • Stances: Positioning of the body with specified orientation of the feet and distribution of body weight on the legs.

      • Back-stance: A position which places most of the weight on the back leg.

      • Standard stance: An L-shaped foot positioning with equal weight distributed between the legs.

    • Grips

      • Standard: Gripping the saber with a single hand at the top of the hilt, near the point of balance.

      • Tandem: Gripping the saber with two hands, with the dominant hand on the top of the hilt and the off-hand on the bottom.

    • Guards & chambers: These are positions of the weapon relative to the body. Guards are typically two-handed and chambers are typically one-handed.

      • Forward-guard: The saber is held with one hand at mid-section level, slightly ahead of the body, with the blade threatening the opponent.

      • High-inside chamber: The saber is held by the inside (rear) shoulder with one hand.

      • High-outside chamber: The saber is held by the outside (front) shoulder with one hand.

      • Inner Jedi-guard: The saber is held by the inside (rear) shoulder, upright, with two hands.

      • Outer Jedi-guard: The saber is held by the outside (front) shoulder, upright, with two hands.

      • Overhead-guard: The saber is held over the head with two hands.

      • Sash-guard: The saber is held close to the chest, in order to keep the hands out of danger.

      • Tandem-guard: Forward-guard but held with two hands.