A guard is a starting position for both offensive and defensive actions, and determines which attacks and blocks are the most practical at any particular moment.

SEARCH TAGS: High Middle Low Neutral Inside Outside Supinate (thumb up) Pronate (thumb down)

ESSENTIAL GUARDS

The essential guards are the first thing a beginner learns, and remain important even at the top level. These can also be thought of as the “speed guards” as they are the prime positions for the fastest offensive and defensive actions.

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Makashi
Mid, Center
Makashi
Mid, Center

The weapon is held on the centerline, tip at about eye height, hand about waist height.

Mid, Center
Open
Outside, Mid, Supinated
Open
Outside, Mid, Supinated

Also known as Outside Makashi, it is Makashi guard with the blade tilted to your outside hemisphere.

Outside, Mid, Supinated
Sash
Inside, Mid, Pronated
Sash
Inside, Mid, Pronated

Also called Inside Makashi. The blade is tilted to the inside from Makashi Guard.

Inside, Mid, Pronated
Low
Low, Center
Low
Low, Center
Low, Center
Seven
Low, Inside, Pronated
Seven
Low, Inside, Pronated

Low guard to protect the inside of the front foot. Arm is straight, with the blade angled away from the foot. Named after its nearest enumeration in traditional fencing.

Low, Inside, Pronated
Eight
Outside, Low, Pronated
Eight
Outside, Low, Pronated

Eight Guard. Arm is straight, with the blade angled away from the foot. Protects the outside of the front foot. Named after its nearest enumeration in traditional fencing.

Outside, Low, Pronated

TUCKED GUARDS

Guards are not only starting points, they can also be endpoints for attacks, such as these tucked guards. These are generally tip-forward guards but with the hand withdrawn near the body.

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Sentinel
Mid, Center
Sentinel
Mid, Center

A Makashi Guard with the blade held above the head or approximately above the head.

Mid, Center
Mask
Outside, High, Pronated
Mask
Outside, High, Pronated

The weapon is held tip-forward, with the hand next to the face. The blade cross over the chest. Its supinate twin is Cape.

Outside, High, Pronated
Horn
High, Inside, Supinated
Horn
High, Inside, Supinated

The weapon is held tip-forward by the inside of the face, arm crossing over body.

High, Inside, Supinated
Spear
Inside, Mid, Supinated
Spear
Inside, Mid, Supinated

The weapon is tucked under the inside arm with the blade tipped forward. Its pronate twin is Scabbard.

Inside, Mid, Supinated
Holster
Mid, Outside, Pronated
Holster
Mid, Outside, Pronated

The weapon is held tip-forward at the hip.

Mid, Outside, Pronated

REAR GUARDS

These are advanced guards that leave you vulnerable, and should only be used by fencers with good power control.

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Cape
High, Outside, Supinated
Cape
High, Outside, Supinated

The blade is held toward the rear, over the shoulder, without the arm crossing the body. It’s pronate twin is Mask.

High, Outside, Supinated
Cloak
Inside, High, Pronated
Cloak
Inside, High, Pronated

The weapon is held facing the rear, over the inside shoulder, the arm cross the chest. Its supinate twin is Horn.

Inside, High, Pronated
Scabbard
Mid, Inside, Pronated
Scabbard
Mid, Inside, Pronated

The weapon is held rear-facing under the inside arm.

Mid, Inside, Pronated
Server
Supinated, Outside, Mid
Server
Supinated, Outside, Mid

The weapon is held with a bent arm, thumb up. While this looks like a tucked guard, it is actually a rear guard because the blade can easily point to the side or rear. Its tucked twin is Holster. The wing guards are close cousins.

Supinated, Outside, Mid
Thumb
Outside, Mid, Supinated
Thumb
Outside, Mid, Supinated

The weapon is held low and to the outside with the thumb up.

Outside, Mid, Supinated
Wing
Outside, Mid, Pronated
Wing
Outside, Mid, Pronated

The weapon is held low and to the outside with the thumb down.

Outside, Mid, Pronated
Overhead
Center, Overhead
Overhead
Center, Overhead

The weapon is held overhead with a neutral wrist.

Center, Overhead
 

TERMS

Inside — Refers to the side of the body more distant from the opponent while standing in Standard Stance. For a right-hander, this is the left side.

Outside — Refers to the side of the body closer to the opponent while in Standard Stance. For a right-hander, this is the right side.

Supinate — A wrist orientation in which the thumb is visible to the fencer while holding a weapon.

Pronate — A wrist orientation in which the thumb is not visible to the fencer while holding a weapon.

Neutral — Refers to how you orient your wrist, in this case neither rolled to the left or right, as you might while giving a handshake.

Twin — Any non-neutral guard has a supinate and pronate version, which typically determines whether the blade is tipped to the front or the rear. These versions are referred to as twins.