swordsmanship
Art of dueling
Swordsmanship is skill in fighting with a sword—the techniques, training, and art of blade combat.
The term covers both historical martial traditions and modern competitive fencing.
By extension, swordsmanship can describe any display of skillful verbal sparring or intellectual dueling: His rhetorical swordsmanship was unmatched in debate.
Defensive blade deflection
- riposteSwift clever reply
- lungeSudden forward movement
- thrustForceful forward motion
- flecheSlender pointed spire
feint · touché · bout · piste · disengage · counterattack · plastron · lamé
Japanese bamboo fencing
- kenjutsuJapanese martial blade art
- iaidoMartial art of drawing swords
- bushidoSamurai honor system
- wushuChinese martial arts collectively
samurai · ronin · dojo · sensei · master · apprentice · school · lineage
Curved Japanese fighting blade
- rapierSlender dueling blade
- saberCurved military sword
- longswordTwo-handed medieval blade
- claymoreScottish great sword
scimitar · cutlass · gladius · falchion · foil · epee · greatsword · shortsword
Prearranged one-on-one combat
- meleeDisordered group skirmish
- clashViolent disagreement or collision
- engagementCommitment to wed or attend
- skirmishBrief, limited combat
battle · fighting · warfare · opponent · adversary · challenge · confrontation · offense
Accuracy of measurement
- accuracyDegree of correctness
- controlAuthority to direct
- dexteritySkillful hand coordination
- finesseSubtle, deft handling
coordination · balance · timing · reflexes · expertise · proficiency · discipline · mastery
Effortless beauty of motion
- eleganceRefined, graceful quality
- poiseGraceful, unshakable calm
- artistryExceptional creative skill
- fluidityState of flowing freely
choreography · style · flair · panache · refinement · beauty · flow · expression
parry
Defensive blade deflection
fleche · feint · touché · bout · piste · disengage · counterattack · plastron · lamé · mask
kendo
Japanese bamboo fencing
wushu · samurai · ronin · dojo · sensei · master · apprentice · school · lineage · classical
katana
Curved Japanese fighting blade
claymore · scimitar · cutlass · gladius · falchion · foil · epee · greatsword · shortsword · backsword
duel
Prearranged one-on-one combat
- meleeDisordered group skirmish
- clashViolent disagreement or collision
- engagementCommitment to wed or attend
skirmish · battle · fighting · warfare · opponent · adversary · challenge · confrontation · offense · defense
precision
Accuracy of measurement
finesse · coordination · balance · timing · reflexes · expertise · proficiency · discipline · mastery · steadiness
grace
Effortless beauty of motion
fluidity · choreography · style · flair · panache · refinement · beauty · flow · expression · movement
strike
Forceful impact or stoppage
stance · guard · form · kata · drill · sparring · combination · timing · distance · angles
- fightingboxing, kickboxing, MMA, judo, karate
- medievalknights, castles, cathedral, kings, queens
- medieval lifechivalry, royal courts, jousting, knighthood, falconry
- knight trainingjousting, horsemanship, combat training, weapons training, chivalry
- warrior traitsarchery, bravery, valor, honor, discipline
- Edo Japanshogun, samurai, shogunate, daimyo, Tokugawa
swordsmanshipmarksmanship
Accuracy in shooting
archery · gunnery · riflery · sharpshooting · bowmanship
swordsmanshipincompetence
Lack of required skill
clumsiness · ineptitude · amateurishness · fumbling · haplessness
swordsmanshipunarmed combat
Fighting without weapons
hand-to-hand combat · pugilism · wrestling · grappling · martial arts
swordsman, sword, swords, swordfish, broadsword, swordplay, swordsmen, swordlike, swordswoman