If you're new to fencing or you're "checking it out" to determine if it is the sport for you (and it is, if challenging yourself physically, mentally and emotionally is an effort you enjoy, along with winning bouts), then you have (or soon will) come across words like "sixte", or "riposte", or "septime". These are words steeped in the history of the sport and are an important part of its magic. But, the good news is they are easy to understand and remember and will add to your ability to either enjoy the sport or pick up a weapon and wail. This wikiHow defines the words; it does not try to explain the techniques that these words describe generically. The actual technique of a "parry" depends on the kind of attack that is being made and would require too much verbiage and is worthy of its own article.