Maestro	An eminent fencing master.
Magnified fencing	Exaggerated actions used in some theatrical fencing.
Main Gauche	Parrying dagger held in the left hand in conjunction with the rapier.

Making ground	To move forward.
Man Dritto	Right handed. Said of an attack from the right side of the body.
Man Dritto Squalembrato	Descending diagonal cutting attack delivered from the weapon bearing side.
Man Dritto Tondo	Supinated horizontal cutting attack delivered from the sword bearing side.
Manipulators	The index finger and thumb of the sword bearing hand. These manipulate the blades action with control and are assisted by the Aids.
Marozzo, Achille	Bolognise fencing master that presented the first sound treatise on defence with the sword (1536).
Martingale	A loop of tape or string used to prevent a foil flying out of the hand during a bout.
Mask	a/ Grilled helmet worn by fencers for safety. b/ To cover of hide a movement etc. To mask.
Master	a/ Fencing coach trained to the highest possible level in foil, epee, and sabre. b/ The highest rank of achievement  in the SAFD,  SBFD, and FDC. c/ ( Fight master ) Fight director on a very big production in charge of one or more asst. fight directors, and in overall charge of battles in production. In many ways, more an administrative role than an active one.
Master Shot	(Film) Shot that shows most or all of the scene and most or all of the characters.
Match	A contest between two teams.
Matchlock	System of ignition for firearms, using a slow burning match.
Material Valid Hit	A hit which arrives anywhere on the body and may or may not count towards a fencers score, after the decision of a jury.
MCS	(Film) Medium Close Shot.
Measure	The controlled distance between two combatants. See fencing measure.
Meeting angle	The angle at which a cutting attack and the subsequent parry, meet.
Meggia Cavatione	Italian term for a half disengage.
Metallic over-jacket	A plastron of metallized cloth worn over the fencing jacket on which valid hits are registered with electrical foil/ sabre.
Metallic piste	A copper mesh strip laid over the piste to neutralize hits made on the ground in electrical foil and epee.
Meter	Pre-arranged rhythm of movement.
Mezza Cavazione	Attack on a half-disengagement from a high to a low line on the same side.
Mezzo	(Middle) Used in reference target at the middle of the opponents body.
Mezzo tempo	A rapid parry and riposte executed in half the time it would have taken the initial attack to succeed..
Middle	Portion of the blade between the forte and the foible.
Middle guard	Silver's close ward. The weapon is held centred, aimed at the opponent over the head.
Mise-en-scene	The totality of lighting, blocking, camera use, and composition that produces the dramatic image on film, or on stage.
MLS	(Film) Medium Long Shot.
Mollinello	The action of pivoting the blade in a circle, from the shoulder, elbow or wrist. Made from the sabre parry of first.
Montant(e)	Upward cutting attacks generally aimed at the groin.
Motivation	Whatever impels a character to do whatever he/ she does.
Mounts	Metal parts of a scabbard or sheath.
Mouth piece	Metal mount at the top of a scabbard. The same as the English LOCKER.
Movement transition	A movement, or sequence of movements, serving to connect phrases within a fight.
MS	Medium shot
Murphy's Law	"Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong" Assume the worst and be prepared.
Musketeers	Fencing game intended to allow beginners the opportunity to experience the thrill of the fight, and for them to experiment with basic techniques.
Musketeer blade	Slang for a theatrical epee blade.
Mysterious Circle	(Thibaust's) As pictured in the wallpaper of this site. The infinite circle that joins the combatants footwork and distance in the complex geometric style of sixteenth and seventeenth century Spanish swordplay.