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Pace	Elizabethan for a pass or a walking step.
Pan	(Film) Horizontal camera movement.
Parallel parry	Double fence parry executed with the blades placed side by side as opposed to crossed.
Parry	a/ To defend against attack by deflecting the attacking blade with the application of forte to foible. Some examples are, simple parries, circular, semi-circular, parry one, parry two etc. b/ to deflect the attackers weapon by some other means, e.g. with the hand, dagger etc.
Parry nine	See Coward's parry.
Parry of despair	A panicked parry, reactive in the extreme and of muscular nature.
Partizan	Long bladed spear with short twin, curved lugs at base.
Part-whole	The teaching of a movement in "parts", isolating the "parts" of the movement demanding the most skill and practicing them, where possible in isolation. Then putting the "parts" together to make the "whole" movement.
Pas d'ane	Two small loops below the quillion of a rapier but behind the guard, which protect the index finger.
Pass	a/ Simple action of footwork which moves the combatant forward or back as one foot passes another. The term can be strung onto other moves creating compound footwork. e.g. Pass forward circle right. b/ A round of fencing, until one or other delivers a hit.
Passado	(Passada/ passata) A forward thrust with the rapier, accompanied by a pass.

Passata Sotto	(Pass beneath) Low line evasion that vertically removes the body from the line of the attack by expanding the base and lowering the physical centre, then delivering a counter thrust. Executed in the following two ways. (To duck)
Passata Sotto to the rear	Low line evasion that vertically removes the body from the line of attack by propelling the lag leg straight back, bending the lead leg's knee, placing the left hand on the floor and angling torso in line with the extended leg. Often accompanied by a straightening of the sword arm to attempt a hit on the opposing combatant.
Passata Sotto to the side	Low line evasion that vertically removes the body from the plane of attack by extending the lag foot backwards and across the path of the lead foot (traversing to the right), Bending the lead leg's knee, placing the left hand on the floor and angling the pelvis and torso forward and to the left in line with the extended leg. Often accompanied by a straightening of the sword arm to attempt a hit on the opposing combatant.
Passe	Where the point of the blade slides along but never hits directly.
Passing the point	As changement.
Passing	The chief means of gaining and breaking ground prior to the introduction of a more linear style of footwork in the seventeenth century.
Patinando	Compound footwork amounting to an advance followed by a lunge.
Pattern	Rhythm of movement.
Pauldron	Shoulder defence made flexible with lames - left often slightly larger than right.
Peasant thrust	A sword thrust where the non weapon bearing hand supports the attack in a rifle and bayonet fashion, to the low line.
Percussion	Sharp impact of one object against another, accompanied by a perceivable shock or sound.
Personal equipment	Fencer's weapon and body wire used with electrical judging apparatus.
Peso	Balancing point of a sword.
Phrase	a/ Section of choreography without pause, with a definite beginning and end. b/ sequence of fencing movements leading up to a hit.
Physicality	The physical orientation of a character. The size shape, build and manner of movement.
Pillow Sword	Light, small, rapier like sword with single hilt - supposed to have stood by bed or under the "pillow".
Piste	A strip used in modern fencing.
Pied ferme	A movement made while the feet remain immobile.
Plane	Imaginary straight line that an attack travels along from any one point to another.
Plane of movement	The path in which any action can be said to travel.
Plaque	Where the point of the blade hits sideways and flat.
Plastron	a/ An undergarment of hemp (or kevlar) cloth worn as a safety precaution in epee. b/ A padded vets worn by a fencing instructor when acting as a target.
Plie	Bending movement of the knees in a vertical plane.
PM	Production Manager.
Point	a/ The sharp tip of a weapon. b/ The action of threatening an opponent with an extended arm, tip toward the target.
Point of balance	The balancing point of a weapon situated on the forte.
Point control	The correct execution of blade movements, with skill and precision.
Point d'arret	A serrated or triple pointed attachment to the tip of a blade, designed to fix a hit. (archaic - out of use, but modern fencing)
Pommel	a/ (Little apple) The locking fixture that holds a sword together at the tang, and counter balances the weight of the weapon. b/ To strike, beat or attack with the pommel, when well inside measure.
Poniard	Form of quillion main gauche dagger.
Pool	A grouping of fencers in competition.
Postura	The position of the body and weapon, predating the modern guard.
Posture	The attitude, placement and carriage of the body.
Pot	Popular name for simple, wide brimmed helmet worn by 17th century pikemen.
POV	(Film) Point Of View. Nearly always means shot reproducing characters eyeline view.
Preparation	Any action made prior to attacking, such as an adjustment of distance, a taking of the blade, a feint or a combination of these. The following attack may be simple or compound. An action which "prepares" the way for attack.
Presentation	The turning of the true edge toward ones opponent.
President	The referee in a fencing bout.
Pressure	The application of force against the opponents blade to deflect it or cause a reaction from it. Used as a preparation.
Prima	a/ The first guard position that can safely be assumed upon drawing the sword. b/ The single weapon guard that closes the high outside line from attack.
Prime	The single weapon guard that protects the left cheek in modern fencing. Specifically a sabre parry.
Principle of defence	The execution of a parry by opposing the defenders forte to the attackers foible.
Prises-de-fer	(Pris d'fer) Takings of the blade. These actions can remove the opposing blade or retain it. e.g. by envelopment, bind or croise.
Prop	(Property) Theatrical property. Anything used by an actor during a production. Cigarettes, swords, letters, etc.
Proscenium arch	A stage where the audience are on one side, usually separated by a high arch or "window".
Progressive attacks	Method of delivering compound attacks in one fluid action, whilst approaching the target in order to cut time to a minimum. the opposite of a pied ferme.
Pronation	The position of the hand with the palm turned down.
Provost	The third level of the four rankings in English schools of defence.
Pull	To stop a blow short by the tensing of muscles.
Pummel	a/ To attack strike or bludgeon with the pommel. b/ To strike repeatedly with a smashing action.
Punta	Literally "point". The point of a weapon, or attack with the point.
Punta dritta	Attack with the point with the hand in pronation delivered from the right.
Punta Rovescio	(Punta reversa/ Punto reverso) Reverse thrust made from the left side with the hand in supination.
Punta Sopramano	Attack introduced by Viggiani (1575) in which the lead foot is extended forward, about eighteen inches, accompanied by a supinated thrust with the sword arm and a slight turning of the torso.
Punto	Point of the weapon or thrust with the tip of a sword.