Sabre	a/ Cut and thrust weapon used in modern fencing, and the basis for much theatrical swordplay. b/ Heavy sword with curved blade, favoured by the cavalry since the eighteenth century.
Sabreur	One who fights with the sabre
Safety	The first priority in any stage fight.
Salle	Hall or room where lessons in arms are given, skills are practiced and bouts are held.
Salute	The formal exchange between combatants, prior to an exchange. The acknowledment with the weapon which a fencer extends to his or her opponent at the commencement and conclusion of a bout.
Saviolo, Vincentio	Sixteenth century Italian fencing master who introduced the art of rapier play to queen Elizabeth's court. In 1575 he wrote the first text on swordplay originally written in English.
Scabbard	The sheath which covers the blade of a weapon when not in use.
Schlager	a/ German dueling weapon introduced by  students in the 1830's. b/ It's blade is now popular for use in theatrical weapons.
Scissors parry	Cross parry, or X parry, used in double fence, rapier and dagger etc.
Screen Direction	(Film) The orientation of movements relative to the screen.
Scrooge	English slang for froissement.
Second intention	Tactic designed to draw a riposte and score on a counter riposte. A pre meditated offensive action made after an opponent has been induced  to make a movement such as a stop hit.
Seconda	a/ Single weapon (Often rapier) guard assumed with the arm and blade held completely horizontal to the floor, the hand in pronation with the arm fully extended, the body square to the opponent, tip at shoulder level. b/ Double fence guard with the rapier in seconda proper and the dagger to the side on a bent arm.
Seconde	The guard which protects the low outside line, with the point lower than the hand, which is pronated. Parry Two.
Secured disarm	A disarm which relieves the opponent of their weapon, and into the attackers control, without falling or loosing.
Securing the sword	To wrench the opponents weapon from their hand by physical action.
Seizure	To grab your opponents weapon
Semi-circular parry	The deflection of the attacking blade by opposition of forte to foible, making a semi-circle of the point of the sword, from a high to a low line or vice versa.
Sentiment-du-fer	Feel of the blade. The use of the tactile senses of the fingers, mainly thumb and forefinger to give awareness of the blades. Feeling your opponents reactions through the blade.
Septime	The guard and parry which protects the low inside line with the point lower than the supinated hand.
Sesta	a/ Parry protecting from a cut to head by placing the weapon bearing hand across the chest and above the head, where the tip remains on the weapon bearing side. Often accompanied by a sidestep displacing the body, and an angulation of the parrying blade. b/ Double fence guard where the right hand assumes low terza and the dagger arm is outstretched.
Sesta turn	Sequence of moves in theatrical combat which begin with a parry sesta on the pass, then proceed with a pass and cut two, which is parried and a subsequent pass, pass and parry three. This gives a showy display of sword play and turns the combatants about.
Set Up	(Film) The position of the camera. A single scene will usually require several set ups. e.g. A  master shot, a two shot and then close ups. Each time the camera is moved, this means that there is a new "set up". The grips work hard, others may stand down and wait until the camera is ready.
Seven, parry of	(Septime) Defence for an attack to the non weapon bearing thigh.
SFX	Sound effects.
Sgualembrato	Descending diagonal cutting attack.
Sharps	Non theatrical weapons.
Sheath	Another name for scabbard.
Shell guard	Guard of a weapon based on the design of a shell.
Short sword	Common term for a traditional English single handed broad sword. A simple sword with a short stout blade, roughly the length of a man's arm..
Shoulder cuts	a/ Attacks delivered with the whole arm, from the shoulder. b/ Attacks directed at the opponents shoulders.
Shoulder	Step on the blade where it narrows from the forte to the tang.
Showing point	The moment in theatrical swordplay where the attacking weapon is shown to the opponent and the audience, prior to a theatrical "kill".
Side ring	Ring placed on the hilt intended to protect the knuckles and back-side of the sword hand.
Side step	An evasion by displacing the body to one side.
Sightlines	a/ Audiences line of sight to action in a theatre. b/ (Film) The characters lines of sight. It is best to stay out of the actors line when filming, in order that they can fully concentrate.
Silver, George	Champion of traditional English "cut and thrust" swordplay. Author of "Paradoxes of Defence".
Simple	Generally refers to an action which is un-convoluted and of one period in fencing time.
Simple attack	An offensive action (Taking only one period of fencing time to execute) by movement of sword, arm and body, being direct or indirect.
Simple parry	(Direct or instinctive) The deflection of the attacking blade by application of forte to foible, the sword arm moving horizontally across the body.
Simultaneous attacks	Attacks launched at the same time.
Single fight	Fight or combat with two opponents.
Single rapier	The rapier when used alone. The primary weapon which a novice would learn in the seventeenth century.
Single sword	A one handed sword, generally used with a second weapon. b/ A combat style in skills testing recognised by the SAFD and FDC.
Single time	a/ When the parry and riposte are one action. b/ One moment of fencing time.
Single weapon	To work with only one weapon.
Sitting down	Bending the knees when on guard.
Six, parry of.	Parry in the high line against a thrust to the right side of  the chest, with hand in supination.
Sixte	Guard position in supination with the point higher than the hand which closes the high outside line.
Size	Relative magnitude of a movement or blade action.
Slip	Evasive action to the left or right to avoid ascending and descending diagonal cuts. The feet remain stationary and the torso angles.
Slate	(Film) See Clapper board.
Slip backward	Evasive action removing the body backward with a sloped pace backward on the diagonal.
Slip forward	Evasive action that removes the body forward with a sloped pace forward on the diagonal.
Slipping	Gaining reach by sliding the hand down the grip, during attacks.
Sloped pace	Footwork executed on the four imaginary diagonal lines that run at forty-five degrees from a straight pace forward.
Sloping parry	Parry executed against cutting attacks with an angulation of the blade, designed to allow weapons to deflect off line rather than stop them dead. Associated with the parry of Sesta.
Small sword	A sword with a light triangular, fluted thrusting blade, with a simple guard and a small bar protecting the knuckles.
Society Of American Fight Directors	(SAFD) A large professional non profit organisation created to promote the art of fight choreography safely in the Film, TV, and Theatre industries.
Soft parry	A parry which deflects the arm of the aggressor rather than the blade.
Sola	Alone.
Space	a/ The amount of room which a single action needs to take place efficiently. b/ The name of a rehearsal or performance room/ theatre.
Spanish blade	Strong and superior blade.
Spanish dagger	Form of parrying dagger.
Spanish Sword	Name given to the rapier by English swordsmen.
Spatial awareness	The conscious alertness of an actor/ combatant to the area around him/ her. Obstacles, other actors and set, which may be hurt, or damaged by offensive actions, unwittingly or deliberately delivered.
Spectacle	Activity which directs attention toward itself.
Speed	Velocity or rate at which an activity takes place.
Spin	A turn of or more than 360 degrees.
Squat	To bend the knees and lower the torso.
Stage combat	Armed and unarmed combat which is staged, for the benefit of performance.
Stance	The position of the feet and legs of a combatant whilst in an "on guard" position.
Standing Lunge	A lunge executed from a standing position as opposed to a guard position, perhaps to catch an opponent off guard.
Standing volte	Evasive maneuver of the torso without moving the feet.
Star award	A five level sequence of exams in fencing (foil, epee, sabre) run by the BAF. British Academy of Fencing. Five star being the highest level, and one star the lowest.
Steadicam	(Film) Body mounted camera support that allows the camera to apparently float through the air, or along a characters line of sight.
Steccada	Thrusting attack, made under an opponents sword arm.
Steccado	Thrust or thrusting attack with the rapier.
Steel	Generic term for the blade.
Step	A forward or backward movement made without one foot passing another.
Step out	Evasion to the side.
Step-in-parry	A parry executed with a move in.
Stoccado	The point of a sword or dagger, or a thrust with this point.
Stoccata Lunga	(Elongated thrust) Giganti's term for the lunge, with a low straight thrust.
Stop cut	Counter offensive cut designed to hit an opponent before the final movement of their attack.
Stop hit	Counter offensive strike designed to hit ones opponent before the final movement of their attack.
Stop hit in opposition	The defender anticipates and intercepts the final line of attack and extends his/her arm and attacks that line, covered.
Stop short	a/ To "pull" an attack in theatrical combat which has not been parried as arranged with the other combatant. B/ to halt before the final action of an attack or advance.
Stop thrust	See stop hit.
Storyboard	Series of sketched images of key moments which suggest what a scene will look like.
Straight attack	Direct attack landing in the same line.
Strip	A playing area 2 metres by 14.
Stroke	Blow with a weapon, executed in one move.
Stunt	A move or arrangement of moves which are dangerous and do not involve weaponry. e.g. A fall down some steps, a jump from a great height. Not the fight directors job.
Style	The manner and way in which a play, performance or fight are presented. e.g. Pantomime, dramatic.
Stylised	Manner of presenting a stage fight, character or production which is, by choice, not fully real. e.g. A fight in slow motion, or in silhouette, or in moments as opposed to a whole.
Sub text	a/ The character's inner thoughts. b/ A play's hidden meaning, underneath the surface characteristics.
Successive parries	Two or more consecutive parries, like or varied, which are the defensive movements against compound attacks. They immediately follow each other until the attackers blade is found.
Supination	The position of the hand with palm upwards.
Sustained	Smooth and steady, continuous.
Swash	a/ To fight with weapons. b/ A heavy forceful blow. c/ Sounds created the swift movement of a cut. d/ A ruffian.
Swashbuckler	a/ Term given to one who wears a sword and buckler. The sword swashes against the buckler, as they move. b/ A ruthless bully or sailor who uses sword and buckler c/ Film style featuring much swordplay. d/ Gallant swordsman.
Swashbuckling	Acting like a swashbuckler.
Swept hilt	Form of rapier guard with several eloquent branches and loops protecting the hand and fingers.
Swetnam, Joseph	In 1617 wrote the first English book on rapier and dagger.
Swipe	Slashing attack with the blade, not intended to land in theatrical swordplay.
Sword	Weapon adapted for cutting and thrusting, consisting of a long blade and handle of ome sort.
Sword and cloak	Type of swordplay where the cloak acts as a defensive weapon when used in the left hand. Cloak would be used for parrying, deflecting, covering the opponents blade and distraction.
Sword and buckler	a/ armed with and using sword and buckler b/ Traditional weapons of English lower classes since the beginning of the sixteenth century.
Sword and dagger	Style of swordplay with an sword in the right hand for offensive action and a dagger in the left for defensive. See rapier and dagger.
Sword and lantern	Type of swordplay where the lantern would be used for defensive purposes, including the temporarily blinding of ones opponent.
Sword cane	(Sword stick) Walking cane with a blade secreted in it's length.
Sword carriage	Waist belt and suspension for Elizabethan rigging.
Sword, age of	Period (circa 1450-1550) when the sword became the primary weapon over all others.
Sword-arm	Weapon bearing arm.
Sword breaker	Type of dagger designed (In theory) to entrap and break the opponents foible.
Sword catcher	Weapon (Usually a dagger) designed with extended prongs or catches in the blade, designed to trap and hold the opponents blade.
Swordplay	The exchange of offensive and defensive  blade actions with swords. fencing.
Swordsman	One who wields a sword. with skill.
Swordsmanship	Skill in the use of sword.
Syncopation	Abbreviating or stressing of certain movements within a routine.