Modern term adopted from the post 1660 French school jargon. Below, the thwart, or sloping step forward. Rather than parrying first and hitting on riposte second, try to parry while hitting at the same moment.
Timing is extraordinarily critical - the slightest error is fatal.
The following sections offer advice on how to attack and defend when either you or your opponent is a given position. This is conceptually not unlike a manual of chess openings. Moves from a set position are important, but are not the entire picture. The rhythm of the exchange must be mastered. The skill of exploiting an indecisive clash is a significant mark of mastery.