Parry and Riposte: The Noodle Conversation

In pairs with pool noodles, students learn to parry the partner's attack by deflecting the noodle and to answer right away with a touch. It works on anticipation, distance and controlled movement.

How to play

1. En garde, one-lunge distance, and fencing footwork forward and back facing the partner (4 min).
2. The attacker calls "high" or "low" and attacks slowly to the torso; the defender deflects with their noodle and ripostes to the torso (6 min).
3. Same drill without calling: the defender must read the attack and parry; switch every five attacks (6 min).
4. Five-touch bout where only touches that come after a parry count (6 min).
5. Rotate partners and a quick check: what gives you away before you attack? (3 min).

Rules

• Attack the torso, never the head.
• A parry deflects; it doesn't smash the partner's noodle.
• Each pair stays in its cone lane, away from the next pair.
• If you're touched, say so.

Variations

Adaptations

• Blind or low-vision students: work at short range with the noodles in constant contact to feel the attack.
• Wheelchair users: both fencers seated at a fixed distance.
• Injury to the dominant arm: use the other arm, and the partner does too to keep it even.

Learning goals

• Parry an attack by deflecting it.
• Riposte quickly after the parry.
• Read the attacker's cues.

Equipment for a class of 25

• pool noodles: 30
• cones: 30

Teacher tip

Set parallel cone lanes so no one backs into another pair. The usual mistake is watching the noodle to parry: tell them to watch the partner's chest.

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