When is a fencer considered to have "priority"?

A fencer is considered to have "priority" when they initiate an attack. In fencing, priority is linked to the actions taken by fencers during an encounter and is an essential concept for determining which fencer has the right of way to score a touch.

When a fencer actively initiates an attack, they establish the offensive action. This means they are making the first move with the intent to score a point, which is an essential principle in fencing that defines the flow of the bout. If both fencers initiate attacks simultaneously, the one who has the right of way will determine who has priority, often based on their position and the direction of their attack.

Understanding this aspect of priority helps referees and competitors alike to make decisions regarding scoring and rules enforcement during bouts. The other options, such as retreating or waiting for an opponent to move, do not give a fencer the right of way; instead, they put the focus on defensive or reactive actions, which do not establish priority in the same way that an initiated attack does. Receiving a card refers to penalties and situations that do not pertain to establishing priority in the context of scoring touches.