En Garde

“En Garde!” is a french for “On Guard”, which is the first call referee makes when fencers are ready to start. En garde is followed by Prêts? Allez! (Ready? Go!). On a smaller competition in Canada and USA it may be actually called En garde! Ready? Fence!

Fencers also joke that “En Garde” is a paranoid state in which the fencer believes everyone is out to get him.

We have fencing t-shirts and hoodies for fencers with “En Garde!” call as well as it’s funny interpretation.