Right of way (a.k.a.: priority)

Foil and saber are governed by Right of Way (priority) rules.When both fencers hit more or less simultaneously, only the fencer who had priority receives the point. If priority cannot be assigned unambiguously, no points are awarded. 

Right of Way is determined according to which fencer first initiated a correctly executed attack.  An attack is defined as "the initial offensive action made by extending the arm and continuously threatening the opponent's target...".

• Initial refers to which fencer starts the action before his/her opponent does. 
• Offensive indicates moving towards the opponent. 
• Extending indicates that the weapon arm is moving away from the body - right of way does not require a fully extended arm. 
• Continuously indicates that there is no "break" in the attack in which the attacker stops moving forward or holds back his/her arm. 
• Threatening indicates that the attacker is in advance-lunge distance and close enough to hit, and his/her weapon's point (for foil) or blade (for sabre) are approaching the opponent's valid target.