cane around from the rear to the front, along a horizontal line. If the target is the head, remain upright as you deliver your hit. Your arm should remain straight throughout the execution of the strike as the point travels through a 180 degrees arc from the rear to the front. Defenses Acceptable defenses in canne are the parry and the evasion. An evasion can be a step, a jump or a crouch. There is no simultaneous attack, which means that if one competitor starts an attack, the other has to parry or evade and is allowed to counterattack only after the evasion. The canne strategy does not accept the theory of "getting a small hit in order to deal a bigger hit". If player A starts to attack and, instead of defending himself, player B also starts an attack, then the following is the rule: If nobody hits, nobody gets a point If B hits, nobody gets a point If both A and B hit, then A gets a point (because they attacked first) This is similar to the right of way rules of modern sport fencing. Lunges There are five lunges in canne. Avant (front) Arriére (behind) Extérieur (outside) Balance stance Grenouille (frog) Valid attacks Only valid attacks are counted. An attack is only considered valid if it performed using one of the techniques described above, and: Every strike must be armed (strikes made without the canne are considered invalid) The hit is clear The hit reached a valid target zone The hit is done with the upper 1/4 part of the stick The stick is in one line with the hand There was no sabering movement Rules Bouts are held in a 9-meter diameter circle. The cane is held with one hand but the competitor may change it from hand to hand during the bout. Strokes are made either horizontally or downward, thrusting or stabbing blows being prohibited. The scoring zones are the calves, the torso (only for men) and the head. To count, all strokes must be with the cane, and low blows must have a lunging movement. The bout is won on points, the lightness of the cane and the protective clothing making a knockout impossible. Points are scored for style, according to the correctness of body positions during fighting. Contact with prohibited areas such as the arms are penalized. It is thus possible to