esquives

Esquives are defensive movements used to avoid an opponent’s attack by repositioning the body or changing the line of engagement. In French, esquive is the noun and esquiver the verb; the term has cognates in Spanish (esquivar) and Italian (schivare). The concept describes evasion rather than contact, often preserving the opportunity to counterattack.

In combat sports and martial arts, esquives aim to prevent contact while maintaining offensive options. In fencing, the esquive consists of movements that alter the attack path, height, or angle to avoid a hit and set up a riposte. In boxing, kickboxing, and Muay Thai, practitioners describe successful evasions as slips, ducks, weaves, or footwork that creates space and angles for a counterstrike.

Common techniques associated with esquives include slips and head movement, ducks and bends, shoulder rolls, and lateral steps. Parries that redirect an attack away from the defender can also function as esquives when they create a countering opening. The effectiveness of an esquive depends on timing, distance, and the opponent’s rhythm; a poorly timed move can expose the defender to a counter.

Beyond traditional sport, esquives appear in video games and other interactive media as mechanics for avoiding damage. In these contexts, a dodge or roll often serves a similar purpose, sometimes with resource costs or cooldowns that influence tactical planning.

Overall, esquives reduce injury risk, enable strategic control of range, and complement other defenses such as blocks or parries. Mastery relies on timing, spatial awareness, and the ability to capitalize on openings after evasion.