Abstract
The fencing lunge is an explosive, distance-sensitive action whose performance depends on coordinated lower-limb mechanics, postural control, and rapid perceptual-motor timing. This systematic review integrated biomechanical determinants with technology-based approaches for measuring and enhancing lunge performance. A PRISMA 2020 systematic review was conducted using Scopus (2016–2026). The search identified 403 records; 15 duplicates were removed, 388 records were screened, 57 full texts were assessed, and 18 studies were included. Because the included studies differed substantially in populations, weapons, task constraints, outcomes, and designs, findings were synthesised narratively using an a priori thematic coding framework aligned with three research questions rather than pooled quantitatively. Methodological quality was revised to a design-appropriate JBI appraisal framework. The supplied manuscript does not contain the original independent screening/extraction audit log; therefore, the final submission must report the actual reviewer number and Cohen’s kappa values from that log rather than retrospectively estimating them. The evidence indicates that lower-limb power, joint coordination, postural control, target distance, footwear, and weapon-specific demands shape attack execution. Inertial and depth sensors, two-dimensional video, and deep-learning models show growing validity and practical feasibility, but evidence for transfer to competitive outcomes remains limited. The field supports an integrated biomechanical-technology framework, but conclusions remain constrained by small samples, heterogeneous protocols, cross-sectional designs, single-database searching, and limited ecological validation.