Revision of Lesson 1

The lesson started with a revision of the core concepts from Lesson 1.

1. Revise the basic guards, to reinforce the naming convention we will be using.
2. Revise the naming of the 8 basic cuts.
3. Passing forward drill, working through the 8 basic cuts.
4. Pass and turn drill, working through the 8 basic cuts.

Extended Footwork

The footwork from week 1 was almost all performed on a forward step, with a right foot step for cuts from the right, and a left foot step for cuts from the left.

This week we add in the step back. The key to the step back is that the hips and shoulders must turn in alignment. Thus a cut from the right is made in conjunction with as left foot step back, and a cut from the right is made in conjunction with the right foot step back.

We also added the passing step followed by volta stabile, which allows us to throw a cut and then rapidly recover to the defence of Hanging Guard, whilst withdrawing the body from possible harm.

Eight cuts drill

1. From Right Guard, Point Behind pass forward throwing mandritto, followed by a left step forward throwing a riverso.
2. Continue forward throwing a rising mandritto on a right step and a rising riverso on a left step.
3. Pass back with the left foot throwing a mandritto, followed by a riverso on a right step back.
4. Continue back throwing rising mandritto on a left step back and a rising riverso on a right step back.
5. Repeat the footwork sequence forward and back this time throwing mandritto falso, riverso falso, falso dritto and falso manco.

Pass and recover to Hanging Guard drill

1. From Right Guard, Point Behind pass forward throwing mandritto, and as the cut reaches the ground pivot anti-clockwise on the balls of the feet (volta stabile) lifting into Left Hanging Guard.
2. Pass forward with the left foot throwing riverso, and as the cut reaches the ground volta stabile clockwise lifting into Right Hanging Guard.
3. Repeat the sequence throwing rising mandritto and rising riverso.

 Thrusts

The thrust can be delivered either with one hand or two hands. The important aspect of the thrust with the spadone is to ensure that it is done such that you can immediately recover to a defensive position.

Single Handed Thrust

The single handed thrust is performed by releasing the leading hand on the sword, to give maximum reach possible. To support the weight of the thrust the rear hand is extended with the hand in 3rd, ie palm to the inside.

Image 1 – Single handed thrust with spadone

The recovery is done by stepping back with the leading foot pulling the spadone back into a hanging guard.

1. From Left Guard, Point Forward, passing forward with the left foot throw a thrust by letting go with the leading hand to deliver the thrust with one hand.
2. Recover the left foot backwards lifting the hand into Left Hanging Guard, bringing the leading hand back onto the sword hilt.
3. Repeat from Right Guard, Point Forward this time recovering to Right Hanging Guard.

Double Handed Thrust

The single handed thrust is effective yet risky attack due to the lack of control with the rear single handed grip. Thus the double handed thrust is the preferred method due to the greater control in the recovery. The key to the action is to deliver the thrust as an imbrocatta, keeping the leading hand underneath the grip to support the weight of the sword.

 Image 2 – Two handed thrust with spadone

1. From Right Guard, Point Forward, on a pass with the right foot throw imbrocatta and the volta stabile anti-clockwise pulling back into Left Hanging Guard.
2. Pass forward with the left foot throwing imbrocatta, and volta stabile clockwise recovering back into Right Hanging Guard.

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