Spadone (Italian Greatsword)

Spadone – Lesson 16

Lesson 16 – Thrust Provocactions

This lesson builds on Lesson 4 where we used the initial imbroccata thrust as a feint. This time we'll be using the same sort of action as a provocation, with the action setting up the molinetto in 2nd intention.

Revision

  1. Thrust in 2nd Intention
  2. Thrust in 2nd Intention on a Pass
  3. Low Line Thrust in 2nd Intention
  4. Low Line Thrust in 2nd Intention on a Pass

Thrust Provocations with Cuts in 2nd Intention

The imbrocatta thrust from either the point forward or hanging guards can be readily turned into a redoubled cut. We can use this imbrocatta  action to provoke a response from our opponent, opening them up for the redoubled cut.

Thrust & Riverso

  1. From Left Hanging Guard, lean forwards and deliver imbrocatta to the chest.
  2. Drop the tip and using the momentum to turn the sword through a circular cut deliver a riverso to the head.

Thrust and Mandritto

  1. From Right Hanging Guard, lean forwards and deliver imbroccata to the chest.
  2. Drop the tip and using the momentum to turn the the sword through a circular cut to deliver a mandritto to the head

Note: These two static footwork drills allow the students to learn how to turn the thrust into a cut.

Thrust and Redouble

This is a moving drill designed to teach the student to flow the thrust into the cut, and then into a hanging guard in defence.

  1. From Right Hanging Guard, make a volta stabile forwards and deliver imbrocatta to the chest.
  2. Drop the tip and using the momentum to turn a circular mandritto to the head on a right step forward. Make sure the step forward is performed in a true time with the forward motion of the mandritto.
  3. Redouble with mandritto tondo without moving the feet.
  4. Recover back with volta stabile to Left Hanging Guard.
  5. Make a volta stabile forwards and deliver imbrocatta to the chest.
  6. Drop the tip and using the momentum to turn a circular riverso to the head on the left step forward. Make sure the step forward is made in a true time with the forward motion of the riverso.
  7. Redouble with riverso tondo without moving the feet.
  8. Recover back to Right Hanging Guard.
  9. Repeat from 1.

If space is limited turn to face the opposite direction in Left Guard, Point Forward and instead throw a riverso combination followed by a mandritto combination.

Bouting Practice

1 on 1, both with spadone

This is a limited target drill, where the targets are restricted to the head and forearms. Each fencer is using the spadone simulators, since we don't generally have enough protective armour to use the steel blunts.

2 on 1, with 2 using boffers

This bouting exercise is designed to teach the spadone wielder to use redoubled cuts against multiple opponents. Since the spadone wielder is using a shinai simulator, we used boffer swords instead to simulate the relative weakness the single handed swords have against the spadone.

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