Many of the historical techniques currently listed here come from the teachings of Fiore dei Liberi or the Bolognese / Dardi School.Antonio Manciolino. Opera Nova. 1531.
A
a voi phrase, lit. "to you" Spoken by the director at outset to turn control over to the fencers. Full commencing phrase is "In guardia. Pronti/-e? A voi"
B
balestra noun f. (plural balestre), lit. "crossbow" A footwork preparation, consisting of a jump or hop forwards with an immediate lunge. This is the definition found in the French national fencing glossary, though it is common in the English world for balestra to refer to only a jump. Jumps are faster than a normal step, which helps change the rhythm and timing of moves
C
colpo fendente noun m. (plural colpi fendenti), lit. "cleaving blow" [fendente cognate with English fend, both deriving from Latin findō ("cleave, split")] (Fiore) A descending blow which parts the body from the teeth to the knee. Follows the same path as the cut which Dardi authors called mandritto squalembrato (Dardi school) A descending vertical cut Abbr. fendente
colpo mezano noun m. (plural colpi mezani), lit. "middle blow" A blow which goes through the middle of fendenti e sottani, delivered with the true edge on the mandritto side and the false edge on the riverso side. Its path is "between the knee and the head" Abbr. mezano
colpo sottano noun m. (plural colpi sottani), (archaic) "lower blow" A rising blow which parts the body from the knees to the middle of the forehead Abbr. sottano
D
dritto adjective m. (plural dritti), lit. "right (side)" Describes any cut that starts on the fencer's right side. Applies to cuts: falso dritto, fendente dritto, molinetto dritto, e tramazzone dritto. Antonyms: riverso e manco
F
falso noun m. (plural falsi), lit. "wrong (side)" A rising cut made with the false edge of the blade on the same line as either colpo squalembrato adjective m. Describes any cut made with the false edge of the blade
fendente noun m. (plural fendenti) Abbr. of colpo fendente
I
imbroccata noun f. (plural imbroccate) An overhand descending thrust
in guardia phrase, lit. "en garde" Spoken by the director to alert fencers to take their stances. Full commencing phrase is "In guardia. Pronti/-e? A voi"
in quartata phrase An evasive action that is recognized under category of the defensive actions (See also #passata-sotto), made with a quarter turn to the inside that conceals the front but exposes the back. This attempts to move some of the target out of harm’s way during an attack or a counter-attack. This evasive action is often executed and used in conjunction with opposition parry
M
manco adjective m. (plural manchi), lit. "right (side)". antonyms: riverso, dritto Describes any cut that starts on the fencer's left side. Applies to cuts: falso manco, fendente manco, molinetto manco, e tramazzone manco
mandritto noun m. (plural mandritti). antonyms: riverso, colpo manco Any cut that starts on the fencer's right side A descending right-to-left diagonal cut on the line from ear to knee, mirroring riverso squalembrato. Also called mandritto squalembrato>
mezano noun m. (plural mezani) Abbr. of colpo mezano
molinetto noun m. (plural molinetti) A certain rotational cut
montando adjective m. (plural montandi), gerund of montare ("to climb") Describes an ascending cut
montante noun m. (plural montanti), past participle of montare ("to climb") An ascending vertical cut
P
passata-sotto noun f. An evasive action which is initiated by dropping a hand to the floor and lowering the body under the opponent's oncoming blade. Often accompanied by a straightening of the sword arm to attempt a hit on the opposing combatant
patinando noun & verb (plural patinandi), gerund of patinare ("to patine") A quickly executed advance-lunge
posta breve noun f. (plural poste brevi) The short guard
posta breve la serpentina noun f. (plural poste brevi la serpentina) The short serpent guard
posta dente di zenghiaroNote: Spelling of zenghiaro varies in manuscripts: zenghiaro, zengiaro, zenchiaro, cenghiaro, cengiaro. noun f. (plural poste dente di zenghiaro) The boar's tooth guard Abbr. dente di zenghiaro
posta dente di zenghiaro mezana noun f. (plural poste dente di zenghiaro mezane) The middle boar's tooth guard Abbr. dente di zenghiaro mezana
posta di bicorno noun f. The two-horn guard
posta di coda longa noun f. The long tail guard. Also posta di choda longa
posta di coda longa la sinestra noun f. The left-side long tail guard
posta di crose bastarda noun f. The bastard cross guard, a variant of la posta di vera crose. Taking a pass at the opponent from posta breve la serpentina leaves the fencer in posta di crose bastarda, with the pommel towards the opponent
posta di corona noun f. The crown guard. Also called posta frontale ("frontal guard")
posta di donna noun f. The lady guard
posta di donna la sinestra noun f. The left-side lady guard
posta di donna la soprano noun f. The high lady guard
posta di fenestra noun f. The window guard
posta di fenestra la sinestra noun f. The left-side window guard
posta di vera crose noun f. The true cross guard
posta frontale noun f. The frontal guard. Also called posta di corona ("crown guard")
posta longa noun f. The long guard
posta mezza porta di ferro noun f. The middle iron gate guard. Also called posta di ferro mezano
posta porta di ferro noun f. The iron gate guard
posta porta di ferro la sinestra noun f. The left-side iron gate guard
posta porta di ferro tutta noun f. The full iron gate guard
posta saggitaria noun f. The archer's guard
pronti adjective m. (singular pronto) Spoken by the director at outset to ask if the fencers are ready to fight. When both fencers are female, the proper word is "pronte." Full commencing phrase is "In guardia. Pronti/-e? A voi" plural of pronto ("ready")
punta noun f. (plural punte) A thrust, whose path is in the middle of the body from the groin to the forehead. Can be made in five ways: Two high—One left one right—(needs work) lit. "point"
R
ricasso A dull portion of the blade in front of the quillons. In complex rapier and smallsword hilts, the ricasso is behind the guard, or the forward portion of the hilt
ridoppio noun m. (plural ridoppi) A rising cut with either edge that immediately follows a descending cut lit. "redouble"
riverso noun m. (plural riversi) Any cut that starts opposite the fencer's dominant side. Antonyms: mandritto, e manco A certain descending diagonal cut on the line from ear to knee. Also called riverso squalembrato. Mirror of mandritto squalembrato
S
stoccata noun f. (plural stoccate) A rising thrust
sonno serpentino lo soprano noun m. (plural sonni serpentini lo soprano) Sleeping high serpent (guard)
squalembrato adjective m. (plural squalembrati) Describes any descending diagonal cut on the line from ear to knee. Applies to i colpi mandritto e riverso. Reverse of il falso
T tondo adjective m. (plural tondi) Describes a cut which travels horizontally. Applies to i colpi mandritto e riverso lit. "circular"
tramazzone noun m. (plural colpi tramazzoni ) A certain rotational cut
traversato adjective m. (plural traversati) Describes a blow made across the line of engagement past participle of traversare ("to cross")
References