Boar's Tusk (in the Middle)
Guards 13/12 - Verse 25
Crossing thrust from the centerline displaces the sword
Translation
The Middle Boar's Tusk is a guard held on the centerline of the body. It is one of two boar's-tusk guards; the other is held low, while this one is held in the middle. This middle stance can perform all the same actions as the low boar's tusk. Just as a wild boar strikes diagonally with its tusks, you strike diagonally across your opponent's sword to displace it. From this crossing, having opened your opponent's defence, you can thrust or strike at his hands, head, or arms.
Fiore's Words
I am the Middle Boar's Tusk, and I hold the centerline strong. Two tusks have the boar, one low, one here where I belong. What my brother can do, I can do too. As the wild boar goes for its prey, I strike diagonally and throw, crossing swords to push aside, uncovering what was hidden. Then thrust I swift, or smash the hands, the head, the arms, all bidden.
Combat Context
This centerline guard position allows you to engage the opponent's sword with diagonal crossing actions that displace their weapon and create immediate openings. It is particularly effective for transitioning from a bind directly into offensive actions against the hands and head.
Training Notes
- ✦ Hold the guard on your centerline, not left or right, but centred on your body
- ✦ The diagonal strike should cross your opponent's sword from inside or outside to displace it off-line
- ✦ Once the crossing displaces their weapon, immediately exploit the opening with a thrust or strike to exposed targets
- ✦ Hands are the primary target mentioned first; they become exposed when the opponent's sword is pushed aside
- ✦ Practice the transition from crossing displacement to thrust or cut as one continuous motion
This is card FL25 from the Fiore dei Liberi Sword In Two Hands deck.
Get the full deck of 78 physical training cards.
Get the deck →Next deck: Fiore Dagger - ~35 cards, in development.
· Posta di dente zenchiaro mezana, stabile · [24v-d] ¶ Questo si'e dente di cengiaro lo mezano, e per ço che sono doii denti di zengiaro l'uno tutto, l'altro si'e mezo, pero e ditto mezo, per zo ch'ello sta in mezo dela persona, e zo che po fare lo tutto dente, po fare lo mezo dente. E per modo che fieri lo zengiaro a la traversa, per tal modo se fa cum la spada che sempre fieri cum la spada ala traversa dela spada del compagno. E sempre butta punte e discrova lu compagno, e sempre guastagli le mane e tal volta la testa e'gli brazzi.
This is the Middle Boar’s Tusk, so named because the boar has two tusks, one low and this one in the middle, by which I mean this one stays on the center line. And the Middle Boar’s Tusk can do whatever the Low Boar’s Tusk can do. Just as the wild boar strikes diagonally with its tusks, so you strike diagonally with your sword, in such a way as to displace[57] your opponent’s sword, from which position, having uncovered your opponent, you can launch thrusts, or destroy his hands, head or his arms.