Breaking the Thrust
Wide Play - Verse 39
Descending cut beats thrust down, then close to grapple
Translation
This is a defence against a thrust. When your opponent thrusts at you, advance and pass offline to avoid the attack. Unlike the 'Exchange of Thrusts' technique mentioned earlier, this technique is called 'Breaking the Thrust.' Here, you keep your hands high as you advance and step offline. As you move, strike downward with a descending cut (fendente), crossing your opponent's thrust at approximately mid-sword, driving their point to the ground.
Fiore's Words
I am another defence against the point's attack. When the thrust comes, I advance and step back. Like Exchange of Thrusts, but different in kind: That one strikes low with the point aligned. But I am Breaking the Thrust, and I strike from on high. My hands raised up as I passed them by. My descending cut crosses their blade mid-sword, driving their point to the earth with my cord. Then swiftly I enter to grapple and seize. More knowledge of plays brings victories with ease.
Combat Context
Defence against a committed thrust attack. You advance into the attack rather than retreating, using superior timing and blade geometry to deflect the thrust downward while simultaneously closing to grappling range, where the opponent's sword becomes less effective. This technique distinguishes itself from similar defences by using a high-handed descending cut rather than a low-handed counter-thrust.
Training Notes
- ✦ Keep hands high throughout the defence, contrasting with the low-hand thrust response in the Exchange of Thrusts
- ✦ The offline step and advance must be coordinated. You're simultaneously evading and closing the distance
- ✦ Aim to intercept the incoming thrust at mid-sword with your descending cut, creating leverage to drive it down
- ✦ The downward beat should actively drive the opponent's point to the ground, not just deflect it aside
- ✦ Transition immediately from the beat to close distance, don't pause after the deflection
- ✦ Practice the timing of the descending cut so it crosses the opponent's blade during your forward movement
Related Techniques
This is card FL39 from the Fiore dei Liberi Sword In Two Hands deck.
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[26v-c] ¶ Questa si'e un'altra deffesa che se fa contra la punta zoe quando uno ti tra una punta come t'o detto in lo scambiar de punta in lo segondo zogo che m'e denanzi che se de acresser e passar fora di strada. Chossi si die far in questo zogho, salvo che lo scambiar de punta se va cum punta e cum gli brazzi bassi e cum la punta erta dela spada come detto denanzi. Ma questo se chiama romper de punta che lo scolaro va cum gli brazzi erti e pigla lo fendente cum lo acresser e passare fora de strada e tra per traverso la punta quasi a meza spada a rebater la a terra. E subito vene ale strette.
This is another defense you can make against the thrust. When someone thrusts at you as described in the “Exchange of Thrusts”,[23] two plays before me, then you must advance and step off the line. You should do the same thing in this play, except that in the “Exchange of Points” you thrust back with your hands low and your point high, as I explained earlier. But in this play, which is named “Breaking the Thrust”,[24] you proceed with your hands high and as you advances and step off the line you strike downwards, crossing the opponent’s thrust at mid-sword, and driving it to the ground. Then you quickly close to grapple.[25]
[21a-b] Aqui stasemo noii a terra incrosadi A piu saver li zoghi serano donadi
Here we stand crossed near the ground: And more knowledge of plays will be given.
[15v-a] ¶ In forma crucis hic nos nunc luctando manemus. Plura sciens ludos Victrices semper habebit.
We remain in the form of the cross now in this playing. The knowledgeable one will always have more conquering plays.