Mid - Blows (Pisani-Dossi)
Cuts - Verse 10
Diagonal strikes crossing between high and low zones
Translation
We are the middle blows, also called crosswise strikes. We travel diagonally across the space between the descending and rising cuts. From the right side, we strike with the true edge of the sword. From the left side, we strike with the false edge. Our target zone runs from the knee up to the head, anywhere in that range. We move through the opponent's line. We beat thrusts offline and out of the way. We can redouble our strike to wound effectively. When we enter with a middle blow that turns into a cleaving strike, we destroy many opponents with such blows.
Fiore's Words
We are the middle blows, called so because we cross through the path between high cuts and low across. From the right, we strike with the true edge, keen; from the left, with the false. the deadliest you've seen. From knee to head, our striking path will go, Thwarting, wounding, beating every foe. We knock the thrusts aside, out of their way, redoubling our blow to end the fray. And when we enter cleaving, turning mean, we waste more men than any cut you've seen.
Combat Context
Middle blows operate in the mid-range between high and low attacks, making them versatile against various guards. Their diagonal trajectory is particularly effective at beating aside thrusts while simultaneously counterattacking. The ability to use a false edge from the left allows striking without telegraphing through grip changes. When an opponent defends against a diagonal cut, transitioning to a cleaving strike provides a powerful secondary action.
Training Notes
- ✦ Practice diagonal cuts from both sides, focusing on maintaining proper edge alignment, true edge from right, false edge from left
- ✦ The target zone from knee to head is large; practice selecting targets based on the opponent's guard and openings
- ✦ Work on the transition from middle blow to descending cleaving strike as described in Pisani-Dossi. This requires good body mechanics and commitment
- ✦ Practice beating thrusts offline with the diagonal trajectory of the middle blow; the crossing action naturally deflects linear attacks
- ✦ The false edge strike from the left is technically demanding; ensure proper wrist and arm alignment to deliver force effectively
- ✦ Train the redoubling action: either an immediate follow-up strike or an increased commitment/power in the initial blow
This is card FL10 from the Fiore dei Liberi Sword In Two Hands deck.
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Colpi mezani [23r-c] ¶ Colpi mezani semo chiamadi per che noii andamo per mezi gli colpi soprani e sottani. E andamo cum lo dritto taglo dela parte dritta. E dela parte riversa andamo cum lo falso taglio. E lo nostro camino si'e dello zinochio ala testa.
We are the middle blows, and we are so-called because we go crosswise through the middle of the path of both the downward blows and the rising blows. And we strike with the true edge of the sword from the right, and with the false edge of the sword from the left. And our path could be anywhere between the knee and the head.
[13a-a] Noii colpi meçani andamo traverssando Dal zenochio in'su andamo guastando E rebatemo le punte fora de strada E redopiando lo colpo de'ferir e derada E si noii del meçano colpo intramo in'fendent Asaii cum tali colpi guastamo zent
We middle blows go thwarting; From the knee and above we go wounding; And we beat the thrusts out of the way And, redoubling the blow, striking is our deal; And if we of the middle blow enter cleaving, We waste many people with such blows.