Narrow Play - Verse 51

This play comes from the crossing of the Master guard. When the swords are crossed, seize your opponent's elbow as shown in the image. From this position, strike him in the face with your sword's pommel. You can also immediately follow with a descending cut to his head before he can cover himself.

I am another play born from my Master's cross. When blades meet and bind, I take what matters most: Your elbow caught firm in my grip at any cost, My pommel cracks your face. that battle's already lost. And before you raise cover or think to defend, my descending cut to your skull brings the end.

This technique applies when your swords cross or bind during narrow play (close measure). Your opponent has struck at your blade, or you have met his sword, creating the crossing. You capitalise on this moment by controlling his weapon arm and exploiting the close distance with the pommel and cut before he can recover his defensive posture.

• ✦ This technique requires recognising the crossing/bind moment and immediately transitioning from sword work to grappling
• ✦ The elbow control should be practised as a quick seizure during or immediately after blade contact; timing is critical
• ✦ The pommel strike is delivered while maintaining elbow control, using your grip to prevent his defensive movement
• ✦ Practice the pommel strike as a short, sharp arc to the face, rather than a wide swing. Speed and surprise matter more than power
• ✦ The descending cut follows naturally from the pommel strike position as your opponent reacts to the face strike
• ✦ Drill the entire sequence smoothly: bind, grip, pommel, cut; each action flows from the previous without pause
• ✦ The text emphasises that the opponent cannot make cover before your descending cut lands. Practice this timing to understand the tempo advantage created by the pommel strike