Narrow Play - Verse 54
Neck wrap with hand trap to rear foot sweep throw
Translation
This technique begins when you strike with a middle blow (mezzano) against your opponent's middle blow on your left side. Immediately after this crossing, advance to close quarters with a cover. Pass your sword over and around to your opponent's neck while simultaneously grasping their right hand with your left hand, pulling it toward yourself. From this position, you can throw them to the ground by placing your right foot behind their right foot.
Fiore's Words
From the right cover, I have caught you so well. My sword wraps your throat while your hand I compel. I bind your right arm as my blade takes your neck, and sweep your foot back to send you to the deck.
Combat Context
This technique occurs during the transition from wide play (blade engagement at distance) to narrow play (close quarters). After an exchange of middle blows creates a crossing on your left side, you seize the opportunity to close the distance under the protection of a cover. Once in close range with the sword at the opponent's neck and their sword hand controlled, you have complete dominance and can execute the throw. The technique demonstrates Fiore's principle of using blade engagement to create opportunities for grappling.
Training Notes
- ✦ The initial blow exchange establishes the crossing that allows the transition to close range, practice the timing of moving from largo to stretto after the blade contact
- ✦ The cover must protect you as you advance; it likely refers to controlling the opponent's blade with your own as you close distance
- ✦ The sword to the neck and hand grab must be simultaneous to prevent the opponent from countering or escaping
- ✦ Grasp the opponent's right hand with your left while maintaining sword control with your right hand at their neck
- ✦ The throw requires placing your right foot behind their right foot while pulling their trapped hand toward your body. The combination of upper body control and foot placement creates the throw
- ✦ Practice the footwork transition: after the blade crossing, pass forward with purpose to get your right foot into throwing position
This is card FL54 from the Fiore dei Liberi Sword In Two Hands deck.
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[15r-c] Questo zogo se fa per tal modo zoe che uno vada cum lo colpo mezano contra lo mezano de parte riversa e subito vada cum coverta ale strette. E buta la sua spada alo collo dello compagno, piglando la sua mane dritta cum la sua stancha de si in stesso come aqui dipento. Butarlo po in terra senza falimento metendo lo suo pe dritto dredo lo suo dritto.
This play is made in this fashion: that is, that one goes with a middle blow against a middle blow to his left side, and then quickly goes to the narrow with a cover. He throws his sword to the neck of his companion, at the same time grasping his right hand with his left (as you see depicted here). He can then throw him to the ground without fail, thrusting his right foot behind [the player's] right.
[22b-c] Per drita coverta io t'o cussi ben preso Che te mandaro in terra longo disteso
From the right cover I have caught you so well, That I will lay you out on the ground.
[30r-a] ΒΆ Dexterior tectura monet / ut gutture prendam. In terram tu deinde miser sterneris opacam.
A covering more on the right foretells when I will catch [you] by the throat; You, sad, are then laid out into the dark earth.