Narrow Play - Verse 57
Throw the foe with their sword after cutting their face
Translation
This technique follows from the previous scholar's play (verse 51). After binding your opponent's sword, throw your own sword to the ground and grasp the hilt of your opponent's sword between their hands with your right hand. Step your right foot behind their right foot. Use their own sword as a lever to cut or strike their face, then force them backwards and down to the ground over your leg.
Fiore's Words
I have in hand the catch I've long sought for: To throw you down to earth with your own sword. From the scholar's play before me I proceed, With your blade I cut your face, and make you bleed, Then cast you to the ground. See clearly now How true and effective is this art I show.
Combat Context
This technique assumes you have achieved a crossing or bind from the previous scholar's play. You must have sufficient control over your opponent's sword to safely release your own. The disarm and throw combination is high-risk but decisive and effective when you have clear dominance in the bind and your opponent is committed to their sword.
Training Notes
- ✦ Drop your sword completely before attempting the grip; maintaining control of your own weapon compromises the technique
- ✦ Grip the opponent's hilt between their hands; this gives you leverage over both their grip and body position
- ✦ The right foot behind their right creates the trip point. Step deep enough to control their balance
- ✦ The face cut serves both as damage and distraction, creating the opening for the throw
- ✦ Use the sword as a lever, pushing into their neck/face while pulling their structure backwards over your leg
- ✦ This requires prior control from the previous technique, practice the transition from verse 51
Related Techniques
This is card FL57 from the Fiore dei Liberi Sword In Two Hands deck.
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[22b-b] In mane ho la presa che tegho o'cerchada Per meterte in terra cum la tua spada
Following on from the play of the student before me, I cut my opponent’s face with his own sword, then force him to the ground. Here I am demonstrating just how effective this art really is.
[29v-a] ¶ Del zogho del scolaro che m'e denanzi, si fazo questo zogho, cum la sua spada gli taglio Lo volto mandandolo in terra. Ben ti mostraro che tal arte sia vera.
…and immediately he throws his sword to the ground and thrusts the player's own sword to his neck, grasping the hilt in the middle—that is, between the hands of the player—with his right foot behind [the player's] right. And in this fashion he throws him to the ground with his own sword.
[30v-a] ¶ Accipio manibus capturam tempore longo Quesitam ut possim miserum te sternere terrae.
I have in hand the catch that I have sought with you For throwing you to the ground with your sword.
I undertake with my hands the special taking for a Long time, so that I am able to pitch you, miserable one, into the earth.