Narrow Play - Verse 63
Grip opponent's wrist, turn sword aside, strike freely
Translation
This is a counter against an opponent's attempt to take your sword at narrow play. When your opponent crosses with you and steps or advances close with their left foot forward, immediately use your left hand to grip their sword hand at the wrist from underneath their hilt. Turn their sword toward your left side (their right), which prevents them from attacking you either by taking your sword or applying a lock. From this position, you can strike them with a thrust or cut to the chest, belly, or elsewhere without danger to yourself.
Fiore's Words
In this fashion, I have bound you well, in armour or without, you're trapped in hell. Your sword is useless, turned aside by me; I've seized your wrist with a grip of certainty. When you cross close and press with your left foot leading, my left hand takes your wrist, no time for pleading. I turn your blade away toward my left side; No sword, take, no lock can your defence provide. Now strike I will, with point or edge most keen, To chest or belly, deadliest I've seen. This counter to the sword. Take, swift and sure, leaves you defenceless while I stand secure.
Combat Context
This technique applies when fighting at close quarters (a narrow play in which swords are crossed). The opponent attempts to take your sword or apply a lock while stepping or advancing close with the left foot forward. This counter neutralises their attempt and creates an immediate opening for counterattack while they are committed forward and unable to defend.
Training Notes
- ✦ This counter must be executed immediately (subito) when the opponent closes to a narrow play distance; timing is critical
- ✦ The left-hand grip targets the wrist joint (zuntura) from underneath the opponent's hilt, which gives mechanical advantage for the turn
- ✦ Turn the opponent's sword toward your left side (their right/reverse side), which opens their centerline completely
- ✦ The grip and turn simultaneously prevent them from taking your sword or applying locks to you
- ✦ Once the opponent's sword is controlled and turned aside, you can deliver a thrust or cut to exposed targets without danger
- ✦ The opponent's left-foot-forward position is key. Their weight commitment forward makes them vulnerable to this counter
- ✦ Practice the transition from crossing to wrist grip as one fluid motion rather than separate actions
- ✦ The binding control should feel secure enough that the opponent's sword is useless against you before you commit to striking
Related Techniques
This is card FL63 from the Fiore dei Liberi Sword In Two Hands deck.
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[30r-a] ¶ Se io incroso ale strette cum uno. Subito fazo questa presa, per che ne cum tor di spada ne cum ligadure non mi faza offesa. Anchora lo posso ferire de punta e de taglio senza mio periculo.
If I am crossed at Narrow Play with someone, I can quickly make this move[6] to prevent him from attacking me by taking my sword, or a lock.
[16v-d] Questo si e uno altro contrario che contra lo tore de spada e fe[!] fa presto e subito per tale modo. Quando uno si vene tego a incrosare, o passa, o acrese stretto cum lo pe stancho denanci, e la tua mane stancha pigla la sua mane in la zuntura della sua mane per sotto lo so mantenir. E volta la sua spada in verso parte riversa per tale modo ch'e aqui dipento. E si lo fieri in lo petto, o in lo ventre o vero li che meio[!] gle piase.
This is another counter against the taking of the sword, and it can be made readily and quickly in this fashion. When one comes to cross with you and steps or advances close with his left foot forward, then grasp his hand at the wrist with your left hand (from under his hilt) and turn his sword toward your left side in such fashion as is depicted here. And thus you strike him in the chest, or in the belly, or wherever he likes least.
[23a-c] Per questo modo e t'o ben ligado Che in arme e sença serissi inpresonado Ella tua spada contra mi non val'nient De'tor de'spada'faço contra certament
In this fashion I have bound you so well That you would be trapped in armor or without: And your sword will be useless against me; I make this counter of the taking of the sword with certainty.