Narrow Play - Verse 64
Trap opponent's arms with hilt insertion and armpit pin
Translation
When your swords are crossed, and you enter narrow play, place your sword's hilt between your opponent's hands. Drive both their hands upward so their sword points high. Now throw your left arm over their arms from the left side, trapping their arms and sword beneath your left armpit. With them bound in this position, strike repeatedly with your sword until exhausted. The technique demonstrated by the following scholar continues this action.
Fiore's Words
When I am crossed, I move to narrow the play's domain and thrust my hilt between your hands to break your reign. I lift your arms up high until your sword points to the sky, then cast my left arm over yours. No chance to fly. I pin your arms and blade beneath my armpit tight, and rain down blows upon you with relentless might. I'll strike and strike again until my strength is through. The scholar who comes after shows what I'll do next.
Combat Context
This technique applies when swords cross during narrow play engagement. It's an aggressive response to the bind that converts the crossing into a dominant control position. Once you've trapped the opponent's arms and weapon, they're defenceless against your strikes. This represents a transition from swordplay to grappling range while maintaining weapon advantage.
Training Notes
- ✦ The hilt placement between the opponent's hands requires precise timing at the crossing. practice, the insertion angle to avoid being blocked
- ✦ The upward drive must be explosive to break the opponent's structure before they can counter
- ✦ When throwing your left arm over, commit fully; half measures will allow escape
- ✦ The armpit trap must be tight with your elbow down to truly pin both arms and the sword
- ✦ Once the bind is secure, use short, powerful strikes rather than large cuts since you're in close range
- ✦ Practice the transitions slowly first to understand each control point before adding speed and resistance
Related Techniques
This is card FL64 from the Fiore dei Liberi Sword In Two Hands deck.
Get the full deck of 78 physical training cards.
Get the deck →Next deck: Fiore Dagger - ~35 cards, in development.
[28v-d] ΒΆ Quando io son incrosado io vegno al zogho stretto. Ello elzo dela mia spada enfra le toii mane metto. E levo le toii brazze cum la tua spada in erto. E'llo mio brazo stancho butero per sopra li toii a man riversa, e serero li toii brazi cum la tua spada sotto lo mio brazzo mancho. E de ferir non ti lassaro in fin che saro stancho. Lo zogo che m'e dredo che fa lo scolaro. Ello e mio zogo, e quello te voglio fare.
When I am crossed I move to the Narrow Game, and I place the hilt of my sword between your two hands. Then I push your two hands upwards so that your sword is high. From here I throw my left arm over your arms from the left, binding[7] them with your sword pinned under my left arm. Then I will strike multiple times until I am exhausted. The student who follows me will show you what happens next.