Narrow Play - Verse 68

From the crossing of swords, pass forward with a cover (defensive action) that binds or strikes your opponent's arms at the blade. Deliver a thrust to their face. If you advance your left foot forward, you can bind both of their arms together. Alternatively, you can execute the follow-up technique shown after this one, where you bind their sword and grip their crossguard to control it.

When crossed swords meet, I pass with my cover true, And bind your arms tight in this action through. My point I fix right in your face to stay, And if my left foot moves, both arms I bind away. Or else the next technique I'll surely do: I'll bind your blade and grip your cross from you.

This technique is executed when swords are crossed in narrow play (close measure with blades engaged). The practitioner recognises the crossing as an opportunity to pass forward with a defensive cover while simultaneously controlling the opponent's arms and blade. This creates an opening for a thrust to the face while the opponent is bound. The technique can continue into a more complete control by gripping the opponent's crossguard, leading to a disarm or fuller dominance of their weapon.

• ✦ From the crossing, the passing step with cover must be timed to intercept or bind the opponent's arms before they can counter.
• ✦ The arm binding can be executed with your own arms/blade against theirs - practice both forceful contact and pure control.
• ✦ The thrust to the face follows immediately after establishing arm control - don't separate these actions.
• ✦ Advancing the left foot creates a stronger position for binding both arms - experiment with foot position for maximum leverage.
• ✦ The crossguard grip requires precise hand placement - drill the transition from sword bind to crossguard control.
• ✦ This is a narrow-play technique, so it begins from a close measure in which swords are already engaged or crossed.
• ✦ Practice both options: the immediate thrust and the follow-up crossguard control technique.