Rising Blows (colpi sottani)
Cuts - Verse 9
Rising diagonal cut from knee to brow on fendente's path
Translation
The rising blows (colpi sottani) travel upward from the knee to the middle of the forehead, following the same diagonal path that descending cuts use, but in reverse. After striking upward, you have two options: either return down along the same path with a descending cut, or remain high in the Long Guard (posta longa). These blows specifically target the hands and can dispute any attack from the knees upward.
Fiore's Words
We are the Rising Blows, and we begin low at the knee, climbing up to strike the brow along the path; the fendente makes the very same trajectory. We always seek to wound the hands before all other parts. From the knee to the head, we fight our case, disputing every guard. And when we've climbed that diagonal road, we have our choice to make: Return with falling steel along the path our ascent did take, or hold the high ground firm and strong in Long Guard's waiting stance, for we who strike from low to high control the dance.
Combat Context
Used to intercept descending attacks by meeting them from below on the same diagonal line, striking the opponent's hands before their cut can land. Also effective against any guard where the hands are extended forward in the knee-to-head zone. After the rising strike, you can immediately return with a descending cut along the same path (a one-two combination) or hold high ground in Long Guard to threaten further attacks.
Training Notes
- ✦ Practice the rising cut along the same diagonal lines you use for descending cuts. Imagine the blade travelling on railroad tracks.
- ✦ Start with the sword low, point near your knee, and cut upward to forehead height, keeping the same angle throughout.
- ✦ Drill both post-strike options: returning immediately with a fendente down the same path, or holding the high position in Long Guard.
- ✦ Target the opponent's hands specifically. In most guards, the hands will be forward and vulnerable to this rising action.
- ✦ The 'dispute from knees up' means you can intercept any attack that comes through this vertical zone with your rising cut.
- ✦ Use this against opponents who commit to descending cuts. meet them on the same line but from below, striking hands before their cut lands.
This is card FL09 from the Fiore dei Liberi Sword In Two Hands deck.
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· Colpi Sottani · [23r-b] ¶ Gli colpi sottani semo noi, e cominzamo alo zinochio, e andamo per meza la fronte per lo camino che fano gli fendenti. E per tal modo che noi montamo per quello camino noii retornamo. Overo che noi remanemo in posta longa.
We are the rising blows, and we go from the knee to the middle of the forehead, following the same path that the downward blows follow. And we return[17] down the same path as we ascend, unless we choose to remain high in the Long Guard.
[12b-f] Noii semo colpi chiamadi li sotani Che sempre maii cerchamo de ferir le'mani E dal zenochio in'su façemo questione E tornando cum fendenti fazemo lexione
We are the blows called Under, Who always seek to strike the hands; And we dispute from the knees up And we teach a lesson by returning with downward blows.