Stomp and Cut
Wide Play - Verse 41
Pin enemy blade with foot, cut to head
Translation
This is the second technique of 'Breaking the Thrust.' After beating the opponent's sword to the ground, immediately pin it there by stomping on it with your right foot. As you pin the sword, strike the opponent in the head with a descending cut. The opponent's sword will be trapped, bent, or broken beneath your foot and cannot be used to defend.
Fiore's Words
From the crossing at the ground that the Scholar makes, I come to cut your face because I'm so swift; Your sword will end up bent or broken, and you'll never be able to work it again. After I beat your blade down to the earth, I pin it fast beneath my right foot's worth, then strike your head while your sword lies trapped below. My speed and placement deal the finishing blow.
Combat Context
This technique follows a successful counter to an opponent's thrust to the ground. The opponent has committed to a thrust that you've parried downward. By pinning their blade to the ground with your foot, you create a moment where they cannot defend, allowing a decisive strike to the head. The technique exploits the opponent's extended position and low blade position. Speed is essential; the opponent must not be allowed to recover their blade before your strike lands.
Training Notes
- ✦ This is a follow-up technique: practice the initial sword beat to the ground before drilling the stomp-and-cut
- ✦ The stomp must be powerful enough to trap the blade. Practice weight commitment on the pinning foot
- ✦ Timing is critical: stomp and strike are nearly simultaneous to prevent the opponent's recovery
- ✦ Having the opponent's sword on the ground indicates their hands are low. exploit this opening for the head cut
- ✦ Practice maintaining balance while stomping; avoid over-committing and becoming vulnerable
- ✦ Consider footwork: if stomping with the right foot, your body positioning for the subsequent cut must be practised
Related Techniques
This is card FL41 from the Fiore dei Liberi Sword In Two Hands deck.
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[27r-a] ¶ Anchora questo zogho del romper di punta ch'e lo segondo zogho che m'e denanzi. Ch'e quando io o rebattuda la spada a terra, subito io fiero cum lo pe dritto sopra la sua spada. E in quello ferire io lo fiero in la testa come voii vedete.
Here is another drawing of the “Breaking the Thrust” play, that you saw first two drawings previously. After I have beaten his sword to the ground I quickly pin it to the ground with my right foot, and then strike him in the head, as you see shown here.
[21a-c] Per lo incrosar de terra che fa lo scolar Per mia prestisia lo volto te vegno a'taiar E tua spada romagnera piegada o rota E non la pora piu ovrar per negota
From the crossing at the ground which the Scholar makes I come to cut your face because of my swiftness; And your sword will end up bent or broken And it will no more be able to work or deal.
[26r-b] ¶ Tam celer hoc actu faciem tibi nempe rescindam. Discipulus docet hoc cruce ducens ensis amictum Per terram. Sed mucro tuus vel flexus abibit Vel fractus numquam poteris operarier[27] illum.
So, of course, quickly I would tear open your face by means of this action. The student teaches [that] by means of this cross[ing], the leading sword [was] covered By the ground. But your sword will depart either bent Or broken, and never will you be able to wield that sword <by laboring>.