Wide Play - Verse 38
Pass left, grab their sword, strike while controlling it
Translation
This technique follows from the previous exchange of thrusts. When your opponent thrusts at you but fails to place their point in your face or chest, perhaps because you are armoured or they hesitated, you must quickly pass forward with your left foot. As you step, grab their sword blade or hilt with your hand as shown. Once you have seized their sword, strike them hard with your own sword. They cannot escape because you control their weapon.
Fiore's Words
From the exchange of points that came before, this play teaches what the blade is for: When he thrusts but fails to find your face, Step left and seize his sword in place. Because I hold your hilt within my hand, my point will make your bleeding face expand. Your weapon is trapped; you cannot flee. Now taste the strike I give to thee.
Combat Context
Wide play (zogo largo) situation where both fighters are at measure to thrust. The opponent attempts a thrust but either hesitates, poorly positions it, or finds it ineffective against armour. This creates a brief window where their sword is extended but not threatening, allowing you to close and seize control of their weapon before delivering your own strike.
Training Notes
- ✦ This requires recognising when the opponent's thrust is uncommitted or poorly placed. Look for hesitation or a point that's not threatening your centerline
- ✦ The left foot pass must be explosive and timed to when their point is not yet a threat
- ✦ As you step, your body movement should help you avoid their line while your hand secures their weapon
- ✦ The grab might be on the blade (if wearing gloves/gauntlets as implied by 'armoured') or on the hilt/crossguard
- ✦ Once you control their sword, your own sword is free to strike from a dominant position
- ✦ Practice the timing: too early and they can adjust their thrust; too late and you'll be hit
- ✦ This is an armoured technique primarily, the mention of armour and the willingness to grab a blade suggest this
Related Techniques
This is card FL38 from the Fiore dei Liberi Sword In Two Hands deck.
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[26v-b] ¶ De questo scambiar de punta che m'e denanzi, essi questo zogho, che subito che lo scolar che m'e denanzi non metesse la punta in lo volto del zugadore, e'lassasela si'che non la metesse ne in lo volto ne in lo petto, e per che fosse lo zugador armado, Subito debia lo scolaro cum lo pe stancho inanci passare, e per questo modo lo debia piglare. E la sua spada metter a bon ferire poii che lo zugador a presa sua spada e non po fuzire.
This play comes from the exchange of points that came before me. If you make the thrust, and your opponent fails to immediately position his point either into your face or into your chest, perhaps because you are in armor, then you should quickly pass forward with your left foot, and seize his sword as shown here. Then strike him hard with your sword, since you have his sword gripped and he cannot escape.
[14v-d] De questo scambiar de punta che m'e denanci essi aquesto zogo. Che subito lo che lo scolar che m'e denanci non metesse la punta in lo volto delo zugadore ch'ello la falasse ch'ello non la metesse in lo volto ne in lo petto, o perche fosse lo zugadore armato. Subito debia lo scolar cum lo pe stancho innanci passar. E per questo modo lo debia piglare, e la sua spada metero[!] a bon ferire, po che lo zugadore e presa sua[22] spada non po fuzir.
From this exchange of thrusts that came before me comes this play. Given that the Scholar who came before me did not immediately thrust his point into the face of the player, or that he failed such that he could not thrust into [the player's] face nor into his chest, or that the player was armored, then immediately the Scholar should step with his left foot forward, and he should grab [the player] in this manner, and his sword should throw a good strike because the player has his sword caught and he cannot flee.
[20b-d] Per tuo mantigner che io in mia man tegno Cum la punta in lo volto io te faço segno
Because of your hilt, which I hold in my hand, I will make you bleed with my point in your face.
[15r-c] ¶ Quamvis me teneas manibus / quid proderitur. Hac te Cuspide percutiam vultum scindendo madentem.
Although you hold me with hands, anything is overthrown. I would Strike you in this way, [your] dripping[21] face having been split with the point.