Wide Plays
Wide Play - Verse 26
Sword's full tactical spectrum from long to close range
Translation
This is the master play of the sword in wide play (zogo largo), demonstrating its versatility and dominance over all weapons. The sword can be used at long range with full extension, at close range, or transitioned to a half-sword grip for narrow play (zogo stretto). From the sword, you can execute sword disarms, move to grappling, perform breaks and bindings, and use covers combined with strikes to finish opponents. The sword maintains justice, promotes good, and destroys evil. Mastering the crossings (incrosare) of the sword leads to fame and renown in armed combat.
Fiore's Words
I am the sword, deadly against every weapon. No spear, poleaxe, or dagger can prevail against me. I make myself long or short as needed, and I close in to the narrow play. I come to the taking of swords and to grappling. My art is breaks and bindings, which I know well. I cover and strike, and in strikes, I always seek to finish. Whoever opposes me, I will make them collapse. I am royal, and I maintain justice. I increase goodness and destroy evil. Whoever guards me well, making my crossings, I will grant them fame and reputation in the art of armed combat.
Combat Context
This represents the master concept underlying all sword combat in wide play. It establishes the sword's supremacy through versatility: control distance, transition between ranges, dominate through bindings and breaks, integrate offence and defence, and finish decisively. The sword practitioner must be able to flow between all these modes in response to tactical opportunities.
Training Notes
- ✦ This master verse describes the sword's complete tactical system rather than a single technique
- ✦ Practice transitioning between measure ranges: long (full sword), medium (standard fencing), close (half-sword grip)
- ✦ Train sword takings (disarms) as natural progressions from crossing actions
- ✦ Covers should be integrated with strikes, not separate defensive actions
- ✦ Develop sensitivity in the bind (incrosare) to feel opportunities for breaks and bindings
- ✦ The philosophical framework emphasises making decisions. train techniques to a conclusion rather than tentative exchanges
- ✦ Consider this verse as the conceptual foundation for understanding how all wide play techniques interconnect
This is card FL26 from the Fiore dei Liberi Sword In Two Hands deck.
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[25r-t] ¶ Spada son contro ogni arma mortale, ne Lanza ne Azza ni daga contra mi vale. Longa e curta me posso fare. e me strengho e vegno alo zogho stretto, e'vegno allo tor de spada e allo abrazare mia arte si'e roture e ligadure so ben fare de coverte e ferire sempre in quelle voglio finire, chi contra me fara, ben lo faro languire. E son Reale e'mantegno la Justicia, la bonta acresco e destruzo la malicia. Chi me guardera fazendo in me crose, de fatto de armizare gli faro fama e vose.
I am the sword, deadly against all weapons. Neither spear, nor poleaxe, nor dagger can prevail against me. I can be used at long range or close range, or I can be held in the half sword grip and move to the Narrow Game. I can be used to take away the opponent’s sword, or move to grapple. My skill lies in breaking and binding. I am also skilled in covering and striking, with which I seek always to finish the fight. I will crush anyone who opposes me.[1] I am of royal blood. I dispense justice, advance the cause of good and destroy evil. To those who learn my crossings I will grant great fame and renown in the art of armed fighting.