Minimalist Italian Rapier Experiment – Study Questions   Leave a comment

For those of you playing along at home, below are the questions developed while doing the reading.  Some of them have simple answers found in one sentence, some have answers spread across many chapters.

Why does he divide the sword into four parts?
What are the traits of a counter-guard?
At what measure is a counter-guard best formed?
What advice does he give for fighting unskilled/bestial/SCA fencers?
What advice does he give for advancing?
What advice does he give for retreating?
When are two tempi advisable?
What are his rules for defense against cuts?
What is his preferred defensive action?
What is his recommended counter to blade graspers?
What is his recommended technique for using the offhand?
What’s the difference, if any, between a counter-guard and finding the sword?
What are the elements of finding the sword, and which does he consider more important?
What are the steps involved in finding and lunging?
What are some techniques and tactics suggested or implied in chapter 4?  Chapter 5?  Chapter 6?  Chapter 8?  Chapter 9?
What actions that are worth drilling are suggested or implied in chapter 4?  Chapter 5?  Chapter 6?  Chapter 8?  Chapter 9?
What tactics does he prefer at misura larga?  At misura stretta?
What’s a tempo? What are the necessary qualities of it?
What does he place as a condition for attacking at larga? What’s the alternative?
What’s a cavazione di tempo?  A contracavazione? A ricavazione? Half-cavazione? Committing of the sword?
What motion does a cavazione follow? What motion does yours follow?
Why would your opponent be unable to parry a proper cavazione di tempo?
What governs the use of the half-cav?
Why is the hand inherently inaccurate?
What are the advantages, disadvantages, and uses of left-foot forward guards? Why?
What is his ideal recovery from a lunge?
How does he say to finish a lunge if it brings you close to your opponent?
What does he mean by run the length of your opponent’s blade?
What are the advantages of passing all the way to your opponent’s body?
What would call for the sword to be directed straight towards the enemy? To be just out of line?
What does he advise tall, short, strong, or weak fighters to do?

Posted January 14, 2014 by Wistric in Italian Rapier

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