Achille Marozzo
1484-1553
“Opera Nova dell’Arte delle Armi” published in 1536
CONTEXT
-Bolognese fencing school
-Italian early/mid-16th in general
-Forms in other countries
-Italian Wars
-Masters in similar time frame
CONTENT
-Format (‘manual’ vs. ‘treatise’)
-Assumed knowledge (in DiGrassi)
-How to fight ANYTHING
-Sword, cloak, buckler, case, dagger, grappling, polearm, spear, men on horseback, left-handers
FUNDAMENTALS
Measure, Tempo, Judgment
FOOTWORK
Passo, Gran Passo, Passata, Rodoppio, Italian Circle, “Hand-and-Foot”
GUARDS
Transitory positions during a fight
>20 Guards:
Porto Ferro (Iron Door) Swordfoot forward
Stretto: Hand over forward knee
Larga: Hand opposite forward knee
Alta: Hand extended at shoulder level
Porto Ferro Cinghiara (Boar) Bucklerfoot forward
Stretto: Hand over forward knee
Larga: Hand opposite forward knee
Alta: Hand extended at shoulder level
Coda Longa (Long Tail) Sword outside of knee
Alta: Point up, buckler foot forward
Stretta: Point up, sword foot forward
Larga: Point down
Distesa: Point back
High Guard (Alta, straight above and slightly back of head) & Head Guard (Testa, perpendicular to line of attack, at face level)
Face Guard (Faccia, extended at opponent in quarte) & Entering Guard (Intrare, extended at opponent in seconde)
Horned Guards (Beca, sword above head in prime, pointing at opponent):
Strong: Buckler foot forward
Weak: Sword foot forward
Overarm/Underarm Guards (sopra/sotto broccio, sword laid above or below buckler arm) & Flank Guard (fianco, vertical, point down, on buckler side)
Starting Guards:
Guardia Alta
Coda Longa Larga or Stretta
Porto Ferro Alta
Testa
Sopra Braccio
ATTACKS
MAROZZO’S PROGRESSION
UTILITY ON THE FIELD
Fundamentals of all combat are constant
Develop footwork in the round
Expanded repertoire of guards
Cut-and-thrust
Sources/Resources
Marozzo’s Coda Longa Guardia (rev 02/04) handout by G. Chelak, Tattershall School of Defense, http://tattershall.discoperta.com//pdf/CLguardia04.pdf
“The Teachings of Marozzo”, Giovanni Rapisardi, William E. Wilson ed.
http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~wew/other/gr/
“Achille Marozzo”, Rosalind Delamere (mka Alison Kannon)
http://elizabethanmafia.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=60:marozzo&catid=34:arte-of-defense&Itemid=69
“Marozzo’s Progression”
http://www.marozzo.org/marozzo-progression.pdf
William Wilson’s website
http://www.marozzo.org/
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