Fiore: Longsword: Guards: 1st–2nd Guards (Fol 22r)
1st–2nd Guards (Fol 22r)
System: Fiore: Longsword
Section: Fiore: Longsword: Guards
Source Text and Drawing

We are two guards, one made like the other, and one is counter to the other. And [with] every other guard in the art one like the other is the counter, except for the guards that stand with the point [in the centre], thus, long guard and short, and middle iron door, that thrust against thrust the longer will strike first. And thus what one can do the other can do. And every guard can do the stable turn and the half turn. The stable turn is when, standing still, you can play in front and behind on one side. The half turn is when one makes a pass forwards or backwards, and thus can play on the other side, in front and behind. The whole turn is when one goes around one foot with the other foot, the one staying still and the other going around. And so I say that the sword has three movements, thus stable turn, half turn, and full turn. And these guards are called, one and the other, the woman’s guard. Also there are four things in the art, thus: pass, return, advance, and retreat.
Video
Key Resources
Book: From Medieval Manuscript to Modern Practice: The Longsword Techniques of Fiore dei Liberi
Online Course: The Medieval Longsword Complete Course
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Source: Getty MS Ludwig XV Translation: Dr. Guy Windsor