Forms & Guards with Longsword

Prerequisite: This course assumes the knowledge of the three Longsword Fundamentals courses.

Posta Longa & Breve: If you only learn one guard, learn this one. In this lesson you'll learn how to maximize and maintain the threat of this guard, defend against powerful blows through collection, and how to return quickly and easily to the center when your sword is knocked away.

Posta di Donna: You'll learn various ways of forming posta di donna on the right and left, how to deliver all of the blows as well as how to defend against attacks from every direction from one of the most powerful and versatile of the guards.

Porta di Ferro: One of the most powerful defensive guards, learn how to deal with attacks from all directions and how to maximize your offensive options even when the sword is held low.

Dente al Cinghiara: With the tip held forward, this guard makes a very fast and powerful rising thrust. It also defends powerfully through deflections and collections. We'll also explore the secret of the counter-thrust from this guard which is one of the most subtle and devastating in the system.

Twelve Poste Progression: The 1410 Fiore manual describes twelve positions with the sword in two hands. At Academie Duello we have mixed these twelve postures with a bit of footwork to make a cycle of form and movement useful for practice and memorization.