High Line Guards with Sidesword

Alta Guards: These are sidesword guards where the point is at chest/face level and oriented toward the opponent. From a point-on position we can control and constrain the opponent through threat (we may stab them) and our sword position against theirs. In these lessons we’ll look at how we arrive in the high (alta) guard positions and from these positions how to exploit the advantages and continue the offensive based on how the opponent responds.

Testa/Faccia: Guardia di Testa (the head guard) and Guardia di Faccia (the face guard) are positions that defend the upper parts of the body. In these lessons we look at how we can pass through and arrive in these positions to parry and deflect. We also look at how the defenses change when we begin in a larga guard or stretta guard.

Higher Guards: Working our way further up the body, we look now at the unicorn (Alicorno) the over-the-arm-guard (Sopra Braccio) and the high guard (Guardia Alta). Both of these positions are powerful for delivering descending blows and for their ability to strike through the guards and blows of your opponent; they also have a simple and effective defense.