Secondary Guards with Longsword

Posta finestra (window guard) makes use of the sword’s point to quickly move forward and close off the centreline.

In the realm of longsword guards we are exploring the deceptive and effective guard porta di ferro mezzana (middle iron gate). This guard is able to do many of the actions of porta di ferro and dente al cinghiara and its simple defence is effective in armour and out. In the German systems this guard is often called alber (fool). It appears to be vulnerable but hides a fast thrust and simple manner of deflecting all oncoming blows.

We are also looking at dente al cinghiara mezzana (middle boar’s tooth), which presents and offering to the head and covers it convincingly with a counter-thrust.

We’ll also look at guards where the sword is elevated and in front of the body. These positions control the opponent through a more immediate threat and a more closer constraint of the opponent’s striking options because in these guards the sword is already out in front.