Each of the following clips is a segment taken from Schola sparring matches, illustrating principles distilled from the historical treatises, chiefly but not exclusively from Fiore dei Liberi's Fior di Battaglia.

We post them here for the enjoyment / amusement of the HMA community, and for the instruction of our students (both what what to do and what not to do!). They will change as we find different clips we want to feature.

Basic Skills

	Sotani displacement followed by fendente riverso Robert Holland, School Provost against Compagno Rich Rodriguez (.wmf file for Windows Media Player) A punta or thrust is very easy to knock off the line. Here, Robert has started in Mezzo Porto di Ferro, knocking Rich's thrust offline with a Sotani, which he follows with with a simple fendente. This is a basic skill that should be practiced with drill, at first slowly but with increasing speed.
	Sotani  to the Hands Compagno Douglas Sunlin executes against Brian Price (.wmf file for Windows Media Player) Many compagnos lead too much with their hands. For all three of the lower posta--Tutta Porto di Ferro, Mezzo Porto di Ferro, and Denti di Cingiale--a quick sotani to the hands will frustrate many attacks. If the point is kept on line, then it can (and should) be followed with an immediate punta to the belly. To counter, simply draw the hands closer and catch the sotani on the forteza, using the contact to line up the point for your own punta.
	Posta di Donna Sinestra - Displacement - Fendente Riverso Brian Price executes against Compagno Lauren MacDonald (.wmf file for Windows Media Player) One of the interesting maneuvers possible from the cryptic Posta di Donna Sinestra was pioneered within the Schola by Brian Keish. In this technique, a fendente from Posta di Donna or a punta is easily set aside, and a powerful fendente riverso is open.
	Missed blade grab and consequences Applies to all giocco stretto plays Brian Price executes against Douglas Sunlin (.wmf file for Windows Media Player) We have a Schola rule of thumb for blade-grabbing: if you're bound for more than a beat, think about grabbing the blade. However, some students often get too focused on the grab, forgetting to gain a measure of control over their compagno's blade before attempting the disarm--the result is that they lose strength in the weapon and  expose the left  hand to attack.
	Sotani displacement followed by fendente riverso Applies to all giocco largo engagements Brian Price executes against Ian Hess, 2003 Benicia Vespers (.wmf file for Windows Media Player) Just a basic maneuver, the sotani displaces Ian's guard and Brian follows it with an immediate fendente riverso. The principle is to simply move the opponent's sword out of the way to take the threat off-line, while maintaining blade position to counter any possible response. In this case, Brian kept cover so that if Ian did give a little volta to his sword, he could have covered in posta frontale.
	Fendente Driven through a weak bind Applies to all giocco largo engagements Brian Price executes against Christian Tobler, 2003 Benicia Vespers (.wmf file for Windows Media Player) Christian definitely took the majority of our strikes during this bout, but I include this clip because it demonstrates a core principle. If your opponent is weak in the bind, drive through it and strike or thrust directly.

 

Giocco Largo Plays

"Volta" of the blade into fendente riverso GIOCCO LARGO PLAY #1 (Getty 25c-d, Novati carta 19B, top) Brian Price executes against Steaphen Fick (Davenriche) (.wmf file for Windows Media Player) Fiore states that when en croce near the tips of the blades (giocco largo play #1), he will "give a volta to my sword and strike from the other wide with a fendente [riverso] for the head or arms."  Brian demonstrates this as he sets up the expectation and then exploits the pattern by throwing a fast "little turn" or volta of the sword around his compagno's blade. If the opponent would have been weak in the en croce position, the attack could be made straight through, as Steaphen does in the next clip.

Straight in punta if weak in the bind GIOCCO LARGO PLAY #1 (Getty 25c-d, Novati carta 19B, top) Steaphen Fick executes against Brian Price (.wmf file for Windows Media Player) This also follow's Fiore's advice for an incrosade play; if you do not volta around for a fendente riverso (because the bind is too soft), you can and should drive through with a powerful punta.

Giocco Stretto Plays

Pommel disarm done at speed GIOCCO STRETTO (Novata carta 22A-b) Brian Price excutes against Douglas Sunlin (.wmf file for Windows Media Player) Disarms are one of the more satisfying techniques in Fiore's repetoire. Here, after closing and controlling Douglas' sword, Brian reaches down and grasps his weapon by the pommel, easily removing it.

Daga Arm Bar 2003 Schola Saint George Benicia Symposium Vespers Tourney Brian Price excutes against Sean Kierney (.wmf file for Windows Media Player) Capturing the opponent's daga and stepping into the strike, Brian manges to collect an arm bar against Sean Kiernan, who in response keeps Brian's strike at bay. Owing to the rules of engagement for the tournament, this was as far as the play could go for either zugadore.

 
Tournament & Competition

	Displacement and elegant counterattack 2003 Schola Saint George Benicia Vespers Tournament Gary Chelak (Tattershall) with Jon Tait (Schola) (.wmf file for Windows Media Player) Gary executes a nice little displacement, controlling Jon's weapon and stepping forward with a sweet little sotani to Jon's grille.
	Compound attack: fendente - fendente riverso 2003 Schola Saint George Benicia Vespers Tournament Keith Jennings executes against Brian Keish (.wmf file for Windows Media Player) Keith Jennings  demonstrates the value of a multiple attack against Compagno Brian Keish. He first strikes fendente, then as he allows his sword to hang briefly on the left side, he strikes again on tempo, this time behind Brian's blade with a fendente riverso.
	Brian R. Price (SSG) vs Bob Charron (Saint Martin's) 2003 Schola Saint George Benicia Vespers Tournament A long play at the Gallery's request. (.wmf file for Windows Media Player) Brian Price and Bob Charron play at the gallery's request with David Baker's aluminum longswords. We played to "satisfaction," and although not where Bob or I want to be, we felt that we did get into a number of situations where the responses were within the system. I think we both felt that this fight was much better than our previous engagement in 2002, showing how the techniques are integrated into a fight. We fought for ten minutes, and happily not one of those minutes was ever boring! Clip #1--Colpi di Villano / Volta - Fendente Riverso   Shows the cagey play and how posta transitions are used, and it ends with Brian taking Bob's committed fendente and, displacing it, stepping back in with a volta  to the opposite side striking Bob's elbow. Clip #2--Overcommitment to an attack-   A fail/fail encounter where both combatants land a strike upon the opponent's head, though neither were considered by either of us to be definitive. . Clip #3--Stalking for an Opening-   If two combatants are evenly matched, an opening will not be easy to come by. Here Bob and Brian continue to circle around one another, looking for an opportunity. You can hear some of the friendly exchange / banter, then all of a sudden, there is a quick attempt at a resolution. Brian cuts fendente then immediately follows with a fendente riverso, which Bob skilfully catches, though just barely. A very fun exchange. Clip #4--Blade catch and powerful fendente   Bob catches Brian's fendente close to the cross, then exceutes a fine blade grab, finishing with a powerful one-handed fendente to Brian's helmet. A smooth close to giocco stretto range, controlling the opponent's blade, then finishing with one of the five counterattacks (Disarm, Strike, Bind, Break, Throw). Clip #5--Void / sotani riverso   I've include some of the posta transition work here to demonstrate how shifting between the poste is used to set up an attack. Bob voids Brian's attack here with a quick step, then does a sotani riverso to catch Brian's forearm. Excellently timed! Clip #6--Colpi di Villano / Volta - Fendente Riverso   This is quickly becoming one of my favorite plays, and this is the cleanest I think I've executed it at speed--how nice that it was caught on film! only this time it was accompanied with the right footwork. Both Bob and I did the maneuver, only mine had the footwork attached, taking me out of line. Bob's volta to my right elbow falls upon empty air, but mine manages to catch him cleanly. Clip #7--Counter to fendente - Fendente Riverso   Bob demonstrates a beautiful counter to a very committed fendente, catching it at the cross and answering in half time with an elegant yet powerful fendente riverso. A fine finish to a very satisfying set of engagements.
	Bob Charron (Saint Martin's) vs Keith Jennings (Chicago Swordplay Guild)) 2003 Schola Saint George Benicia Vespers Tournament Gloves vs Daga! (.wmf file for Windows Media Player) This fight was indeed a crowd pleaser! Eric Fick of the Davenriche Academy of Arms requested (and was heartily seconded) to see Bob Charron, armed only with a pair of gloves, vs Keith Jennings with a daga. This fight pleased both combatants; Bob said he felt that if hemanaged to get even one play working he'd be happy, and Keith executed several beautiful strikes against the wiley Mr. Charron.! Clip #1--Catching the Daga with the Gloves   Right out of the starting gate, Bob was able to catch the daga, but the rules of engagement forbid the play from going further. Keith doesn't quit, however, and turns the rule against Bob--both combatans acquit themselves very well in the play; it both validates Fiore's advice about gloves vs daga and encourages the opponent not to quit! Clip #2--Face-slapping goading...-   A lot of people remember this one. Keith is more careful on the second entry, and when doesn't engage, Bob adds a bit of....................encouragement. And the crowd goes wild! Clip #3--Failed catch has a price...-   When Bob's catch doesn't quite grasp the daga, Keith does a very nice push that gives him his opponent's back. Clip #4--Keith's Hip Throw   Bob closes while Keith gets in a couple of light strikes. In the clench, Keith quickly sets of a hip-throw and places them both on the ground....the end of  an "intent-filled" yet fun encounter.
	Shortening the Lanza 2003 Schola Saint George Benicia Vespers Tournament Brian R. Price with Schola Compagno Jon Tait (.wmf file for Windows Media Player) Although the Schola compagnos hadn't played much with the spear, they accounted for themselves well. Here, Brian demonstrates that in close, there is one thing you have to watch for, especially where grapples aren't allowed or going to work....
	Lanza Duel 2003 Schola Saint George Benicia Vespers Tournament Compagno Colin Hatcher with Selorrar Fechtschule Christian Toblert (.wmf file for Windows Media Player) Christian Tobler and Colin Hatcher in a spirited exchange with the spear, showing Colin's usual aggressive punch against Christian's considered attacks. An interesting 30-second snippet.
	Smack and stick with the lanza (spear) 2003 Schola Saint George Benicia Vespers Tournament Schola Provost Robert Holland with Ian Hess (.wmf file for Windows Media Player) Robert Holland duels with Ian Hess. To finish the exchange, he delivers a smack to the side of Ian's helmet, followed up with a nice thrust. The strike was not to be counted, but to an unarmoured head it would have been, I imagine, an even more effective distraaction to the real punta that follows..
	Lanza a la Fiore 2003 Schola Saint George Benicia Vespers Tournament Bob Charron (St. Martin's) with. Schola Compagno Douglas Sunlin (.wmf files for Windows Media Player) This was a very nice overall engagement where Schola Compagno challenged Bob Charron to a pass with lances. Bob eshewed the usual method of using the spear, experimenting with some of Fiore's posta and later, some of the key lanza plays. Clip #1--Displacement & shortened lanza strikes   Ever wonder about Fiore's crossed hands "fenestra" type posta with the lanza? After playing with conventional poste for a while, Bob makes a first attempt at executing this play at speed...a very nice first attempt, too. Clip #2--To the face   Most times, fancy stuff isn't needed. Here Bob moves Douglas' lanza out of the way with some small circles, then strikes directly to the face. Clip #3--At first if you don't succeed, try, try again!-   Douglas has stymied Bob's efforts to get a committed attack that Bob can control, so Bob attacks. Douglas counters these attacks, but Bob presses close to Douglas and executes a pleasing disarm.
	Fluid daga work 2003 Schola Saint George Benicia Vespers Tournament Schola Compagno Colin Hatcher with Bob Charron (St. Martin's) (.wmf file for Windows Media Player) Not yet exposed to Fiore's daga plays, Bob and Colin play as an expert knife-fighter vs Bob's study of Fiore. The fight was very hard wrought, with Colin dancing at range and closing very rapidly, landing machine-gun like multi-strikes whenever he closed. In the play featured here, however, one is enough--