Greetings! You may be thinking about pre-ordering my new longsword book through the Indiegogo campaign. In case you're wondering what the book contains, you can see the table of contents on the campaign page. Here is an example of one of the dozens of drills, with its accompanying photos.
The Exchange of Thrusts:
Fiore’s instruction is to step out of the way and pass across the line, and with your point high and your hands low, cross his sword and strike him in the face or chest (this is the ninth play of the second master of zogho largo).
- Wait in tutta porta di ferro, attacker in the same guard.
- Attacker thrusts to your stomach;
- Pick up your point and cross his sword (middle to middle, edge to flat), hands stay low;
- Step your front (left) foot out of the way (to the left— this pushes his point further away from you);
- And pass across (so, diagonally left), thrusting to his face (no need to lift your hands: keep them low!)
Do this in one smooth motion: it feels like a simple strike that happens to collect his attack. But beware— it is critically important to make sure of your cover before passing in. Otherwise you eat steel.
The drill continues with what to do if you miss your strike.
The images below are uncropped, and at much lower resolution for browsing convenience. Most of the costs of publishing the book are in layout, which will be beautiful!
