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The Essential Actions of Giovanni dall'Agocchie
by Steven Reich

Near the end of the third day of the first book of Giovanni dall'Agocchie, Lepido asks what parts of the art should a person concentrate on if he must use it in the immediate future and with little time in which to learn. That is, he asks what dall'Agocchie considers to be the bare-minimum knowledge necessary for a man who will use the art of swordsmanship in ernest. Similar to the approach of Viggiani, dall'Agocchie details a mere handful of guards and actions designed to counter nearly every attack a swordsman would receive. I think these actions serve as an excellent introduction to Bolognese swordsmanship, and given that these are such basic and fundamental actions, I think that they must be mastered by anyone who pursues the study of dall'Agocchie and his predecessors (e.g. Manciolino and Marozzo), as they contain nearly all of the elements of swordsmanship (albeit in simplified form).

Dall'Agocchie begins this section by detailing a set of actions and counters for utilizing Porta di Ferro Stretta as your primary guard (along with Guardia d'Alicorno). Every action begins with a step and a true-edge parry made with some type of Riverso and ends with an Imbroccata and a return to Porta di Ferro Stretta (as according to dall'Agocchies rules, the Imbroccata finishes in Porta di Ferro Stretta or Cinghiale Porta di Ferro). In the second half of this section, dall'Agocchie advises that a swordsman who has time should learn to use another guard for the situation where his opponent moves to the swordman's left side. Thus, he introduces a set of counters to use from Coda Lunga Stretta.

Starting in Porta di Ferro Stretta:

As a provocation, start by going to Guardia d’Alicorno and making an Imbroccata, but without moving the feet, and ending in Porta di Ferro Stretta. If the opponent is not provoked, move somewhat to your right side and again go to Guardia d’Alicorno and make another Imbroccata. Thus the opponent will have to respond to your threat or retreat from it.

Attack:

Response from Porta di Ferro Stretta:

Mandritto to the head
  1. Step with left foot to opponent's right side while parrying the blow with a Riverso Sgualimbro.
  2. Pass quickly with the right foot and push an Imbroccata to his chest.
  3. Return to Porta di Ferro Stretta.

Riverso to the head
  1. Step with left foot to opponent's right side while parrying the blow with a Riverso Sgualimbro.
  2. Pass quickly with the right foot and push an Imbroccata to his chest.
  3. Return to Porta di Ferro Stretta.

Riverso to the leg
  1. Step with left foot to opponent's right side while parrying the blow with a Riverso Ridoppio.
  2. Pass quickly with the right foot and push an Imbroccata to his chest.
  3. Return to Porta di Ferro Stretta.

Punta Sopramano
  1. Step with left foot to opponent's right side while defending from the thrust with the true edge of your sword.
  2. Immediately gliding forward with the right foot and push an Imbroccata to his chest.
  3. Return to Porta di Ferro Stretta.

Stoccata to the face
  1. Step with left foot to opponent's right side while parrying the thrust with a Riverso Sgualimbro, followed immediately with an Imbroccata to his side.
  2. Return to Porta di Ferro Stretta.

Dall'Agocchie notes in the end of the section on defending from Porta di Ferro Stretta that performing the Riverso parry and successive attack in a single tempo will usually be accompanied by step to the right side of the opponent.

Starting in Coda Lunga Stretta:

Dall'Agocchie does not give any provocation to make from this guard as he does from Porta di Ferro Stretta.

Attack:

Response from Coda Lunga Stretta:

Mandritto to the head
  1. Parry in Guardia di Faccia, and with the left foot, push the right foot forward1 while thrusting to the face.
  2. Return to Coda Lunga Stretta.

Riverso to the head
  1. Parry in Guardia d’Entrare, bringing the left foot forward (near the right foot2).
  2. Step forward with the right foot and push a thrust to his chest.
  3. Return to Coda Lunga Stretta.

Mandritto to the leg
  1. Draw your leg back while pushing a thrust to your opponent's face.
  2. Return to Coda Lunga Stretta.

Imbroccata
  1. Parry with a Mezzo Mandritto and quickly thrust a Punta Riversa while advancing3.
  2. Return to Coda Lunga Stretta.

Punta Sottomano
  1. Parry with the true edge of the sword, turning the body in profile.
  2. Attack with a Punta Riversa.
  3. Return to Coda Lunga Stretta

Punta Sottomano
  1. Parry with the true edge of the sword, turning the body in profile.
  2. Attack with a thrust to the chest, followed by a Riverso.
  3. Return to Coda Lunga Stretta.

Obviously this is but a small subset of the enormous range of techniques contained within the school of Bolognese swordsmanship. However, I feel that it is more than adequate to keep students occupied for a significant period of time. I would also include them as fundamentals always practiced in class before moving to more advanced material (perhaps as part of a standard warm-up).

1This is a fairly literal translation. I would interpret this as a lunge.

2As per dall'Agocchies rules of parrying: if you are parrying and attacking as a two-tempo action and your right foot is forward, bring your left foot near your right as you parry, then step forward with your right foot when you attack.

3A more literal translation would be "while the left foot follows the right," which I interpret as a modern-style advance (but made rigorously, as it is the footwork for an attack).

Last Updated: 07-Nov-08