Italian Swordsmanship
From Karate, Kungfu, Wrestling, Mixed Fighting Information Source
The Italian School of Swordsmanship is a style martial art referring to classical Italian fencing that originated in Italy. Its techniques and movements are based on the book entitled "Classical Fencing" published in 1409 which greatly empahsizes on the development speed and timing. Unlike the German school of Swordsmanship the Italian school uses the cross-bar on its handle, permitting a firmer grip of the weapon.
Here are some weapons used in Italian Swordsmanship.
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Basilard
A two-edged, long bladed dagger of the late Middle Ages, often worn with both civilian dress and armour.
Cut-and-Thrust Sword
- See main article Cut-and-Thrust Sword
The Cut-and-Thrust Sword is a type of sword which was a thinner, more tapered sword than the earlier Medieval forms, but still shorter and wider than the nearly edgless rapier. They were used for hacking, slashing, stabbing, and had compound hilts used to employ a "fingered" grip.
Epee
- See main article Epee
The épée (pronounced "EPP-pay"), the descendant of the dueling sword, is similar in length to the foil, but is heavier, weighing approximately 27 ounces, with a larger guard (to protect the hand from a valid hit) and a much stiffer blade.
Estoc
- See main article Estoc
A form of long, rigid, pointed, triangular or square bladed and virtually edgeless longsword designed for thrusting into plate-armor was the estoc. Called a "stocco" in Italian and a "tuck" in English, they were used with two hands.
Flamberge
- See main article Flamberge
An unusual waved-bladed rapier popular with officers and upper classes during the 1600s. It was considered to look both fashionable and deadly as well as erroneously believed to inflict a more deadly wound.
Misericorde
From the word “mercy.” A straight, narrow dagger, commonly seen on knightly effigies. It was so-called because it was often used to give the final “mercy” stroke to the mortally wounded.
Rapier
- See main article Rapier
It is a long, double-edged, slender bladed, single-handed sword, designed to emphasize the thrust. Rapiers first appeared in the mid-16th century, and were used through the next century. The rapier may be the first, purely civilian sword, devised.
Rondel dagger
a military dagger witht he pommel and hand-guard formed of roundels. The dagger was often 18” long or more, with a single-edged, or even triangular, blade.
Schiavona
- See a main article Schiavona
A form of agile Renaissance cut & thrust sword with a decorative cage-hilt and distinctive "cat-head" pommel. So named for the Schiavoni or Venetian Doge’s Slavonic mercenaries and guards of the 1500’s who favored the weapon.
Small Sword
- See main article Small Sword
Also known as a "court-sword", a "walking-sword", or "town-sword", small-swords developed in the late Renaissance as a personal dueling tool and weapon of self-defense. Most popular in the 1700's it is sometimes confused with the rapier. It consisted almost exclusively of a sharp pointed metal rod with a much smaller guard and finger-rings.
