Notes were made from Christopher Holzman’s translation of Pallavicini’s Fencing Illustrated which can be purchased here
From here on out, the chapters are almost entirely single plays. As such, I’ll be doing larger lumps of chapters together.
Chapter 31
The counter to the stoccata of Quartiata:
| A | B |
| Quartiata | Engage in 3rd and thrust (contratempo) |
This counter works with Quartiata by disengage as well.
Chapter 32
| A | B |
| 3rd GuardDisengage to hand in 4thQuartiata | 3rd Guard |
The illustration shows the right leg stepping to the inside for the quartiata.
Chapter 33
From the disengage in Chapter 32:
| A | B |
| Circle step and imbroccata Step forward and grab the opponent’s guard and imbroccata |
Chapter 34
- When in Guard 3rd it is imperative to keep your body in profile so you are covered.
Pallavicini has you in perfect profile for all his guards, I’m not sure why he felt he needed to stress himself again, but he does repeat himself a lot.
- The Bound Stoccata:
| A | B |
| Guard 3rd Parry with strong over weak to outside Quartiata to right flank over false edge | Guard 3rd or 4th Stoccata to right flank |
This quartiata is done more with a large inside step with the right leg than with the left leg stepping to the outside.
- To counter the Bound Stoccata, from the parry:
| A | B |
| Turn hand to 2nd, and imbroccata |
Chapter 35:
- This play is used widely in Italy and a lot by the French, Pallavacini titles this play the Stoccata Francesca3, while Italians call it the Lowered Imbroccata.
| A | B |
Parry | Feign imbroccata Lift the opponent’s sword with the false edge and imbroccata |
The image shows a more modern lunge with the torso almost on the right thigh. He says you must duck low to avoid the incoming thrust.
| A | B |
| Engage on inside Lift opponent’s blade with the false edge and imbroccata | Disengage |
Chapter 36
This is another French technique.
| A | B |
| Guard 3rd Stoccata to the face | Guard 3rd Imbroccata under the attack and get so low the fingers of the left hand must support the body on the ground. |
The image shows a passato soto.
Chapter 37
- The counter to the previous two chapters is the same as any low thrust, to pass back with the right leg and thrust to the face a la Chapter 26.
- It is the French style to fence from low, some Italians like to fence this way as well.
Chapter 38
| A | B |
| Guard 3rd Engage, strong over weak | Guard 3rd Move hand to 2nd and imbroccata to the right shoulder |
Pallavicini states this thrust should be a glide
Chapter 39
- The true maestro relies not on the riposte, but makes true first intention attacks.
| A | B |
| Engage in 4th Pass with the left leg and thrust to the face |
- This can be used in Chapter 21 and those in the guard like in Chapter 24.
- If you engage with your false edge and your opponent disengages, you can do this as well.
1: Also known as the inquartata. This might be the Sicilian way of saying it, though either Pallavicini or Holzman uses them interchangeably.
2: Capoferro Great Representation of Fencing, chapter 9, pg 19 Number 92 (Corrected by C. Holzman)
3: Pallavicini does not say if this is what this play is called in Sicily or if this is just what he calls it personally.
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