Venetian Rapier

Perhaps no other weapon represents Renaissance Italian fencing like the rapier. But do we know how it was used and how it was taught? This book takes you to the fencing School, or Salle of celebrated renaissance rapier Master Nicoletto Giganti of Venice, one among the period teachers leaving instructions on the use of this weapon. More uniquely, his 1606 text The School, or Salle is a veritable training curriculum, with its stepwise lessons and easy-to-follow explanations on the use of the rapier alone and rapier and dagger. This faithful translation of Giganti’s The School, or Salle by internationally-known rapier teacher Tom Leoni includes the complete text, original illustrations, and an introduction on rapier fencing that will make Giganti’s text easy to follow. If you are a martial artist, a fencer, or have an interest in European martial culture, this book belongs on your shelf.

Contents:

Acknowledgements
Introduction
Become proficient in the actions in Giganti’s lessons and you can call yourself a rapierist
What we know about Giganti
What we know about Gaganti’s 1606 Book
Giganti’s Voice and Language, and a note on the Translation
Giganti and the Italian Tradition
What You need to Know to Tackle Gigante
The School, or Salle, by Nicoletto Giganti of Venice, 1606
  The Guards and Counter-guards
Tempo and Measure
How to Deliver the Thrust
Why I Begin with Single Sword
Guards, or Postures
Explanation of the Strike in Tempo
The Correct Way to Gain the Opponent’s Sword and Strike Him While He Performs a Cavazione
The Correct Way to Perform a Cavazione
The Contracavazione to the Inside
The Contracavazione to the Outside
Feints—Explanation  The Feint of Cavazione From the Hand
How to Strike to the Chest With Single Sword—From the Measure and Parity of Swords
The Pass With Feint from Out of Measure
The Pass With Feint Above the Opponent’s Point
The Feint to the Face from Out of Measure
The Correct Way to Deliver a Thrust While the
Opponent Att acks You With a Cut
The Correct Way to Deliver a Sure Strike Using Both Hands
The Correct Way to Defend Against a Mandritto or a Riverso to the Leg
The Inquartata or Void
An Artful Way to Strike the Opponent in the Chest after Pressing Against Each other’s Blades
How to Play Single Sword Against Single Sword, With Full-intent Thrusts
How to Parry Thrusts to the Chest With Single Sword
The Thrust to the Face, Turning the Hand
Counterattack with Cavazione from out of Measure
How to Use Single Sword Against Sword and Dagger
How to Parry a Thrust to the Face in Sword and Dagger
How to Correctly Parry a Thrust to the Left Flank
How to Correctly Parry a Thrust to the Right Flank in Sword and Dagger
How to Parry a Thrust to the Face in Sword and Dagger
How to Parry a Cut to the Head in Sword and Dagger
How to Parry a Riverso with the Dagger
Thrust to the Chest in Sword and Dagger
Delivering a Thrust While the Opponent Moves
Thrust Above the Dagger
A Deceitful Guard That Leaves the Left Side of the Body Open
A Deceitful Guard That Leaves the Right Side of the Body Open
A Deceitful Guard That Leaves the Chest Open
The Feint of Sword and Dagger, to Strike Above the Dagger
Feint of Sword and Dagger, to Strike in the Chest
Feint of Sword and Dagger, to Strike to the Face With a Cavazione Over the Dagger-point
How to Use the Sword to Parry a Lunging Thrust While Bringing Your Body Back
How to Parry with the Dagger with Your Body Back
Dagger-parry with the Body Back, with Simultaneous Sword-strike
Sword-parry and Strike to the Face
The Pass in Sword and Dagger, to Grapple the Opponent and Strike Him in the Face with the Dagger
The Thrust to the Right Shoulder in Sword and Dagger
The Pass in Sword and Dagger
Glossary