Primo Assalto

This is the first training sequence – an Assalto – created by Antonio Manciolino and published in his 1531 Opera nova specifically designed for use with a blunt training sword (spada da gioco) and a small buckler (brocchiero). By following these steps translated and punctuated into easier, digestible parts you can learn to perform the sequence yourself.

Please understand that this represents my current interpretation of the sequence, and if you wish to familiarize yourself with the original text you can do so by downloading a facsimile or ordering an English translation.

Notice that the Andare and Ritornare are to be performed on your own, as well as the Abbellimento, but the Giochi are, in fact, pair exercises though displayed here solo. The Abbellimento is repeated after each Gioco. At the bottom of this page is a glossary of the technical terms used. Read more about the Primo Assalto in the blog.

1. Stand gracefully
2. Pass with right across to your right, giving a falso to the boss, putting the sword in GUARDIA ALTA and the buckler towards the face like a mirror
3. Pass with left retouching the buckler going to GUARDIA DI TESTA and the buckler dropping along the left thigh
4. Pass with right lifting the sword into GUARDIA ALTA
5. Passing with left do a montante accompanied by a mandritto sopra braccio
6. Go with the sword into GUARDIA DI TESTA
7. Pass with right touching with a falso the boss and do a montante into GUARDIA ALTA

Embellish the play

1. Pass with right backwards behind the left, cutting the rim with a fendente after which the sword will fall and immediately come up again from behind to GUARDIA ALTA, drawing the left foot near the right
2. Retouch the buckler
3. Pass long with left putting the sword into GUARDIA DI TESTA
4. Pass with right beating the boss with a falso
5. Do a montante into GUARDIA ALTA, drawing the right foot near the left, buckler well guarding the head
6. Pass long with right, striking mandritto sopra braccio to the face and strike a riverso into CODA LUNGA STRETTA, buckler well protecting the head
7. Immediately return with montante into GUARDIA ALTA, drawing right foot near left
8. Pass with right striking mandritto into GUARDIA DI FACCIA
9. Pass with left towards his right, striking a tramazzone into CINGHIARA PORTA DI FERRO, buckler against the head
10. Pass long with right doing a falso to his face, sword continuing into GUARDIA ALTA
11. Strike the head or face with a mandritto sopra braccio, drawing the right foot near the left
12. Pass long with right throwing the fist high and striking a mandritto sotto braccio to the face
13. Draw the right foot near the left, using the buckler well
14. Pass with the right, strike a falso into GUARDIA DI FACCIA accompanied by two tramazzoni, the last of which ending into PORTA DI FERRO STRETTA
15. Draw right foot near the left and do a montante into GUARDIA ALTA

Embellish the play

1. Pass with right, strike mandritto sopra braccio and draw right near the left
2. Return the right forwards doing two riversi, one to the face and the other to the thigh, letting go an overhand thrust that goes over the arm and draw the right foot near the left
3. Pass with left pushing a punta riversa to the face
4. Pass long with right striking an upwards riverso, immediately turn a falso to the left temple followed by a pushed riverso to the right side of the face
5. Pass long with right backwards behind the left striking a mandritto into GUARDIA DI FACCIA
6. Perform a half-turn of the hand into CODA LUNGA ALTA with the buckler well defending the head
7. Draw the left near the right followed by a pass with right pushing a thrust to the face accompanied by a riverso to the thigh, into CODA LUNGA STRETTA
8. Pass with left forwards pushing a thrust to face
9. Pass with right forwards turning a tramazzone to the head, into PORTA DI FERRO STRETTA buckler well defending the head
10. Do a montante into GUARDIA ALTA and draw the right foot near the left

Embellish the play

1. Strike mandritto while passing with the right, after which draw the right foot near the left.
2. Pass with right, giving a stoccata riversa to the face.
3. Passing immediately with left towards his right, turn a tramazzone to the face.
4. Pass with right, turning another tramazzone to the face followed by a thrust in GUARDIA DI FACCIA accompanied by the buckler.
5. Turn a third tramazzone ending into PORTA DI FERRO STRETTA.
6. Do a montante into GUARDIA ALTA drawing the right foot near the left.

Embellish the play

1. Perform a strait of the half-sword, that is: pass long with right striking mandritto sotto braccio drawing the right near the left.
2. Return long with right doing a crosswise falso into GUARDIA DI FACCIA.
3. Passing with left perform a half-turn of the fist accompanied with a thrust towards the face.
4. Pass with right towards his left, feinting a mandritto to his left side.
5. Pass backwards with right pushing a riverso to his right temple.
6. Pass backwards with left striking him with a half mandritto into GUARDIA DI FACCIA.
7. Draw right near the left settling into GUARDIA ALTA.

Embellish the play

1. Pass with right backwards behind left cutting mandritto sotto braccio.
2. Pass with left backwards doing a montante to your left side lifting the sword into GUARDIA ALTA.
3. Do a montante to your right side returning the sword into GUARDIA ALTA and draw the right foot near the left.
4. Strike a mandritto sotto braccio passing backwards with right.
5. Execute a half-turn of the body towards your right side, in which the sword exits from under the arm turning once over the head and ending in GUARDIA ALICORNO.
6. Pass backwards long with left thrusting from below and lifting up into GUARDIA ALTA, drawing the right foot near the left.