First Drill zogho stretto

This drill is the basic set-up we use for creating the crossing of the zogho stretto. It is by no means the only way that this crossing occurs, but it serves as a starting point, and also to introduce the counterattack, analogous to zornhau ort from the Liechtenauer system, and Vadi's mezo tempo. The attacker strikes a mandritto fendente which is met by the defender's own mandritto fendente, stepping offline, leaving the point in line to strike. To counter this the attacker must parry before his attack is completed. This creates the crossing. The attacker can continue with the second play of the zogho stretto, or the defender with the third, depending on who is ready for it first. In part one, the attacker enters at the crossing, to which the defender has a counter; in part two as the crossing is made the defender enters, to which the attacker has a counter.

So the stretto form of first drill, part one, goes like this:

1. The attacker initiates, with a mandritto fendente.

2. The defender counter-attacks, also with a mandritto fendente, sending his point into the attacker’s face.

3. The attacker parries the counter-attack, keeping his point close to the defenders face, and grabs the defenders hist (as in the second play of the zogho stretto).

4. As the attacker parries, the defender grabs the attacker’s point and smashes it sword into his face (the 12th play of the zogho stretto).

The stretto form of first drill, part two:

1. The attacker initiates, with a mandritto fendente.

2. The defender counter-attacks, also with a mandritto fendente, sending his point into the attacker’s face.

3. The attacker parries the counter-attack, and the defender enters with a pommel strike (3rd play of the zogho stretto).

4. The attacker counters the pommel strike with the ligadura mezana.

The development of this drill is discussed in a blog post, here: [http:// http://guywindsor.net/blog/2013/05/stretto-drills-revisited/ ‎Stretto Drills Revisited]