Training with sharp swords

This part of the syllabus must only be trained under direct professional supervision. There is NO room for error. As Fiore says, one missed parry can be fatal.

Fiore's art is intended to work against someone trying to kill you with a sharp sword. This is obviously impossible to duplicate safely. Sharp swords behave differently when crossed to blunt steel or indeed any other training tool; so the first step in training with sharps is slow drills, with no protection. This video is a study of four different crossings in the zogho stretto, leading to the 2nd, 3rd , 12th and 11th plays (in that order). Note the slow, careful approach.

Then slow, careful renditions of the basic four drills, done with a mask to allow light, careful contact.

Cutting practice against rolled and soaked tatami mats is also required; students should be able to cut a full mat into pieces without it coming off the stand, using mandritti and roversi blows.

Video to come.