Techniques - Two-handed sword: The basic actions 1 of 3

This is an example video of the content I provide in my Patreon channel for learning Bolognese fencing. If you are interested, go and have a look at: 00:00 Title 00:07 Introduction 00:58 Tramazzone - Introduction & examples 01:14 Tramazzone - Important details 02:01 Tramazzoncello - Introduction & examples 02:17 Tramazzoncello - Important details INTRODUCTION This set of 3 videos will present you the basic actions done with the two-handed sword. Consider the techniques presented as the basic building blocks of how to maneuver the two-handed sword. The techniques presented are very common strikes and transitions of the blade from one side of the guard to another, but in the context of these videos we should consider them more of handling and conditioning exercises. I have included techniques in sets of two, which represent somewhat symmetrical movements of the sword, done both on the inside and the outside lines to give you tools to develop the understanding on moving the two-handed sword in a versatile manner. The collection of the techniques is not in anyway comprehensive in terms of the technical variety of the two-handed sword - they should be regard as common examples of how the two-handed sword is moved in the wide measure, or gioco largo, in relation to your opponent. Think of the techniques presented as the basics of the language of the two-handed sword. In addition to the breakdown of the techniques, I have included some common examples of how the techniques are used in actual fighting application against an opponent. You can use the techniques presented as they are for some partner drills later on, but bear in mind that to be able to start learning how to fight with the two-handed sword, you will first need to get comfortable with moving it around - this is the main idea of the exercises provided in this set of videos. The basic actions of the two-handed sword make very good warmup exercises. At first, as they are - make sets of properly executed actions in the beginning of your training session. Later on, start using the same actions as simple partner exercises in the beginning of your session. Alternatively, you could do sets of the same movements in the end of the session for some conditioning. TRAMAZZONE and TRAMAZZONCELLO Tramazzone and tramazzoncello are common actions with the two-handed sword from the wide measure. You will see them used constantly in Marozzo’s Primo Assalto, which is the first of Marozzo’s three assalti, where all the plays happen in the wide measure. The same actions also happen often in the Secondo Assalto, where the plays start from the wide measure, advance into the narrow measure, and retreat back into the wide measure. The actions should be considered both as strikes but also as transitions between guards. Tramazzone is a circular motion done in the vertical line where the sword descends in the manner of a mandritto cut and ends up in a Porta di Ferro guard. The action is done on the outside line of the body, which is the right side for the right handed fencers. It should be noted that even if the action is very similar to the one done with the one-handed sword and is named the same, it is done on the different side of the body - tramazzone is always done on the inside line of the body with one-handed sword where it is done on the outside line with the two-handed sword. Tramazzoncello is also a circular motion, like tramazzone, but it is done more on the horizontal level. The cut also descends on the mandritto line, ending up in a Porta di Ferro guard. The action is done on the inside line of the body, which is the left side for the right handed fencers. Tramazzoncello is also a lot smaller and subtle movement than its counter part tramazzone, it is done in a lot tighter arc due to the body mechanics involved in it.