Vertical Caver

Cavalcabo (and hence de Heredia) gives an explicit definition of the caver which includes the more familiar definition (a disengagement in order to re-acquire the opponent's blade on the opposite lateral line) and an unusual definition centred on the idea of feinting high in order to wound low and vice versa. Considering the text, this second definition turns out to be an action which is very frequently referred to and used in exercises to wound the opponent in the side rather than in the shoulder. It appears to be a core technique of the system.

Include a video of the vertical caver on both sides and the concept of the box-on-the-line.

Note that these exercises teach the vertical caver from the engagement. It is not limited to this situation and can be used any time you point is pushed off the centre line by your opponent.

Partner drill. In pairs from the en garde stance:

1. The patient gains the agent's blade and subjects it to the agent's outside line. Note that in this position, both the agent and the patient have their sword hilts held lower than their sword points.
2. The agent lifts the sword hilt to approximately the level the sword point previously occupied and drops the sword point to the level the hilt previously occupied. In effect, the sword point has performed at 180 degree turn around the opponent's blade.
3. The agent thrusts in quarte on the firm foot or on the lunge. The offhand may be brought across under the sword arm for additional security.

Note that this action may be accompanied by stepping to the inside to change the line of attack and void the originally occupied space.

This technique may also be used after provoking the opponent by subjecting the opponent's blade. This is much more in keeping with the Italian roots of the tradition.

Partner drill. In pairs from the en garde stance:

1. The agent subjects the opponent's blade on the inside (ie: towards the agent's outside line).
2. The patient disengages underneath in typical Italian fashion.
3. The agent follows the opponent's movement, lifting the sword hilt to approximately the level the sword point previously occupied and dropping the sword point to the level the hilt previously occupied. In effect, the sword point has performed at 180 degree turn around the opponent's blade.
4. The agent thrusts in quarte on the firm foot or on the lunge. The offhand may be used for additional security.

Partner drill. In pairs from the en garde stance:

1. The patient gains the agent's blade and subjects it to the agent's inside line. Note that in this position, both the agent and the patient have their sword hilts held lower than their sword points.
2. The agent lifts the sword hilt to approximately the level the sword point previously occupied and drops the sword point to the level the hilt previously occupied. In effect, the sword point has performed at 180 degree turn around the opponent's blade.
3. The agent thrusts in seconde (or tierce) on the firm foot or on the lunge. The offhand may be used for additional security.

Note that this action may be accompanied by stepping to the agent's outside to change the line of attack and void the originally occupied space.

This technique may also be used after provoking the opponent by subjecting the opponent's blade.

Partner drill. In pairs from the en garde stance:

1. The agent subjects the opponent's blade on the outside (ie: towards the agent's inside line).
2. The patient disengages underneath in typical Italian fashion.
3. The agent follows the opponent's movement, lifting the sword hilt to approximately the level the sword point previously occupied and dropping the sword point to the level the hilt previously occupied. In effect, the sword point has performed at 180 degree turn around the opponent's blade.
4. The agent thrusts in seconde on the firm foot or on the lunge. The offhand may be brought across under the sword arm for additional security.