The Engagement and Gaining

Cavalcabo and Paternoster do not speak much about the engagement itself and how to manage it. Engagement is assumed in much of their writing but there is also much that assumes actions begin without engagement. Heredia, however, devotes a surprising amount of ink to the engagement and what to do in it. His solution comes in three forms:

• If you are the one gaining, as soon as you sense the opponent attempting any kind of disengagement, strike with a thrust;
• If you are gained, withdraw out of measure either to re-assess and re-engage or, if the opponent pursues, to lure him or her into your thrust on the firm foot;
• If you are gained or your initial thrust is parried, cut around (a stramazzone, ripping, etc) as you withdraw.

The difference between the earlier and later sources could simply be a function of time and change in fashion towards more predominantly thrust-centric fencing. There’s is also an obvious influence of Destreza from Spain, not surprising given that Heredia lived and fought in the Low Countries.

This section does not seem to provide a good way of defending yourself. It seems like following this advice will result in double hits. Could it be that this section is merely a tool for training trigger recognition and explosive action? For instance:

1. When you have gained the middle of the weak of the enemy’s sword with the middle of your strong, and, both being in just measure, if the enemy comes to change his point to disengage in presence, strike in the same tempo a resolute estocade at the right shoulder on the firm foot.

The keys here appear to be that both of you are in “just measure” and that the opponent attempts to disengage in presence. I’m not sure what to do with the information. Suggestions?

This section has been repeated in the Exploration Session on Cavalcabo’s Caver and in Subjection Exercises.

1. If, being in high third and holding the point of your sword to the right eye of your enemy, and he comes […] to subject your sword with his strong on your weak to the inside, pressing strongly against thereof, in the same tempo that he presses, caver your sword under his guard, thrusting outside to the right side on the firm foot.

This and the next actions appear to be Cavalcabo’s high-to-Low caver.

3. You can also go to subject the enemy’s sword, covering it with your strong on his weak, and in the same tempo that you sense he forces against it to resist, caver your point below his hilt, thrusting an estocade on the firm foot to the right side.

These two section above are largely repeated in a section named “Lessons of the Hand”.

Situation: Your blade has been gained and subjected by your opponent’s.

Trigger #1 - Foot Movement: The opponent moves either the rear foot up to the front (gathering step) or moves the front foot further forward, ie: is preparing to attack.

Response #1: Bring your weapon back towards you in order to put your strong on the opponent’s weak then thrust in either estocade on the inside or brocade on the outside as appropriate.

In other situations, Heredia advises withdrawing to defeat the engagement. Once out of danger, you can re-assess and return into measure or, if your opponent pursues, you may choose to continue to withdraw until you can make a thrust on the firm foot.

However, when your opponent tries withdrawing from a lost engagement, he advises you to pursue the opponent maintaining the engagement on whichever side it is required. There is no advice on how to prevent the opponent luring you toward the firm foot thrust.

Heredia gives this general advice:

Note that all revers and cortelades must be executed by lifting the left foot, and in releasing the blow, retire it, allowing the right to follow, because of the danger one incurs when one gives them by entering with the right foot. […]

You must also be careful to not strike cortelades or revers without having first presented an estocade or brocade to the head or chest of the enemy, in order that they, by this means, are forced to go to the parry, in which tempo you can strike cortelades or revers where you think fit.

Now for a couple of indicative uses of these ronds.

4. Being in high third or second guard, if the enemy forcefully gains your weak with his strong on the inside, in the same tempo strike a revers to the outside, lifting the left foot and withdrawing it when releasing the blow, allowing the right to follow.

In other words, when gained, collapse and cut around while widening the measure. There are variants of this which target the head, the bicep on the outside or elbow on the inside, or the forward leg.

10. If, being in high third or in second, the enemy comes to gain your weak with his strong to the inside to subject you, strike him a brocade outside to the head, entering with a large step on the right foot, and, in the event that the enemy parries it, force with your sword against his to avoid his point to your right shoulder, then passing with the left foot, strike him a cortelade inside to the leg.

I suspect that although it is not mentioned the left hand may be involved and useful here. Item 14 is the immediate inverse of this action.

Finally, If the opponent tries this action on you, slip the front leg and turn a cortelade or revers to the opponent’s head (“The Feints of the Cortelade”).

Insert an indicative exercise

In the Mathematical Play (The Cortelades) covers this in an identical manner to “the ordinary game” as described above in action 4.

Strictly speaking, this section does not belong on this page as it does not deal directly with the engagement. However, since the rond appears to be such a fundamental method of dealing with the engagement and being gained, it deserves some mention.

2. Both being in second to subject each other’s sword, if the enemy strikes a cortelade to the inside, in the same tempo that he raises his hand to strike the blow, thrust an estocade on the firm foot to the right shoulder with the hand raised to guard the head. If you are late in taking the tempo, parry him with the strong of your sword by turning the the hand in estocade, and, in the same tempo, strike him with an estocade to the right shoulder on the firm foot.

In short, as soon as you sense the opponent begin the rond, strike with a counter-time thrust into the opponent’s preparation. If you are not quick enough for this, parry and counterthrust on the firm foot.