Introduction to Italian Rapier David and Dori Coblentz Contents Introduction .................................................................................................................................................1 Fundamental Concepts ..............................................................................................................................2 The Rapier ................................................................................................................................................2 Hand Positions ........................................................................................................................................3 Standing in First Position .......................................................................................................................4 Salute .........................................................................................................................................................4 Guard ........................................................................................................................................................5 Lines of Attack .........................................................................................................................................5 Placement of the weapon .......................................................................................................................6 Guards of third and fourth ................................................................................................................6 Invitation ..............................................................................................................................................7 Engagement .........................................................................................................................................7 Central ..................................................................................................................................................8 Offense ......................................................................................................................................................8 Defense .....................................................................................................................................................8 Measure ....................................................................................................................................................8 Tempo .......................................................................................................................................................9 Attacks in Time ....................................................................................................................................9 Counterattacks .....................................................................................................................................9 Countertime .......................................................................................................................................10 Footwork ....................................................................................................................................................11 Advance ..................................................................................................................................................11 Retreat .....................................................................................................................................................11 Cross step forward ................................................................................................................................11 Cross step backward .............................................................................................................................11 Jump Back ..............................................................................................................................................12 Lunge ......................................................................................................................................................12 Fixed-Foot Lunge ..................................................................................................................................12 Recover Forward ...................................................................................................................................13 Reprise ....................................................................................................................................................13 Advance Lunge .....................................................................................................................................13 Gain on the Lunge .................................................................................................................................13 Passing Lunge ........................................................................................................................................14 Running Attack ......................................................................................................................................14 Offense ........................................................................................................................................................15 Simple Attacks .......................................................................................................................................15 Straight Thrust ...................................................................................................................................15 Disengagement ..................................................................................................................................17 Glide ....................................................................................................................................................18 Counterdisengageent........................................................................................................................19 Cuts .....................................................................................................................................................21 Defense .......................................................................................................................................................22 Simple Parries ........................................................................................................................................22 Circular Parries ......................................................................................................................................22 Compound Attacks ...................................................................................................................................24 Feints .......................................................................................................................................................24 Actions on the Blade .............................................................................................................................25 Blade Seizures ....................................................................................................................................25 Beats ....................................................................................................................................................25 Contraries ...................................................................................................................................................27 Counterattacks .......................................................................................................................................27 Arrest ..................................................................................................................................................27 Time Thrust ........................................................................................................................................27 Arrest with Reassemblement ..........................................................................................................28 Inquartata ...........................................................................................................................................28 Passata Sotto .......................................................................................................................................29 Front foot void to the right ..............................................................................................................29 Left Handed Parries ..........................................................................................................................29 Countertime ...........................................................................................................................................30 Feint in Time ..........................................................................................................................................30 Appendix 1 - Summary of Single Rapier plates in Capoferro ............................................................32 Plate 7 ......................................................................................................................................................32 Plate 8 ......................................................................................................................................................34