di Grassi Two-Handed Sword

Practice Notes 2/11

Di Grassi's Two-Handed Sword

di Grassi's  two-handed sword is almost entirely based on his single handed sword section. It is a point forward system with two guards similar to ochs, or perhaps guardia d'intrare, and a low guard similar to pflug. You stand with your feet opposing your opponent, for example if your opponent is right foot forward, you lead with your left.

An interesting aspect of di Grassi's manual is his thrusting techniques using a great sword. A typical closing for a play in his system is to thrust to a target made available through earlier action. When thrusting in opposition, a typical ochs thrust is recommended. However, when you are freely thrusting, di Grassi recommends:

Then, taking away the cross hand, he shall force it farther on with the pommel hand, as much as he may stretch it forth, always in the discharge, increasing a slope pace.

So now you have an incredibly long, unwieldy left-handed rapier. One you complete the thrust you are then to:

 And the thrust being thus delivered, he shall presently retire his said pace, and return his hand again to the cross, settling himself either in the high or low warde.

Two things I learned this practice; first, left handed thrusts are difficult, and two, grabbing your now flailing sword is also difficult. For the thrusts, I found the chest an easier target, though that might be because I'm shorter than everyone. Also, grabbing the sword after a left-handed thrust consistently and usefully will take time I think.

The oppositional footing is interesting, and I believe another nod to single sword. Most of the rest of the foot work is comfortably within di Grassi's slope and compass paces. The only difficulty is figure out where everything went with only two guard positions. While keeping up with 20 guards can be tiring, at least with Marozzo you know where you're supposed to be.

In all, I've always found di Grassi to be an interesting side branch of fencing, and I've never spent any time looking at his two-handed section before now. This was an interesting practice evening.