Learning Fiore De Liberi

This section deals with the mechanics of making a cut. These mechanics are secondary to good tactics and technique. We include them for the beginning student who has never swung a sword, and therefore needs some idea of how to do it.

Start with both hands on the hilt, with as much space between your hands as the hilt will allow. The right hand up against the quillions, the left hand on the pommel. If you have a wheel pommel, this can be a little uncomfortable, so adjust as you need to. Your legs should be shoulder width apart.

The blade is on your center line, pointed towards the ground. Using your wrists alone, bring the point to as close to the vertical as you can get. Then using your elbows alone, bring the blade higher, still vertical. Last, use your shoulders to raise the blade higher. The blade should now be pointing back over the top of your head. Your joints are now what we call stacked and loaded.

Now, reverse what you just did slowly. Notice how each joint unloads itself, and transfers motion and power to the blade. Notice how when done correctly, the blade will cut naturally, and in an arc. That arc is important for cutting into your opponent. Equally important is for the bottom hand to pull down on the grip, using the front hand as a pivot and guide.

Next, do the same thing only make the cut from an imaginary opponents ear, to the opposite knee. Start with your opponents right ear, and cut through to his left knee. Do the other side.

The horizontal cuts are done the same way. Except the horizontal cut from left to right, is actually the stacking and loading of your joints for the cut from right to left.

The keys to cutting well are speed, and bio-mechanics. If you're body is properly aligned, then the sword will go where you want it. If you're using your back hand to pull the lever, and your front hand as a pivot, you can generate a lot speed. Speed is important because Force = Mass X Acceleration. Body mechanics help put the mass of the fighter behind the blow, while also creating acceleration in the blade.

Once you've gotten the hang, and feel for the cuts, go ahead and move on. If you ever have trouble figuring out why you don't have power, or are mis-cutting, come back to this section and review what's here, otherwise, it's not necessary.