12/29/2025
Please watch what you want of the videos in comments, and comment yourself. Please add your own Fendente cut video, or any other (how to do it properly) thrust/cut videos, with as much 'why' these mechanics work best, as you like.
Before getting "Longsword Techniques of Fiore dei Liberi " (translation and commentary by Guy Windsor) I started practicing downward stroke 'Fendente' (correctly, I hope) over and over. I've been working on this and a couple other Fiore based content instructors specific drills for over a month now.
This began with a YouTube video (link provided in first comment) of how repetitive, correct practice, of sword, guitar, calligraphy, and so on, creates neural pathways, so the fundamental becomes a natural part of the performer of the art. Practicing wrongly, can make worse the student, but Practicing 300+ times, correctly (video mentioned 1000 times) and the student knows the method in their bones.
So, I started looking for videos of Fiore instructors, who went step by step on a proper longsword cut, and found 1 more tedious than any other, on the Fendente. (Link provided in second comment).
Posta di Donna, to (Vadi's?) Falcone. The sword pivots over the shoulder, to in front, rather than a large swinging arc. The cross guard stays parallel to the chest, for protection. (Makes sense so far)
Then the arms extend, and sword is moving first. Passing step begins when cut is at eye level, (of opponent) foot lands heel first, then toe as cut passes to opponent knee.
(*Interesting note* just going heel/toe with sword extended, on something stationary, makes a sawing action, which was cool to find out 😁.)
Front hand, wrist straight as downward cut begins, back hand, finger tips touching forearm of front hand, and blade automatically twists from flat to edge, just by good hand/arm structure.
This all blew my wee little mind. The exacting requirements of good mechanics and their tried and true usage by our masters (Fiore, Joachim Meyer, and current scholars who provide good interpretations of these sources), requires more true study for what 'SHOULD BE ' repeatedly practiced 300+ times. 🤺🗡⚔️😅
