This class is the result of a careful and thorough analysis of Book III of Marozzo’s 1536 work, i.e. the section of the treatise dealing with the Spadone. The Spadone, or Great Sword, was the weapon assigned to key military personnel, such as those in charge of defending the insignia, the town’s gates, strategically-relevant roads and bridges, etc. Because of its might and heft, it was also considered one of the most important weapons to train with. The class will be divided into three main sections.

In the first part of the class, I will give students all the necessary theoretical and practical fundamentals of the art--including tempo and measure, the main guards, the footwork, the cuts and thrusts, the parries and ripostes, the provocations and the retreats out of measure.

The second part will deal with the gioco largo or wide play, where students will have a chance to construct and perform some of the most important actions involving the principles we learned in the first part.

The third part will deal on how to enter the gioco stretto (false-edge on false-edge, as well as true-edge on true-edge) as well as how to execute the main actions and counters of this important part of the art. This section will deal with both sword-strikes of the gioco stretto and prese, disarms and grapples.

Whether you study longsword, single-handed sword or other cutting weapons, this class and the extraordinary training tool that is the Spadone will teach you some vital aspects of swordsmanship, including:

• How to put the might of your whole body behind the sword
• How to deliver momentous cuts with both edges of the sword
• How to keep well defended while facing your opponent
• How to safely and correctly initiate attacks that will disorder the opponent, as well as how to effectively retreat out of measure after a successful strike
• How to understand the gioco stretto, how to enter it and take advantage of this tactical situation

There are no prerequisites for this class. I do suggest, however, that you take Steven Reich’s Bolognese single-handed sword track as the perfect companion to this class.

I will post a brief list of key concepts on the Order of the Seven Hearts' website.