Translation
This is the counter of the seventh remedy master who is before me, that I do with a push to his right elbow. Also I say that this counter is good for every narrow play of dagger, and of pollaxe, and the sword either in armour or unarmoured. And when I push the elbow, I quickly strike him in the shoulder.
Interpretation
Having made a fendente attack against your opponent, they have jammed your attack using a high posta mezza porta di ferro dopia incrosada as described by the 7th master of dagger. Your opponent has a number of different options to move onto from here. Most of them will involve moving their right hand further across their body to free it up for a counter strike, and all of them start with an exposed elbow.
Take advantage of this by reaching out with your left hand and placing it on your opponents right elbow as shown. Use this as a place marker while you step through with your left foot. As your foot anchors onto the ground, shove the elbow away, turning your opponent and leaving them open to a second attack either on their back or right side.
The elbow push is by far the most commonly depicted play in the Fior di Battaglia. If the many examples do not make the point, here Fiore tells us very explicitly that this cover works in all narrow plays with all weapons with any or no armour. It is the universal counter which is central to the style of armizare.
Other examples of the elbow push can be seen in the following plays.
- Dagger – Counter to the 2nd master
- Dagger – Counter to the 6th Master
- Dagger – Counter to 8th Master
- Sword vs Dagger – Counter to 1st scholar of the 1st Master
- Sword vs Dagger – 2nd scholar of the 1st Master
- Sword in one hand – 6th scholar
- Sword in one hand – 8th scholar
- Sword in two hands – 14th scholar of the 2nd Master
- Sword in armour – 3rd scholar
- Sword in armour – Counter to Master