Longsword

Fiore Poste Progression

A method for linking together the 12 longsword guards (poste) from Fiore dei Liberi's manuscript, used for memorizing and practicing the positions.

This article describes a method of linking together the 12 poste described in the Getty version of the Fiore Manuscript. This form and variations of it are used by many WMA schools in North America, including Academie Duello in Vancouver, BC and Northwest Academy of Arms in Eugene Oregon. The intention of the form is to provide a method for memorizing and practicing the Fiore positions.

Sequence

  1. Start in Porta di Ferro facing North. Porta di Ferro
  2. Make a tutta volta, lifting the sword over the head to end up in Posta di Donna Altara facing South. Posta di Donna
  3. Lift the sword over your head to make Fenestre Destrazza. Fenestre Destrazza
  4. Make a volta stabile to the right, placing the sword onto your left shoulder to make Donna Senestra facing Northwest. Donna Senestra
  5. Make a passing cut backward into Longa. Posta Longa
  6. Make a volta stabile to the right, lowering the sword until it is on the line in-line with the right leg in Porta di Ferro Mezzanna facing East. Porta di Ferro Mezzanna
  7. Lift the point, keeping the elbows on the side and step forward to make Breve with the left foot leading. Posta Breve
  8. Cut down and to the left, drawing the pommel back to the left hip making Dente al Cinghiara. Dente al Cinghiara
  9. Volta stabile to the left, leaving the sword in place to make Choda Longa facing Northwest. Choda Longa
  10. Tutta volta bringing the sword up in a mezzanna cut, letting the hand rotate on the pommel so the cross bar is parallel with the floor, the right hand palm up, and the left hand palm down with knuckles facing to the right, pommel pulled to the chest, elbows tucked in. This makes one form of Bicornu facing Southeast with the left foot leading. Posta Bicornu
  11. Lift the sword protecting the head with the cross-bar in Frontale. Posta Frontale
  12. Cut vertically downwards while stepping forward and turning to a reverse weighted Dente al Cinghiara Mezzanna. Dente al Cinghiara Mezzanna

At this point to return to the beginning of the sequence make a volta stabile to the left leaving the sword in place to make Porta di Ferro facing North.

Video

Devon Boorman, Director of Academie Duello, going through the 12 poste progression.