Method.of.Teaching.of.Masters.translation

8/13/2019 Method.of.Teaching.of.Masters.translation

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Method

of Teaching

of Masters

by

Luis Dias de Viedma

Translation by Tim Rivera

Note: Translation to English of some of the technical terminology of destrezahas followed the Englishtranslations of the terms by Mary Dill Curtis (From the age to the ractice! Ettenhard"s Compendio de

los fundamentos)for the reader"s ease of reference# The original $%anish terminology is listed in

brac&ets at the term"s first a%%earance#

Co%yright ')* by Tim Rivera# $ub+ect to Fair ,se in the Co%yright -ct of the ,nited $tates of -merica#

,sers may! without further %ermission! dis%lay! save! and %rint this wor& for %ersonal! non commercial use! %rovided that

the co%yright notice is not severed from the wor Libraries may store this material and non commercially redistribute it to

their %atrons in electronic or %rinted form for %ersonal! non commercial use! %rovided that the co%yright notice is notsevered from the wor


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METHOD

O F T E A C H I N GOF MASTERS IN THE PHILOSOPHICAL SCIENCE

of the true mathematical destrea of arms

By the Licenced Luis Daz de Viedma, native of the city of Guadix

To Do! "artolome de #illa$ice!cio% &!i'ht of the Order

of Alca!tara% etc(

WITH LICENCE AND PRIVELEGE.

I! "arcelo!a% i! the house of Se)astia! a!d *aime Mate$ad%

+ri!ter of the cit, a!d u!i$ersit,( I! the ,ear -./0(


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Approval of the Captain don Geronimo de Torres !el"ar#

$aptain of %panish infantr of His !a"est in the prin$ipalit of

Catal&'a.

( $ommission and order of the ill&strio&s lord !i)&el *&an

!a)arola# re)ent in the $o&n$il of His !a"est of the +in)o&r lord# ,hom God +eeps# in the s&preme of this

prin$ipalit of Catal&'a# I have seen this method of spea+in) and

reasonin) ,ell in matters of the mathemati$al s$ien$e of the tr&e

destrezaof arms and this -oo+ entitled Tea$hin) of !asters in the

red&$tion of this art to the tr&th. All that is ,ithin him is a

do)mati$ $atholi$# learned in his tea$hin)# er&dite in la-or# and

$&lt&red in stle. inall# the -oo+ of s&$h master# ,hi$h is

ri)htf&ll entitled the method of the tr&e tea$hin) of masters in the

philosophi$al and mathemati$al s$ien$e of arms. or the masters

that ,o&ld +no, it ,ith art# red&$in) it to dis$&ssion# it is a ri$htreas&re# ,ith ,hose tr&e tea$hin) men ,ill -e a-le to ill&minate

this s$ien$e# as it e/plains ,ith s&$h modest stle the ,or+s of

Commander Geronimo de Carran0a and the distin)&ished L&is

Pa$he$o de Narvae0# it deserves for "&st $a&ses to -e )iven li$ense

to -e printed. This is m opinion# so&nd# et$. In 1ar$elona#

Novem-er 23# 4567.

1

Don Geronimo de Torres


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N 9 T E % T 9 T H E ! A % T E R %

HE desire and ,ill that I have that this s$ien$e does not

remain as forei)n to men as it is# ma+es me invent and ,or+

on a thin) that is of s&$h little -enefit to m f&nds and

$onservan$# and of s&$h disappointment and sorro,. When I pass- the si)ht of the solit&de that Commander Geronimo de Carran0a

mo&rned in his -oo+# lamentin) and sain): It ,as not -etter to

remove me from this and )ain from eatin) as a la,er# ,ho isn;t

pensive ni)ht and da# -e$a&se the point their fin)er at me in the

streets# sain): this man is the o,l of the s+illed and valiant# ,ho

fi)hts in Latin ,hen it is offered# havin) fo&nd me a )reat treas&re#

that men have never +no,n. inall he invents )reat ,or+s that

ea$h da had ,ei)hed on him# ,ith ,hi$h he de$ided to leave the

arms. %o if the $ens&red s&$h a man# and toda there are those

,ho $ens&re m )reat master don L&is Pa$he$o de Narv


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and I ,as amon) them and too+ the s,ord# and he str&$+ me ver

freel. I ,on;t sa ,hat happened ,ith the rest# -&t that I ,as in

,onder of ,hat str&$+ me# and that one -lo, that I )ave to the

narro, $o&ld never ma+e it. I ima)ined a tho&sand te$hni8&es for

it# and another da I ,ent to his ho&se alone it appeared to me that

not +eepin) to $o&rtes had to ,o&nd him# -&t -ein) so )reat#no-le# and $o&rteo&s# he re$eived me ver ,ell and dire$ted me to

ta+e the s,ords# ,ith ,hi$h he disill&sioned me and made me

&nderstand some -lo,s of the tr&th# $itin) to me ,hat ,e sa,. It

,as that ,a# that ,e ,ere al,as to)ether mornin) and evenin).

The other diestrosdid not ,ant to red&$e rather# the hated me#

and I told them that the -est ,as the red&$tion to reason# that the

lived de$eived# and that the te$hni8&es that I +ne, and had as the

most $ertain failed me and ,ere false. That ,hi$h donGaspar said

,as the same tr&th# red&$ed to a$$o&nt and reason# ,ith ,hi$h I

,as satisfied. Ho,ever the pers&aded me a tho&sand times#sain) that -ad or )ood# ,e $onserve that ,hi$h ,e +no,# so that

,e ,ill not lose the fame and opinion. The same happened to me

,ith the diestros the are the )reatest enemies of the tr&th# ,antin)

to s&stain that ,hi$h is -ad# ma+in) ,ords and 8&arrel ,ith

reason. In this time this )entleman died# and it appeared to the

afi$ionados that had dis$&ssed ,ith donGaspar that I had $arried

the )reater part# ,ho ,ere pleased that ,e pla$ed into e/e$&tion

and pra$ti$e that ,hi$h o&r master had ta&)ht &s. With this# ,ord

spread that the masters didn;t +no, the tr&th# and that onl that,hi$h donGaspar had said ,as it. Th&s the didn;t have dis$iples

and said that I ,as the $a&se. !an "a-s $ame to me from them#

that I leave o&t as not to -e lon)# -&t I ,ill tell one# and it ,as that

ei)ht masters from the re)ion $ame to)ether and sear$hed for a

-oo+# sain) that the had to learn# and that L&$as 1rasa# an old

master# $ele-rated as s+illed# had it. In -e)innin) to pra$ti$e - the


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plain) ,ith others# that ,hi$h I ,or+ed ,as not lost. Havin)

them ma+e atajosin a ro&nded $ir$le to one side and the other had

tired me# -e$a&se I had to +eep to a tho&sand pre$epts# &ntil God

,as served that I made them )o in the oppositions of the lo,

)eneral# $omposed of t,o )enerals# ,ith ,hi$h I softened hard

hearts and arms that# red&$ed to art# ,or+ed ver ,ell the -est ofthis s$ien$e. In this time I ret&rned to Granada# %eville# Cordo-a#

and *aBn# ,here I fo&nd and pra$ti$ed ,ith masters so $apa-le in

this s$ien$e that I ,as -arel a-le to $onfess mself as their lo,est

dis$iple. 1&t loo+in) at their mode of tea$hin)# I $onsidered ho,

little that it too+ advanta)e of the dis$iples# and that the s$ien$e

remained in them# and that in order to tea$h a dis$iple# m&$h time

,as ne$essar. inall# I $ame to -e a ver e/$ellent plaer# ,ith

little a$$o&nt and reason# half v&l)ar# ,ith ,hi$h I $onsidered that

the same s$ien$e ret&rned to its $enter# ,hi$h is v&l)ar# and $omin)

to the pla0a# and to man other parts to see plain)# and all plaedv&l)arl. Those that plaed -etter ,ere >as I have said? -ra,lin)

pla# ,itho&t desi)n or reason those same $onfessin) that the

didn;t ,ant to pla ,ith their friends# I ,ondered at seein) s&$h

masters and dis$iples# ,ith ,hi$h their little $ertaint in tea$hin)

,as proven.

rom here I $onsidered man times# noti$in) that this s$ien$e

,as different than the other s$ien$es# as there is reason and

$ertaint in the others from the $reation of the ,orld# and this -ein)

the same affinit of men# the ,ere stran)ers to it. Considerin) thatthe $ommander Geronimo de Carran0a had not -een the first that

had ,ritten of it# nor donL&is Pa$he$o de Narv


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The Italians ,ere Pedro !onte# A$hille !aro00o# Camillo

A)rippa >,ho ,as the first that made mathemati$al demonstrations

and intended to red&$e it to a$$o&nt and reason?# Gia$omo di

Grassi# Giovanni dall;A)o$$hie from !allor$a# *&an de Pons

%paniards ran$is$o Rom


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1asin) the "&d)ment on this $onsideration# I have $ome to

dis$over that inasm&$h as the other s$ien$es are ta&)ht ,ith s&$h

ease# that even those that do not have in$lination to them learn it#

and in this havin) had s&$h a&thors and afi$ionados as is seen and

said# and that in itself there is no man that doesn;t ,ant to +no,#

and most sa that the +no, ea$h one in its ,a# and in s&mmar Ihave fo&nd that the haven;t -een s&$$essf&l in it. Rather# all ,as

error &ntil the divine revelation of Commander Geronimo de

Carran0a# ,isel no-le man# son# and native of the distin)&ished

$it of %eville# empire of the ,orld# and door to its ri$hness. 1ein)

in servi$e of the most e/$ellent lord D&+e of !edina %idonia# he

attained the &niversal prin$ipals of this s$ien$e# )ivin) in ,ritin)

the mathemati$al demonstrations# ,hi$h remained o-s$&re and

em-roni$ &ntil don L&is Pa$he$o de Narvae0 >honor of these

$ent&ries# and affront of the past?# ma+in) &se of st&d >father of

disill&sion?# -ro&)ht &s to li)ht# and pla$ed demonstrations ofs$ientifi$ theor and pra$ti$e# de$idin) the parti$&lar -lo,s# )reater

and lesser# of the s$ien$e# red&$in) it ,ith mathemati$al

demonstrations# as ,ill -e seen in his ,ritin)s. His demonstrations

si)nif it# -&t never has dis$o&rse -een )iven on the manner that

the masters have to have in tea$hin) their dis$iples# sho,in) ,hat

steps and -lo,s have to -e ta&)ht in the -e)innin)# and if the

-e)innin) has to -e )iven - )eneral atajo# or - the )eneral of

narro,in). I have fo&nd it to -e nota-le harm# and it ,ill -e ver

la-orio&s in tea$hin) the dis$iple# and he ,ill -e remain half@v&l)ar# -&t at the end there is no part of the tea$hin) sho,n ,ith

,hi$h ea$h one ,ants to follo, their se$t. Th&s# it ,as "&st that it

had -een )iven ease# as in all the other s$ien$es# as it is the point of

)reater importan$e# - dealin) ,ith no less than of the life of man#

and in -rillian$e of val&e and rep&tation of o&r nation. %o that one


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meas&re of proportion medio de (ro(orcin $hosen# ,e ,ill see that

,hatever man of ,hatever 8&alit or in)en&it that he ma -e# in

dire$tin) him to ta+e the s,ord on the o&tside# his o,n nat&re

for$es him to do that ,ith a step from point A to point D# ,ith,hi$h he ,ill remain &n$overed and ,o&nded. 1 se$ond nat&re#

he has to )o to point 1# the -od remainin) in profile# ,ith ,hi$h

he ,ill ,o&nd his opponent freel. In the same $onformit# one

,ill see that ta+in) the s,ord on the inside# his o,n nat&re for$es

him to )ive a step from point A to point 1# ,ith ,hi$h the -od ,ill

remain &n$overed and ,o&nded. The step does not have to -e

)iven to other than point D# the -od remainin) s8&ared# ,ith

,hi$h he ,ill ne$essaril ,o&nd the opponent.

The parrin) in these t,o atajosis ver important# -e$a&se

the atajothat is )iven from point A to point 1 is the )eneral of linein $ross )inea en cruz# and that ,hi$h is )iven from point A to point

D is a )eneral atajo# ,hi$h are the f&ndamentals of this s$ien$e.

This other atajois that ,hi$h is more important to +no,# is more

for)otten - men# and is the +e and door of this s$ien$e. It ,ill -e

&nderstood in this form: it is the third movement that I said# ,hi$h

is removin) the s,ord and thr&sts of the opponent to one side or

the other. I have never fo&nd it in an master or dis$iple ,ith the

re8&isites that to&$h it rather# the a-hor it and sa that it is not an

atajo# -&t to one side or the other. He that re$eives one that &ses it isnota-le harm# -e$a&se this manner of atajo sets -a$+ the ,hole

s$ien$e# and the professors of it &se it# not +no,in) the harm that it

does# -e$a&se their o,n nat&re -rin)s them to it. Th&s# this is the

first that ,e have to restri$t and remove from the dis$iples# ta+in) it

a,a so that the don;t &se an tpe of it &ntil the are diestros# and

this s&its ,ell. 9ne $an repl to me that )oin) to ,o&nd# it ,ill -e

ne$essar to remove the s,ord# and that I have not stopped -ein)

,o&nded. To this# I sa that this s$ien$e has dis$overed a ,a of


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removin) the s,ord never +no,n - the masters# ,ith the parts

that pertain to it# and here the are told that it has s&$h a hidden

part ,ith the lim-s and m&s$les of man# that it alone is eno&)h to

destro the nat&ral movements and introd&$e the artifi$ial in s&$hform that# ,ith )reat ease# a man is fo&nd lord and $apa-le of that

,hi$h harmed him -efore. After havin) &nderstood those three

tpes of movements and atajos, he ,ill -e fo&nd $apa-le and

disposed to &nderstand and re$eive the art. This tpe of atajoand

movement is $omposed of three )enerals# that are the )eneral of

line in $ross# and the )eneral ,ea+ -elo, the stron) f)a-ueza de.ajo

de )a fuerza# and the $ase seen that in itself alone# it is the lo,

)eneral# ,hi$h is $omposed of the t,o said )enerals. In this ,a#

m opponent havin) made the lo, )eneral ,ith the re8&isites that

are )iven and $omin) to ,o&nd me in the $hest or fa$e# I don;t haveto remove the s,ord to one side or the other# havin) mine in o-t&se

an)le. Rather# I have to pla$e it in a$&te an)le# and red&$e the ,ea+

and point of m s,ord to the stron) and 8&illons of the opponent;s#

-ein) red&$ed to the ,ea+ -elo, the stron)# ,hi$h ,ill -e the lo,

)eneral# ,hi$h is# and has to -e# the -e)innin)# middle# and end of

this s$ien$e. It is onl that ,hi$h I press to the professors of this art

that are not tired of st&din) it# that it ,ill ma+e them $apa-le and

lords of all the s$ien$e# and the ,ill &se it a$$ordin) to ,hat ,ill

-e said in its demonstrations. The )reatest $a&tion that I have isthat - this tpe of movement -ein) a)ainst the nat&re of a man# it

is ver diffi$&lt to enter into it# rather the hate it# and th&s I advise

him that &nderstandin) ,ill never leave him# -e$a&se he ,ill see

that it is all his remed and defense# and that ,ith it# he lives safe.

1 the lon) e/perien$e that I have# and the desire that this s$ien$e is

+no,n# I ret&rn to press this -lo,# -e$a&se its enemies are the same

masters that are toda ,ell@re$eived# appearin) to them that the

+no, plain) the s,ord a-ove -etter# the are de$eived and


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forei)n to it# as those >-ein) ad"&sted to reason? ,ho ,ill read m

,ritin)s ,ill see. Th&s I sa that the are the men ,ith ,hom I

s&ffer most# and more ,ith those that vanished ,ho ,ant to )ive

voi$e to reason and s$ien$e ,itho&t )ettin) ad"&sted to it.

! " # $ T % R I I + & n t h e / e y a n d * o v e r n o r o f t h i s

s c i e n c e +

HEN o&r a&thor donL&is Pa$he$o de Narv


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the step remainin) in s&$h $onformit that he rea$hes to ,o&nd the

adversar. This )eneral in itself en$loses the tea$hin)# and the lo,

)eneral is its o,n $enter# -e)innin)# and end that is started - the

)eneral of line in $ross. The three are three# and in form t,o# and,hen it la$+s the s,ord it is one# and that ,ill -e treated as

&niversal.

I don;t ,ant to refer to the -lo,s that $an -e formed from

this )eneral# -e$a&se o&r master donL&is Pa$he$o de Narv


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A$&te an)le a*udo is ,henever the point of the s,ord is

lo,.

C&rved an)le curvo ,ill -e &nderstood ,henever a

movement of $on$l&sion is made# and serves for -&$+ler andda))er.

The diestrom&st +no, the thin) - its $a&se# as o&r a&thor

sas# for the se$&rit of the -lo,s# and the $annot la$+ it. The

te$hni8&es tretas are $omposed of movements# and these ,e ,ill

-e a-le $all tho&)hts# ,hi$h man $annot +no, -&t the art has

&n$overed s&$h reason# that ,itho&t havin) do&-t# the diestro $an

+no, all the movements that the opponent $an ma+e# ,hi$h are si/

post&res# or movements# and the ,ill -e &nderstood in this form:

4. %trai)ht recta# ,hi$h is the s,ord -ein) strai)ht.

2. 9-t&se o.tusa# ,hi$h is the s,ord -ein) lifted from thepoint.

6. A$&te a*uda# ,hi$h is the point of the s,ord -ein) lo,.

. 9ffline lateral remiso# ,hi$h is the s,ord -ein) parted

to one side# or the other.

F. Ali)nin) lateral de reduccin# is ret&rnin) to the strai)ht.

5. 1a$+,ard extra2o# is ,ithdra,in) the arm.

And a$$ordin) to ordered poten$# a man $annot -e

esta-lished in an other manner# and th&s there ,ill -e no

$onf&sion for the diestroon the post&res in ,hi$h the opponent $an-e esta-lished# as he $an onl -e esta-lished as said# in the si/

,hi$h are hi)h# lo,# strai)ht# to one side or the other# for,ard# and

-a$+. As ea$h one of these $onsists of different -e)innin)s#

middles# and ends# all are s&-"e$t to the seven )enerals# on ,hi$h I

s&pport this s$ien$e and edifi$e. 1 the post&re of the s,ord# I ,ill

+no, ,hat te$hni8&e he $an $hoose immediatel# and I ,ill pla$e

the remed. If he is fin)ernails@do,n# he $an onl form a tajo or

half reves,if fin)ernails@&p# he $an onl form a revesor half tajo,and

if on ed)e de fi)o# a thr&st# and it $annot -e anthin) else a$$ordin)

to ordered poten$. As the te$hni8&es are $omposed of


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movements from the dis$iples# ,hi$h is the hindran$e and stops

men from +no,in) the s$ien$e# the ,ill -e for$ed to remain

v&l)ar. Th&s these seven )enerals# ,hi$h ,e )o dealin) ,ith# have

s&$h a hidden part ,ith the )ood &se and lim-s of a man# thatred&$e him# remove all the nat&ral movements# and restri$t him to

the artifi$ial# leavin) him perfe$tl a)ile and disposed in order to

re$eive this s$ien$e. The are these:

4. General of line in $ross.

2. General of ,ea+ -elo, the stron).

6. Lo, )eneral $omposed of these t,o )enerals.

. General of narro,in) estrechar.

F. General of ,ea+ a-ove the stron) f)a-ueza encima de )a

fuerza.

5. Hi)h )eneral $omposed of t,o )enerals.. General atajoon the $ir$&mferen$e of the left side.

These are the seven )enerals on ,hi$h I -ase this edifi$e# as ,ill -e

seen in this -oo+.

I ret&rn to repeat that the )reatest error that there has -een in

this s$ien$e of arms ,as )ivin) the la-el of parti$&lar te$hni8&es to

the tajo# reves# half tajo# half reves# and thr&st# and that the are the

first te$hni8&es. It appeared to the masters that the ,ere ri)ht# as

men forei)n to s$ien$e# fo&nded more in their temerit than in

see+in) reason - st&d# ,hi$h is the father of disill&sionment.Their o,n nat&ral movements are in pla$e# ,hi$h are those that

don;t )ive rise to &nderstandin) in order to -e a-le to enter into this

s$ien$e. The hear it said - o&r a&thors that the are te$hni8&es#

and that the are the first# and ,ith that the ,ant to follo, the

opinion of the v&l)ar and its masters# ,itho&t havin) repaired the

dama)e that res&lts from this. 1&t if the had -een $&rio&s and had

not removed the s$ien$e from st&d and ,or+# the ,ill have made

)ood that in all the ,ritin)s# there is no -lo, of s&$h prin$ipals#

and in man parts of the 1oo+ of the Greatness of the %,ord it sas


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F I F T " ! " # $ T % R + & n t h e v u ) * a r

t e c h n i - u e s +

HE first intent of Commander Geronimo de Caran0a ,as toth,art and ,ear a,a the v&l)ar# and o&r a&thor donL&is

Pa$he$o de Narv


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,ith his o,n movements# the ,ill form -lo,s# and if he ,ill -e

slo,# )oin) strai)ht to him# the same )enerals ,ill )ive him -lo,s.

All the v&l)ar te$hni8&es and the post&res of all men# of

,hi$hever nation that the ma -e# in this -oo+ ,ill -e fo&nds&-"e$t to the lo, )eneral# $omposed of t,o )enerals# ,here the

disill&sion of all ,ill -e seen. All the time# it ,ill -e ne$essar for

me to ma+e &se of the -est# not &ndoin) anthin) that is ne$essar

for the advanta)e of this s$ien$e. Altho&)h some ,ise to this

s$ien$e sa that at some time he -enefits from a v&l)ar te$hni8&e#

the $all it -ad# and it is# as the are still spoiled and v&l)ar#

-e$a&se the tr&th never had ne$essit of a lie. If the v&l)ar

te$hni8&es ,ere done ,ith the atajos and re8&isites of the tr&th#

the ,o&ld not -e v&l)ar# -&t tr&e# as ,ill -e seen in this -oo+.

1rin)in) the s,ord in a $ontin&o&s movement made )reatresistan$e to o&r masters# pla$in) it - itself and sain) that -

havin) -een v&l)ar# it is not &sed# )ivin) - $ontrast the )eneral of

,ea+ -elo, the stron)# sain) that it ,as a v&l)ar te$hni8&e# not

noti$in) that this te$hni8&e ,as never v&l)ar# -&t th,arted the

v&l)ar all the time# ,hi$h toda th,arts it - &sin) it tr&l# as I

tea$h it# done ,ith the name of Andal&sian thr&sts# as ,ill -e said

in its $hapters. The )eneral of line in $ross and )eneral ,ea+ -elo,

the stron) are the same. I prove it# that in order to )o in opposition

of the lo, )eneral# )ivin) atajoof line in $ross# it is ne$essar to )ivea step from point A to point 1# ma+in) atajo,ith )eneral of line in

$ross# and the adversar is lo,ered and $hooses ,ea+ -elo, the

stron)# transferrin) a small step to his ri)ht side and profile of -od

from point A to point 1# it ,ill -e ne$essar for he that made the

atajoleavin) to ,o&nd his opponent to ret&rn to red&$e the s,ord#

pla$in) the point on the stron) and 8&illons of his opponent;s# and


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!athemati$al demonstration of the an)les

Thelineof$onta$tofthe$hestofaman

There have -een# and are# man masters that have ,anted to

maintain that the post&re doesn;t have to -e strai)ht# sain) that

the appear to -e more se$&re in that of the o-t&se an)le >iron )ate?

and the a$&te an)le >the ima)ined?# and that the s,ord is stron)er#

sain) that the arm and s,ord have to -e )iven $&rved. The live


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! A T H E ! A T I C A L D E ! 9 N % T R A T I 9 N 9 the $ir$le for the )overnor of the s$ien$e.


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E ,ill -e a-le to $all the present demonstration# ver

"&stl# the fo&ndation and -e)innin) of this s$ien$e# and

the f&ndamentals of it# - -ein) the first that m&st -e

ta&)ht in it. Witho&t this -e)innin)# neither is the master a-le totea$h it# nor is the dis$iple a-le to a$8&ire it.

WIn all it ,ill ,ant to -rin) me to &nderstand ,ith the )reatest

ease and $larit as possi-le# that - -ein) a s$ien$e# it is so

advanta)eo&s for a man. When I $onsider that His !a"est hasn;t

imposed an oaths or in$ome for the professors of it# nor do I have

ne,s that an )entleman or other individ&al has left an patrona)e

so that the ,ere a-le to st&d this s$ien$e# as has -een done in the

other s$ien$es# -e$a&se st&d is so painf&l to a man that offi$es and

in$ome are lost# as ,ell as restf&l livin) - not st&din) and fleein)

from the penalt and ,or+ of st&d. When the ta+e this ,or+ andst&d in the s$ien$es# elevatin) and -rin)in) them to the ,orld

,ith m&$h ,ritin) and )reat vol&mes# as is seen in nat&ral and

moral philosoph# medi$ine# la,# theolo)# )eometr# and

astronom. The do this - the in$omes that the have in the

s$hools and &niversities# or - the &tilities and advanta)es that

those individ&als have. 1&t in this s$ien$e# ,hi$h is so poor# that

neither do &niversities have in$ome for its professors# nor does it

)ive some advanta)e in parti$&lar ,ith ,hi$h to earn an estate.

The s&pport for the famil# even - another part# is ver &sef&l# asit serves for the defense of a man and the honor of his homeland.

9&r %pain $an -e )lorified amon) all +no,n as that ,hi$h has

+no,n -etter to )overn them# as is seen# as the have pla$ed its

fla)s in all the parts of the ,orld# s&-"e$tin) nations despite itself.

I sa then# that this s$ien$e -ein) so poor# as I have referred#


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is the reason that there is little ,ritten of it# and those so $onf&sed

that I don;t find an ,ho &nderstands them as the m&st -e

&nderstood. The are e/$&sed# -e$a&se if the ,ant to delve m&$h

in this s$ien$e# ta+in) all of its tr&th p&-li$# their povert doesn;t)ive room for it. Th&s the ,rite# and that ,hi$h the ,rite is little#

$onf&sed# and diffi$&lt to )ive it to print# -e$a&se of the time# pla$e#

and $osts that are offered# -e$a&se printin) ,itho&t mathemati$al

fi)&res and demonstrations ,o&ld not -e advanta)eo&s I ,rite it

- the e/perien$e that I have of it. These are so painf&l - -ein) in

s&$h form# that for t,o ears of livin) in the Cit of Cadi0# this

-oo+ has not -een a-le to -e printed -e$a&se of a la$+ of $arvers

that &nderstand me in order to ma+e the plates for these

demonstrations# $ostin) me m&$h ,or+# time# and mone. inall

the have not left it as ad"&sted as s&its this s$ien$e -&t thee/planation of ea$h one ,ill remed it# ,hi$h ,ill -e ,ith the

)reatest $larit that I ,ill -e $apa-le of.

In all the s$ien$es of the ,orld# ,hi$hever man of )ood

in)en&it# $&stom# and reason ,ill -e a-le to spea+ of them# ,hen

not so "&st as the deserve# -&t for the reason that it m&st -e heard.

In $omin) to deal ,ith them# the remit their opinion to the learned

that profess and +no, them. 1&t in this s$ien$e of arms# ,hi$h is

more forei)n to men# a$$ordin) to ,hat I have proven# no man ,ill

-e a-le to )ive opinion of that ,hi$h he doesn;t &nderstand. In thiss$ien$e# ea$h one has the opinion that he is ver m&$h fo&nd in it#

)ivin) his vote# appearin) to him that it is ver "&stified. Altho&)h

he $an -e ad"&sted# as all the movements have to -e -a$+,ard from

that ,hi$h he sees and thin+s# -e$a&se in all the s$ien$es# man;s

o,n nat&re helps him ,ith a se$ret $a&tion# that ma+es him lord

and $apa-le of it ,ith ease# -&t in this s$ien$e it is the opposite#

-e$a&se his o,n nat&re hinders and impedes him# stoppin) him

from -e$omin) $apa-le of it. Th&s the )reatest $a&se of the fail&re


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that the professors of this s$ien$e have had has -een not havin)

-een $a&tioned that the nat&ral movements of a man are the first

that have -een removed in order to introd&$e to him the tr&e atajos

and movements. These have s&$h a painf&l -e)innin) that it is the)reatest fear that I have# and the )reatest diffi$&lt that I find# -

seein) that pra$ti$in) ,ith man that are $onsidered diestros#

red&$in) them and ad"&stin) them to this s$ien$e $osts me m&$h

time and ,or+. As the have alread made a ha-it in the &se of

their o,n nat&ral movements# I find it to -e ver diffi$&lt to red&$e

them to the artifi$ial of the s$ien$e# so that the ma+e them ha-it

and $&stom# ,hi$h is se$ond nat&re. The men that I tea$h more

easil# ,ho &nderstand me# are those that have never -een ta&)ht.

1&t as it ,ill -e ne$essar that in -&in) these ,ritin)s# there have

to -e those that have dealt ,ith the arms ,ith this $ontrar &se# and,ill -e ,hat the have follo,ed# appearin) to them that the have

traveled - the tr&th# and that the are fo&nd in it# that this ,ill -e

more or less that ,hi$h the have learned# see+in) means in order

to th,art ea$h te$hni8&e and -lo,. If he that defends this $a&se

does not &nderstand it ,ell# he ,ill ne$essaril -e defeated. Th&s I

appeal to ,hi$hever diestrothat ,ill have the pleas&re of ad"&stin)

m ,ritin)s# he passes over them man times - theor and

pra$ti$e# not see+in) $o&nters# -&t rather favorin) them# see+in) the

remedies# and ad"&stments# pla$in) them man times in e/e$&tion#,hen it is not more than fo&r months# spendin) one ho&r ea$h da

on it. With this# he ,ill $ome to &nderstand the -e)innin)# middle#

and end of ea$h -lo,# the defenses# and $o&nters that the to&$h.

In this $ase# it ,ill ma+e me happ that if he has to $orre$t# it is

$orre$ted an other tpe thin+in) that the are ri)ht ,ill -e a

mista+e.


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left transverse# in s&$h $onformit# that the -one of the left foot is

opposite the heel of the ri)ht# and no more than one foot distan$e

from one to another. Givin) a$$o&nt of this $ir$le that is ima)ined

-et,een the $om-atants# ,hi$h has to -e &nderstood that thestrai)ht line of the diameter is ei)ht feet from point A to point A#

esta-lished ,ith s,ords mar+ed# ,hi$h ,ill -e t,ent fo&r aro&nd#

>,hi$h# red&$ed to steps of three feet# ,ill -e ei)ht?# a$$ordin) to

E&$lid# prin$e of )eometr. Givin) a$$o&nt of the lines and steps#

,hi$h ,ill -e ei)ht# &nderstood in this form: from point A to point

P is a strai)ht step recto on the strai)ht line of the diameter. rom

point A to point R is a -a$+,ard step extra2o on the se$ant# or

-a$+,ard line# ,hi$h to&$hes the left foot. rom point A to point

is a lateral step de tre(idacin to the $ir$&mferen$e on the ri)ht or

left side on tan)ent or finite lines. rom point A to point 9 ,ill -e ami/ed lateral and -a$+,ard step on a mi/ed line# ,hi$h to&$hes the

left foot - the $ir$&mferen$e on the left side# and on the ri)ht it

to&$hes -oth feet. rom point A to point 1 ,ill -e a $&rved step on

the $ir$&mferen$e to the ri)ht side on the infinite line# as it doesn;t

have -e)innin) or end. rom point A to point D is a $&rved step on

the infinite line. The lines of the $ir$le ,ill -e ima)ined strai)ht

from point A to point A# and from point 1 to point 1# and from

point D to point D# and from point C to point C. We ,ill also $all

transverse# $onsidered in this form# those from point A to point 1and point D# and that from C to point 1 and point D# and the rest

,ill -e &nderstood in this $onformit.

The dis$iple ,ill -e dire$ted to pla$e the s,ord in the form

that he $arries it on the -elt# and to plant himself on point A ,ith

the re8&isites that to&$h the art# ,hi$h remain said. With a for,ard

step from point A to point P# liftin) first the ri)ht foot and then the


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left# in s&$h $onformit that he $an -e planted as he ,as on point A.

He )ives a -a$+,ard step to,ard the rear# ret&rnin) to point A#

liftin) first the left foot and then the ri)ht# &ntil ret&rnin) to remain

esta-lished# and the -od entirel $omposed and profiled# the feetin the $onformit that has -een said. Dire$t him to )ive $&rved

steps on the $ir$&mferen$e to the ri)ht side from point A to point 1#

and point C# and point D# &ntil ret&rnin) to point A ,here he left#

havin) the -od profiled# the arm strai)ht to the opponent;s fa$e#

tellin) him $&rved step on the $ir$&mferen$e to the ri)ht side# the

-od profiled. In the same $onformit# he )ives a step on the

$ir$&mferen$e to his left side from point A to point D# and point C#

and point 1# &ntil ret&rnin) to point A ,here he left# tellin) him

$&rved step on the $ir$&mferen$e to the left side# the -od

remainin) s8&are# the arm dra,n $lose to the $hest# the ri)ht foottransverse to his ri)ht side.

The master has to have the dis$iple )ive these steps for ei)ht

das# or more if it ,ill -e ne$essar# &ntil he is red&$ed to them#

)ivin) those steps ,ith )ood )ra$e and disposition# the -od

al,as remainin) profiled or s8&ared. In this# this s$ien$e appears

li+e dan$e# and ad"&stin) to these steps# the s,ord ,ill -e pla$ed in

the hand as ,ill -e said in this dis$o&rse.


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HE sain) is tr&e that man esteems that ,hi$h $osts him

m&$h ,or+# and he ,ill ,ant that all esteem it. The present

demonstration is so important for this s$ien$e# and men live

so forei)n to it# as - their o,n nat&re# all the nations of the ,orldpla$e the pommel -elo, the -lade of the hand# as I pla$ed it as a

diestro>it -ein) -est in m opinion?. When I $onsider that A)rippa

sas in his -oo+ that the s,ord strai)ht and thro,in) thr&sts in

$ontin&o&s movement is the -est -lo,# and in order to ma+e this

a$tion# it is ne$essar that the s,ord is in the $hannel of the ,rist#

and this is more than fo&r@h&ndred ears old.

T

Commander Geronimo de Carran0a )ives it to &s - pre$ept

and mathemati$al demonstrations in his -oo+. 9&r a&thor donL&is

Pa$he$o de Narv


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s,ord in the hand# the have to t&rn to )ive the same steps in the

same $onformit that ,ere said in the demonstration of the $ir$le

,ith the feet# ma+in) man ro&nded atajos to one side and the

other. In this form# havin) $hosen the meas&re of proportion ,iththe re8&isites that to&$h the art on point A# he is to )ive a $&rved

step on the $ir$&mferen$e on the ri)ht side to point 1# passin) the

s,ord -elo, the opponent;s. The s,ord has to remain offline and

some,hat in the o-t&se an)le# the hand almost fin)ernails@&p# the

arm so strai)ht that from his left sho&lder to the $hannel of the

,rist is $onsidered a strai)ht line. As the demonstration of the

)eneral of line in $ross sho,s# the master leaves to ,o&nd the $hest#

)ivin) a step from point A to point 1# and the dis$iple# ,itho&t

losin) the s,ord# rather &nited ,ith it# follo,s it &ntil ret&rnin) it

to the same atajoand said )eneral# $ir$lin) aro&nd# )ivin) a step topoint C. The master )oes leadin) him# leavin) to ,o&nd ,ith his

steps# and the dis$iple )oes red&$in) in a $ir$le# ,itho&t losin) the

s,ord or step# &ntil the ret&rn to the point A from ,hi$h the left#

tellin) him $&rved step on the $ir$&mferen$e to the ri)ht side# the

-od al,as remainin) profiled. Also# havin) $hosen the meas&re

of proportion# )ive atajoto the s,ord on the inside# )ivin) a $&rved

lateral step on the $ir$&mferen$e to the left side from point A to

point D# the -od remainin) s8&ared. The master ,ill leave to

,o&nd - his steps# as the $ir$le# +e# and )overnor of this s$ien$esi)nifies. In this form# the one ,or+in)# and the other &ndoin)#

the ,ill ma+e man atajosin a $ir$le# ,ith step# -od# and s,ord at

one time# al,as +eepin) to the re8&isites of this s$ien$e#

$onsiderin) that ,hen it $&ts short to the ri)ht side# it is the )eneral

of line in $ross# and ,hen it $&ts short to the left side# it is the

)eneral atajo. In these ro&nded atajos# ,hi$h are spiral lines# he has

to have him do for ei)ht das or more a$$ordin) to his disposition.


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He ,ill )o ta+in) tajos# and reveses# and )o +illin) them ,ith the

same ro&nded atajo# ,itho&t anthin) -ein) altered# and

disill&sionin) him that the opponent $an do more than a thr&st

-elo, or a tajoa-ove. With these tpes of atajoshe ,ill remed all#so that he )oes losin) fear. This )ives a nota-le advanta)e#

removin) man;s nat&re# ,hi$h is to flee the opposin) s,ord. With

these atajoshe is &nited and $lose to it# ta&)ht to )ive steps to

)overn the arm and ,rist and to $ompose the -od. !a+in) man

atajos# he ,ill $ome to +no, ho, to ma+e an atajo,ell# ,hi$h is the

)oal that ,e see+.


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!athemati$al demonstration of the s,ords.


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! " # $ T % R V I + & ' T " % ' 3 4 B % R I ' G # ' D

stren*ths of the s1ord+

HE n&m-erin) and stren)th of the s,ord is of )reatimportan$e# so that the diestro+no,s ,hen he has )ained

the stron) of the opponent# and that -ein) of less stren)th#

he ,ill $onsider him stron)er# and the s$ien$e )ives this.TThe points and )rad&ation of the s,ord are ten# distri-&ted and

ad"&sted from the pommel# ,hi$h is the $enter and stron)# to the

point# ,hi$h is the ,ea+# as its demonstration si)nifies. Th&s the

,ill -e &nderstood in this form: ,hen the opponent pla$es his

s,ord on point 2# the diestro,ill pla$e it on point # -e$a&se as the

s$ale ma+es o&n$es at the -e)innin)# and then po&nds# and arro.as#

the s,ord# havin) )ained de)rees from one point to another# ,ill -e

of )reater stren)th. In pla$in) atajoon the opposin) s,ord# pla$in)

m s,ord in )reater de)rees of stren)th ,ill have s&-"e$ted it in

the opposin) s,ord -ein) on point of mine# I have -een pla$ed on

point 5 of his# and li+e this# the other points ,ill -e a-le to -e

&nderstood.

And no, the art has dis$overed a post&re so stron) and

val&a-le that# the s,ords pla$ed in pairs# I ,ill do it to m

adversar# and he $annot lift it ,ith t,o hands the atajo -ein)

made ,ith the re8&isites that to&$h this s$ien$e# -e$a&se m s,ord,ill -e &sin) the nat&ral movement# and the opponent;s ,ill &se

the violent movement. This ,ill -e seen in the )eneral atajoof the

$ir$&mferen$e on the left side# ,here one ,ill -e a-le to e/perien$e

it.

It has also dis$overed a -lo, for)otten - the masters# and

less &nderstood# ,here I ,ill )ive to m opponent his stron) and

mine# pla$in) the point of m s,ord -elo, the stron) and 8&illons

of his# s&$h that m point 2 ,ill -e pla$ed on his point 7# and that

m s,ord is stron)er and in a -etter state than his.


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This $an -e e/perien$ed in ,ea+ -elo, the stron). With that ,hi$h

is proven# the diestro5ss,ord is )ood in all pla$es# as in all times he

,ill -e a-le to $hoose one of the seven )enerals. In this# he $annot

la$+# as he ,ho ,ill $ome to &nderstand this s$ien$e ,ill see.

! " # $ T % R V I I + & ' T " % 4 & D %

of 1a)/in* on the circ)e

AVING -ro&)ht the dis$iple thro&)h the steps and atajos

that are said# the master ,ill -e)in to )ive him the mode

that he has to have# so that ,hen some -e)in to -attle

,ith others# the -e)in to )o settlin) in this tr&th# ,hi$h ,ill -e

tea$hin) them the oppositions of the )eneral of line in $ross and the

)eneral of ,ea+ -elo, the stron). These ,ill -e revie,ed# and

)iven ea$h time that he finishes the spiral lines and ro&nded atajos.

The ,ill -e ta&)ht in this form: havin) $hosen meas&re of

proportion from point A# ,ith a $&rved step to point 1# onl

p&ttin) the s,ord -elo, the master;s# he dire$ts him to leave from

there to ,o&nd the $hest# and the master )ives a $&rved step to

point 1# p&ttin) his s,ord -elo,# and leavin) to ,o&nd the

dis$iple;s $hest. The dis$iple )ives a step to point C# p&ttin) his

point -elo, the master;s s,ord. The do it in this form# )ivin)

man atajosand oppositions. The master ,ill dire$t him to thro, atajo# and it ,ill -e re$eived# +illin) the movement. He ,ill also

pla$e his s,ord v&l)ar# in o-t&se an)le# and ,ill dire$t the dis$iple

to thro, thr&sts to one side and the other# and he ,ill remove

them. These are $alled Andal&sian thr&sts# and have to -e thro,n

,ith the arm ver strai)ht# the hand fin)ernails@&p# and s&$h that

the point of the s,ord passes -elo, the master;s 8&illons# ,itho&t

,ithdra,in) the arm# havin) to -e in the mode of $itations#

H


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in ,hi$h onl that ,hi$h fits ,ill -e )iven# and the rest as threats.

The master ret&rns to p&t him in the same oppositions of the

)enerals of line in $ross and ,ea+ -elo, the stron). This is the

most important in order to +no, the arms. 1 the lon) e/perien$ethat I have# I sa that ,ith this alone# -ein) ta&)ht to the dis$iple

perfe$tl# is eno&)h so that he is a diestro# and is lord of all the

diestrosthat ,ill not follo, m s$ien$e# ,ith no more -lo,s# ,hi$h I

have e/perien$ed man times. The master advises that these

oppositions are s&perior to all# and th&s have to al,as -e

follo,ed.


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have passed man ears and an/ieties in seein) if I ,o&ld -e

a-le to $ome to +no, the $a&se of ,hat in this s$ien$e has not

-een )iven to the professors of that part sho,n# ,here it has

-een ta&)ht to the dis$iple# as has -een done in all the rest of thes$ien$es. 9n this# I passed man times over the -oo+s of the old

a&thors# and in all them# the onl one made to m p&rpose ,as the

1oo+ of the Greatness of the %,ord# that o&r a&thor don L&is

Pa$he$o de Narv


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it ,ill -e eas to +ill his opponent. 1&t as Commander Geronimo

de Carran0a sas# the s$ien$e of arms does not tea$h to +ill# -&t to

-e a-le to +ill -e$a&se of this 8&alit# and - havin) in itself a tr&e

+no,led)e of the thin) - its $a&se# as ,e prove to -e s$ien$e in theprolo)&e# he sas to ,ait a-sol&tel $onfident# in his $ertaint. In

the diestro ,antin) to ma+e &se of it# it ,ill free him from

,hi$hever -lo, that ,ill -e done a)ainst him# -e$a&se all that are

a-le to -e $onsidered are s&-"e$t to this# ,itho&t an of these -ein)

free from this s&-"e$tion# all respe$t it# and ield in its presen$e all

the movements s&-"e$t to the $overa)e of the shield# it despises to

the lar)e or small -&$+ler# it has little for the da))er# it has disdain#

and the $loa+# it i)nores. inall - havin) promised -revit# I do

not d,ell on transferrin) this $hapter# ,here it )ives it admira-le

praise he that ,ill ,ant to see it ,ill find it# as is said in the 1oo+ ofthe Greatness of the %,ord# fol. 25# and it has ei)ht pa)es of

admira-le praise. %o ,or+in) on this man das# and see+in) a

-lo, that ,ill have s&$h 8&alities# I ,as never a-le to find it -asin)

on the "&d)ment# and philosophi0in) on all the -lo,s and

demonstrations in this -oo+# I $ame to dis$over that the -est of it#

and that ,hi$h ,as most important to man# ,as fo&r -lo,s# that

are in the fo&rth part of the 1oo+ of the Greatness of the %,ord# as

has -een said in other parts. These are the -est that have -een

dis$overed# and all the other -lo,s from this -oo+# as ,ell as fromall the other -oo+s# that have -een made in favor of this s$ien$e are

nota-l harmf&l to the dis$iple. None are a-le to -e done or formed

,itho&t first ieldin) vassala)e to the seven )enerals# on ,hi$h I

fo&nd this s$ien$e. Givin) them this val&e and s&-stan$e ,ill -e

tr&th# as he that ,ill $ome to &nderstand it ,ill see. %o these fo&r

-lo,s# as I have said in other parts# ,ell@$onsidered# are red&$ed


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to t,o# ,hi$h are the lo, )eneral# $omposed of t,o )enerals that

are the )eneral of line in $ross and the )eneral of ,ea+ -elo, the

stron)# and to the hi)h )eneral# $omposed of t,o )enerals: the

)eneral of narro,in)# and the )eneral of ,ea+ a-ove the stron).Considerin) these t,o )enerals# and doin) them man times# I

$ame to &nderstand that the hi)h )eneral then ields vassala)e to

the lo, )eneral# and th&s this -lo, deserves the name of &niversal#

as all ield vassala)e to it# and ,itho&t it nothin) $an -e ,or+ed

,ell# ,ith sin)le s,ord# as ,ell as ,ith do&-le arms# and ,ith its

help# all is )ood# ad"&sted# firm# and in reason. I have so m&$h

e/perien$e of it# that if one had to $o&nt that ,hi$h happened to

me# it ,o&ld pro$eed infinitel. 9&r a&thor donL&is Pa$he$o de

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fathers $ame to m ho&se and ,anted to see their sons ta+e a

lesson# and )ive a$$o&nt of the steps# an)les# movements# and the

seven )enerals. With this )eneral# the ,o&nded all the v&l)ar

post&res that I )ive them seein) them ma+e fo&r $on$l&sions# andma+in) them ,ith s,ord# da))er# and -&$+ler# some plain) ,ith

others ,ith )reat vi)or# and as the sa, m little interest# and the

pleas&re ,ith ,hi$h I do it# ea$h of these o&n) men -ro&)ht his

dis$iples# and I have s,ords to their p&rpose. %eein) the plaers

that had s&$h fame in the pla$e separated to one side# sain): %ir#

this is fi)htin)# and this pla is so no-le# so s&perior to the rest# so

ad"&sted to reason# that some plain) ,ith others most of the ni)ht#

-e$a&se I never tire of this art# and I have not had dis)&st# nor a

-lo,. At the -e)innin)# the s+illed people of the pla$e entered to

see I don;t re$o&nt lon) thin)s or events that happened to me ,iththem# -&t as the sa, tea$hin)# and dire$tin) them to pla ,ith

,ide# )ro&nd# and sharp s,ords# small -&ttons# onl the ed)es

removed in the mill# the sa, that I said: A pie$e of hat or head

falls on this floor# the attri-&ted to havin) a tho&sand misfort&nes.

After# the have ,ondered at the firmness and 8&iet. Th&s I sa#

that the virt&es of this -lo, $annot all -e said# onl that it is the

la-orio&s -e)innin) of &nderstandin)# and man ,itho&t +no,in)

it# thin+ that the +no, it# and all the rest that are done# )o to the

end of +no,in) this -lo, -etter. I have alread said that onl thesefo&r )enerals# and -lo,s that I too+ from the 1oo+ of the Greatness

of the %,ord are the -est that have -een dis$overed. Provin) and

seein) it -etter# that of the fo&r# line in $ross and ,ea+ -elo, the

stron) are -est. This no, fort ears# o&r a&thor donL&is Pa$he$o

de Narv


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s&$h fa$&lt# nor -od# more than for ei)ht separate. In the

prolo)&e of ea$h one# he that ,ill -e $&rio&s ,ill -e a-le to see# as

o&r a&thor )ives them -etter. 1e$a&se the have not )iven &s a

mode of tea$hin)# the a&thors have not -een &nderstood# that thenat&ral movements have not left &s settled in this s$ien$e and )iven

se$&rit. Th&s# removin) a man;s nat&ral movements and

introd&$in) the artifi$ial has to -e first# in order to -e a-le to +no,

these seven )enerals. I don;t i)nore that there are masters that do

these )enerals# -&t never ,ith these re8&isites.


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! A T H E ! A T I C A L D E ! 9 N % T R A T I 9 Nof the )eneral of line in $ross.

TER havin) instr&$ted the dis$iple in the steps# an)les#

movements# and atajos in a $ir$le# as is said# the master

,ill -rin) him to &nderstand the atajothat he has made on

the $ir$&mferen$e to his ri)ht side# )ivin) a step from point A to

point 1# the -od remainin) profiled# the arm strai)ht# the s,ordoffline# as the demonstration ,ith ,hi$h ,e )o dealin) si)nifies#

He ,ill also -rin) him to &nderstand that the )eneral of line in

$ross is a tpe of atajo# ,hi$h he ,ill not -e a-le to la$+# -ein)

helped - the )eneral of ,ea+ -elo, the stron)# and that these t,o

-lo,s# as I have said# are the -e)innin)# middle# and end of this

s$ien$e. It is the se$&re door of the tea$hin)# the road that the

master has to follo,# &ntil pla$in) the dis$iple in a state of

&nderstandin) the s$ien$e.

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These three )enerals have to -e ta&)ht to the dis$iple in the

form that their demonstrations si)nif# as I ,ill sa that the line in

$ross is done: havin) $hosen meas&re of proportion on point A# he

,ill )ive a $&rved step on the $ir$&mferen$e to his ri)ht side topoint 1# passin) the s,ord -elo, the opponent;s# ma+in) an atajo

on it# as its demonstration si)nifies step# -od# and s,ord at the

same time. The )eneral of ,ea+ -elo, the stron) is done - havin)

$hosen the meas&re of proportion# )ivin) a step from point A to

point 1# onl p&ttin) the point of his s,ord -elo, his opponent;s

stron) and 8&illons# the -od profiled. The lo, )eneral is

$omposed of these t,o )enerals# and is done - havin) $hosen the

meas&re of proportion# )ivin) a $&rved step from point A to point

1# passin) the s,ord -elo, the opposin)# -e)innin) - the )eneral

of line in $ross# &ntil pla$in) his point on his opponent;s point 6#ma+in) a ro&nded $ir$le ,itho&t stoppin) the s,ord# &ntil pla$in)

it in the )eneral of ,ea+ -elo, the stron). This -rin)s him to

&nderstand ho, the one is opposed to the other# and that ,henever

the s,ord is in line in $ross# the other ma+es &se of ,ea+ -elo, the

stron)# as the are the oppositions as remains said. There is an

a&thor that sas that the )eneral of line in $ross is not opposed to

the ,ea+ -elo, the stron)# nor the )eneral of narro,in) to the

)eneral of ,ea+ a-ove the stron)# and he is de$eived# as the ones

have the same fa$&lt as the others# in order to -e opposed. In thesame $hapter# he sas that the atajodestros the )enerals# and it is

ver -a$+,ard# as in the arms there are no more atajos than the

seven )enerals that I have said# ,ith ,hi$h he is de$eived in that.

Whenever the dis$iple has -een as+ed a$$o&nt of the steps# an)les#

and movements# and of the ro&nded atajosof spiral lines# to one

side and the other# and that the )ive a$$o&nt of the )enerals# all

,ith )reat $alm and pre$ision# one ,ill ret&rn to revie, the

)enerals# to the end of ma+in) oppositions of the )eneral of line in


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$ross and the )eneral of ,ea+ -elo, the stron)# ,ith )reat pre$ision

and $a&tion. Dire$tin) him to ta+e a tajo# rippin) the s,ord# )ivin)

a step to his ri)ht side# the -od remainin) profiled# and the master

is re$eived# +illin) the movement a-ove# he pla$es the s,ord$&rved in o-t&se an)le and dire$ts the dis$iple that he thro,s

thr&sts# and Andal&sian thr&sts ,ith the arm strai)ht# in the

$onformit that remains said# - his o,n steps. rom here# he ,ill

)o pro-in) the dis$iple# as the )eneral of narro,in)# )eneral of

,ea+ a-ove the stron)# hi)h )eneral# and )eneral atajo# and all the

other parti$&lar -lo,s# ea$h one in its form# all ield vassala)e to

the )eneral of line in $ross and )eneral of ,ea+ -elo, the stron)# as

,ill )o )ivin) a$$o&nt in this -oo+. I al,as de$lare the fear that I

have that the have not -een a-le to &nderstand me in this tpe of

-lo,# - the thin)s that happen to me ea$h da. Those that&nderstand me least are the masters and the men that are tho&)ht

of as diestrosand +no, these )enerals# -&t don;t +no, to )ive to the

dis$iple a$$o&nt of the parts of ea$h one. It is that as the have

nat&rali0ed their o,n nat&ral movements# and are in that -ad se$t

the a-ove are the )reatest enemies that I have. %o seein) me# and

satisfin) them# and seein) that men that didn;t +no, the arms# in

a month the $ompete ,ith them# even ,ith all this# the spea+ in

a-sen$e. 1&t s&$h diestrosthat# ,ith reason# $alm# and pre$ision#

loo+ at ea$h thin) ,ill see their de$eit ,ith ease and ,ill ta+e the-est. As soon as the dis$iple ,ill -e dire$ted to the oppositions that

,e have said# that ,hen his s,ord is -elo,# he has to -e on ed)e#

and firm# the point stopped# and the point of his s,ord lo,. When

it is a-ove# the s,ord has to -e soft in o-t&se an)le# ma+in) &se of

the offline. inall# ,henever it is a-ove# he ,ill &se the line in

$ross# and ,hen it is -elo,# the ,ea+ -elo, the stron).


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1lo, of perfe$t end.

AVING made atajo of line in $ross# ,hi$h is the first

f&ndamental of this s$ien$e# the dis$iple has to -e )iven

a$$o&nt of fo&r -lo,s that are possi-le in order to )o

satisfin) it and ad"&stin) in the form that ea$h one is done.

Havin) $hosen the meas&re of proportion# ,ith the re8&isites that

to&$h the art# )ive a step from point A to point 1# passin) the s,ord

-elo, the opponent;s# ma+in) a half $ir$le# &ntil -ein) pla$ed in)eneral of line in $ross. In the master leavin) -elo,# the dis$iple

,o&nds strai)ht in the $hest or fa$e# -e$a&se he ,ill -e in the

proportionate meas&re# and ,ill have )ained the de)rees of profile#

and al,as ,o&ndin) him strai)ht. It is $alled a -lo, of perfe$t

end# -e$a&se that ,hi$h the diestro,anted happened# ,hi$h ,as to

leave ,ith -revit# so it ,as $&t short ,itho&t ta+in) a step# ,hi$h

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is a $&stom that man have of fleein) the s,ord# and not -ein)

s&-"e$t. Not -ein) a diestro# he leaves ,itho&t +no,in) to ta+e

point of )eneral ,ea+ -elo, the stron)# ne$essaril -ein)

,o&nded.

1lo, of perfe$t atta$+ to the fa$e.

AVING made atajoof the )eneral of line in $ross ,ith the

re8&isites that to&$h the art# )ivin) a step from point A topoint 1# the master;s s,ord ,ill -e still# and he ,ill sa to

the dis$iple# that he ta+es a step from point 1 to point C on the

$ir$&mferen$e to his ri)ht side# ma+in) a perfe$t atta$+ to the fa$e

a-ove the master;s s,ord# ,ith ,hi$h it ,ill -e ne$essar to defle$t

the s,ord. At the defle$tion and str&))le# he dire$ts the dis$iple to

$over the point ,itho&t ta+in) the s,ord -elo, rather# he has to

profile the -od and pla$e the arm ti)ht# pla$in) and lo,erin) the

point of the s,ord -elo, the master;s stron) and 8&illons# -rin)in)

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him to &nderstand that the are in the ,ea+ -elo, the stron)#

)ivin) a -lo, in the $hest or fa$e. A $on$l&sion is also possi-le#

)ivin) a thr&st or tajo# )ivin) a transverse step ,ith the left foot to

the left side. or the thr&st# the 8&illons have to -e ta+en a-ove#and for the tajo# the 8&illons have to -e ta+en -elo,. A verti$al tajo

is also possi-le# )ivin) a step to his ri)ht side# the -od remainin)

profiled. All this fits in the str&))le that he does# ,hen the )o to

,o&nd him in the fa$e# -&t the dis$iple# - -ein) so ne,# ,ill onl

-e told of the -lo, of the demonstration at present# -rin)in) him to

&nderstand that the )eneral of line in $ross is fo&nd in the ,ea+

-elo, the stron).

Thr&st of half $ir$le.


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AVING made a perfe$t atta$+ to the fa$e# it ,ill -e

ne$essar to defle$t the s,ord# and at the defle$tion and

str&))le that the master ,ill ma+e# the s,ord voids

-elo,# )ivin) a -lo, in the $hest or fa$e. %o that the dis$ipleremains more &nderstandin) and +no,s the val&e and

-rotherhood that the )eneral of line in $ross and the )eneral of

,ea+ -elo, the stron) have# he is dire$ted that he is $overed from

the point# and +no,s that in order to ,o&nd# he passed - the

,ea+ -elo,# onl to ,o&nd strai)ht. In la$+in) the s,ord# it ,ill

-e ne$essar that he ma+es a point of the )eneral of ,ea+ -elo, the

stron)# in order to -e a-le to ,o&nd freel# -e$a&se altho&)h his

s,ord $omes to have rea$h# -e$a&se of the master -ein) free and

,ise in ,o&ndin) and profilin) the -od# it ,ill -e ne$essar to

pass his s,ord a-ove the diestro;s 8&illons# and he ,ill -e ,o&nded#havin) $overed the point ,ith the re8&isites that to&$h it.

H

This is the -lindness of man diestros# and I had it for man

ears# appearin) to me that in me la$+in) the opposin) s,ord#

applin) m s,ord to the ri)ht an)le and profilin) m -od# I

,o&ld remain defended and ,o&nd this is the -est of the s$ien$e.

1&t if the ,ise opponent made a point of the )eneral of ,ea+

-elo, the stron)# ti)htenin) the arm# profilin) the -od# )ivin) a

small step to his ri)ht side# in s&$h $ase the ri)ht an)le ,ill not -e

a-le to serve# onl the opposition. This# or the atajo# s&its that m&$his parried in it.


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Verti$al tajoto the head# $apt&rin) the 8&illons.

AVING made a perfe$t atta$+ to the fa$e# if he ,ill )o to

defle$t at the stron)# ma+e to diminish the movement#

loosenin) the s,ord# onl -rin)in) it $lose to the

opponent;s# t&rnin) the hand fin)ernails@do,n# en$ir$lin) one;s

o,n -od ,ith the s,ord# )ivin) a transverse step# p&ttin) in the

left foot# ta+in) a verti$al tajo. The tajohas to leave - the point of

the opponent;s s,ord# as &nited to it as the -lo, ,ill re8&ire. Ifthis -lo, is &nderstood# it is -etter and more se$&re than the

previo&s. This $an serve ,ith -&$+ler# and da))er# and ,ith

da))er alone doin) it is ver important. If it ,ill appear to some

s+illed and $&rio&s friend that ,hat I ,rite is not ne,# respond to

me# $itin) ,here these -lo,s ,ill -e fo&nd ,ritten ,ith these

de$larations# ,hi$h ,ill ma+e me ver pleased.

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1lo, of verti$al tajoto the head# or dia)onal to the fa$e.

AVING made atajoof the )eneral of line in $ross from

point A to point 1# he ,ill not leave# ma+in) a perfe$t

atta$+ to the fa$e# +eepin) to the re8&isites that ,ere said

in the first -lo, of these# and at the defle$tion and str&))le of the

opponent# he )ives a step to point C# )ivin) a tajo in the head. At

the defle$tion# a thr&st is also possi-le# the diestro5s point passin)-elo, the opponent;s 8&illons# profilin) the -od# and the arm ver

strai)ht. !an thin)s have -een offered to me# -&t ma+in) these

-lo,s in )reat $alm# pre$ision# and serenit# in order to -e a-le to

-e)in to &nderstand this s$ien$e# he ,ill dis$over the rest. These

-lo,s have to -e honed and done man das# ,hi$h to the dis$iples

it appears that in t,o or three months the +no, them# and the

are de$eived this happens to me ea$h da. I have alread said in

other parts# and I ,ill al,as )o repeatin)# that the master has to -e

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IRECT the dis$iple to ma+e an atajoof the )eneral of line

in $ross# -ein) pla$ed in point A ,ith the re8&isites that

to&$h this s$ien$e# and to )ive a step to point 1. In this

time# the master ma+es for$e on the dis$iple;s s,ord# over$omin) it&ntil he passes it to this other $ir$&mferen$e and the master;s ri)ht

side# ,hi$h is ,hat stron) men ,ho +no, little do# ,antin) to

s&-"e$t their opponent. 1rin) him to &nderstand that he doesn;t

have to str&))le rather# in feelin) the for$e of the opponent# he has

to let the s,ord )o# and in the same time that it is led# he has to

profile the -od# ti)hten the arm# $overin) the point and pla$in) the

point of the s,ord -elo, the master;s stron) and 8&illons#

remainin) in ,ea+ -elo, the stron)# ,ith ,hi$h he ,ill have a

-lo, in the opponent;s $hest. In this same str&))le# the fo&r -lo,s

that ,ere )iven in the previo&s -lo, of perfe$t atta$+ to the fa$e,ill -e possi-le. rom here# man other -lo,s are offered to me#

,hi$h e/er$ise ,ill &n$over# -&t it has to )o satisfin) that the

dis$iple# in la$+in) line in $ross# ,ill -e fo&nd in ,ea+ -elo, the

stron). This is the most important that has to -e done in order to

ass&re the dis$iples in this tr&th.

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Parti$&lar -lo, of 8&arter $ir$le on the inside

AVING made atajoof the )eneral of line in $ross# )ivin)

step from point A to point 1 ,ith the re8&isites that

to&$h the s$ien$e# the master $overs the point# liftin) the

8&illons# the hand fin)ernails@&p# and lo,erin) the point of the

s,ord# ,hi$h ma+es &se of the a$&te an)le. The dis$iple ,ill )ive a

8&arter $ir$le a-ove the master;s s,ord# movin) the hand

fin)ernails@&p# and p&ttin) the point of his s,ord -elo, themaster;s $ross)&ard# ti)htenin) the arm# and profilin) the -od#

)ivin) a -lo, in the $hest. The master ,ill remove this thr&st ,ith

the $ross)&ard of the 8&illons# dra,in) in the -od# and lo,erin)

the hand fin)ernails@do,n# so that the point of the dis$iple;s s,ord

leaves - the master;s ri)ht $ollateral. At this time# three -lo,s that

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the master ma+es ,ill -e possi-le in the str&))le# ,hi$h are rippin)

a verti$al tajoor ma+in) t,o $on$l&sions: one ,ith a thr&st and the

other ,ith a tajo# as ,as said in this str&))le. 1&t he dire$ts the

dis$iple# that at removin) the -lo, of a verti$al tajo# )ivin) a step tohis ri)ht side# and the master remedin) the tajo# +illin) the

movement# that the dis$iple )ives a thr&st# passin) the s,ord -elo,

the master;s 8&illons# ti)htenin) the arm# and profilin) the -od.

With this# the master ,ill prove to the dis$iple that his

opponent -ein) in the ri)ht an)le is the -est post&re that he $an

have# and - means of the atajo# he ,ill dis$ompose him and ta+e

him from it.

! " # $ T % R I I + & ' T " % V 3 L G # R

(ostures that the master must ma/e in order to

teach the disci()e+

have said in other parts that the intention of o&r a&thors ,as

al,as to defeat and end the v&l)ar# as men that +ne, the

harm that res&lted from it for one that +no,s and &ses it.INot onl did the not th,art it# -&t instead the have

a&)mented it# and some ,ise v&l)ars have -een $reated# ,ho are

the )reatest enemies of this s$ien$e toda# sain) and professin)

that ,hat the +no, is the tr&th# and that the follo, CommanderGeronimo de Carran0a. 9thers sa that the follo, don L&is

Pa$he$o de Narv


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In m ,ritin)s# I $all s&$h masters ,ise v&l)ars# that as the

have +no,led)e of the tr&th# the are po,erf&l enemies# and the

resist -ein) told that the are all more or less the same# -&t reason

$an defeat them. As the have nat&rali0ed their nat&ralmovements# the do not ,ant to -e red&$ed to or s&-"e$t to reason#

-&t he that is s&-"e$t# and ,ill -e s&-"e$t# to reason ,ill see $learl

the de$eit in ,hi$h he lives# as those that $ome into m hands see it.

I tr&st in God that I have dis$overed s&$h a mode of tea$hin) ,hi$h

,ill -e eno&)h to finish and $ons&me this -ad v&l)ar se$t# -&t there

is a -lemish on it. Th&s# the master has to tea$h it to the dis$iple

and )ive him a$$o&nt of the post&res in ,hi$h the opponent $an -e

esta-lished# and the remedies a)ainst them.

V&l)ar post&re that the master has to do in order to tea$h hisdis$iple# and the remedies a)ainst it.


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LL the time# the dis$iple has to -e esta-lished strai)ht and

a$hieve his -lo,s and atajos$onformin) to ,hat the ,ill

)o sain). The master ,ill -rin) the dis$iple to

&nderstand that ,ith onl the lo, )eneral# $omposed of t,o)enerals# ,hi$h are the )eneral of line in $ross and the )eneral of

,ea+ -elo, the stron)# he ,ill -e a-le to defeat them all# ,ith the

s,ord alone# as ,ell as ,ith do&-le arms. He ,ill -e planted

v&l)arl# in the form that the present demonstration si)nifies#

,hi$h ,ill -e in o-t&se an)le# the pommel -elo, the -lade of the

hand# in the form of the v&l)ar.

A

Parti$&lar -lo, ,hi$h is $alled to the -od and to the s,ord.


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Parti$&lar -lo, that $omes to -e ,ea+ -elo, the stron)

HE master havin) -een planted $&rved and the dis$iple in

ri)ht an)le# if he ,ill )o to ,o&nd him in the fa$e# as is said#

)ivin) a $&rved step from Point A to Point 1 ,ith the

re8&isites that to&$h the art# it ,ill -e ne$essar to defle$t. Dire$t

the dis$iple# that he $overs the point# and ti)htens the arm# profiles

the -od# pla$in) the point of his s,ord -elo, the opponent;s

stron) and 8&illons# )ivin) a -lo, in the fa$e or $hest# $overin) the

point# and ,ith )reat speed. Ho,ever# so that the dis$iple )oes

fi/ed in the )enerals# he ,ill remain in the ,ea+ -elo, the stron).

Here# fo&r -lo,s are possi-le in the str&))le that the opponent

ma+es# ,hi$h ,ill -e of that ,hi$h has -een said: a verti$al tajo#

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)ivin) a step to his ri)ht side# and t,o $on$l&sions# p&ttin) in the

left foot# one ,ith a tajo# ma+in) a movement of $on$l&sion# ta+in)

the s,ord -elo,# and another ,ith a thr&st# ta+in) the 8&illons

a-ove.

V&l)ar post&re# ,hi$h is testin) tentar the s,ord# and the

remedies a)ainst it.

HE master has to al,as s&ppose that the most important isto defeat the v&l)ar# so that the dis$iples are diestros# and the

s$ien$e remains fi/ed# destroin) this -ad se$t# and &ndoin)

the de$eit in ,hi$h men live. The master has to -e$ome v&l)ar on

o$$asion# tea$hin) the dis$iple the name that this post&re ,ill ta+e

as he ,ill stri+e# remainin) free# -e$a&se ,henever he is offered to

-attle ,ith the plaers ,hi$h the v&l)ar $alls old plaers

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$&d)ellers# he is not fo&nd short# rather he ,o&nds him ,ith

se$&rit and $o&ra)e# as he ,ill +no, the advanta)e that he has.

The master ,ill dire$t the dis$iple to -e planted in ri)ht

an)le ,ith the re8&isites that to&$h the art# and the master isplanted $&rved# pla$in) the point of the s,ord over the dis$iple;s#

as the present demonstration si)nifies# and he ,ill -rin) him to

&nderstand that havin) made this atajo# he left to ,o&nd# )ivin) a

step to his left side# ,hi$h ,ill -e ,hat ,ill appear -est# - -ein)

his o,n nat&re# and that ,hi$h the masters and ,ise a&thors tea$h.

Dealin) ,ith this same -lo, in their -oo+s# the )ive it as a

$o&nter# that in him ma+in) the atajo# ,ith a step of three feet to his

ri)ht side# the )ive a -lo, in the opponent;s ri)ht ee. It is a

nota-le error# -e$a&se in leavin) -elo,# the one )ivin) the atajo,ill

ma+e another atajo# )ivin) the dive zam.u))ida or a $on$l&sion.%o that the dis$iple is fi/ed in this s$ien$e# the master ,ill

dire$t him to leave to ,o&nd ,ith this false step# and ret&rn to )ive

atajoto the s,ord on the o&tside# ma+in) said thr&st# that is done

fin)ernails@do,n# ,hi$h is that ,hi$h the $ele-rate m&$h# -

,hi$h the diestro ,ill remain ,o&nded. &rther# leavin) - said

step# - onl -ein) pla$ed in ri)ht an)le# he ,ill ,o&nd him#

-e$a&se he )oes see+in) the len)th of his arm and his profile. This

tpe of -lo,# ,ise tea$hin)# serves for defense from the diestrosthat

)ive atajo- the tr&e destreza# and it ,ill -e ne$essar then to ma+e&se of the )eneral of ,ea+ -elo, the stron)# and if not# the ,ill -e

,o&nded. It ,ill -e ta&)ht in this form: the master havin) made

this post&re and atajoof the present demonstration# the dis$iple ,ill

leave to ,o&nd# )ivin) a step to his ri)ht side# ta+in) the s,ord

-elo, the master;s# onl pla$in) it strai)ht to the fa$e. 1e ,arned

that the master sometimes has to ma+e an atajoma+in) a -a$+,ard

step# and other times -ein) still ,itho&t ta+in) the step. 9ther

times he has to $&t it short )ivin) a step ,ith a $&rved atajo#


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others strai)ht# p&ttin) himself in ,ith it# in order to tea$h the

dis$iple ,hen he has to leave ,ith the s,ord to the fa$e# )ivin) a

-a$+,ard# for,ard# or lateral step. With this# he ,ill not -e fo&nd

$onf&sed in the -attle. It tea$hes him that if the opponent p&tshimself in to the atajo too m&$h# to ma+e a $on$l&sion. In the

dis$iple $omin) to &nderstand this tpe of -attle# he ,ill -e

defended ,ith ease from all tpe of post&res and +no, the little

val&e that the have.

Parti$&lar -lo,# that is named to the -od and to the s,ord.

HE master havin) v&l)arl tested the s,ord# havin) it in

o-t&se an)le# the feet disproportionate# he ,ill dire$t the

dis$iple to ta+e the s,ord -elo, his 8&illons# the arm

strai)ht# onl -ein) pla$ed strai)ht to the master;s fa$e#

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)ivin) a $&rved step on the $ir$&mferen$e to the ri)ht side from

point A to point 1. It ,ill -e ne$essar for the master to remove it

and ma+e a defle$tion# and ,ith this# the dis$iple;s s,ord ,ill

remain in the )eneral of ,ea+ -elo, the stron)# ,ith ,hi$h he ,ill,o&nd ,ith a thr&st or tajo. He al,as has to $a&tion the dis$iple

that# in passin) his s,ord -elo, the opponent;s# he has to $hoose

the point of ,ea+ -elo, the stron)# profilin) the -od# and

ti)htenin) the arm. This is important in order to ass&re him in the

s$ien$e# and $a&tion him that ,hen the opponent ma+es these

post&res# that he al,as has to reserve for$e in the arm ma+in) an

atta$+ of a -lo, ,ith said atajoof the )eneral of line in $ross# the

e/e$&tion of the -lo, has to -e ,ith the )eneral of ,ea+ -elo, the

stron).

!athemati$al demonstration of the verti$al tajo.


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This -lo, follo,s from the previo&s# havin) )one to ,o&nd the

fa$e ,ith the re8&isites that to&$h the art# )ivin) a step from point

A to point 1# at the defle$tion )ive a verti$al tajo# )ivin) another

$&rved step to his ri)ht side# from point 1 to point C# the -odprofiled and the arm strai)ht. At the defle$tion of the tajo# tea$h the

dis$iple that he )ives a thr&st in the $hest or fa$e# passin) the s,ord

-elo, the 8&illons of the master;s s,ord# and the master ,ill

remove the thr&sts to one side or the other# havin) the s,ord in

o-t&se an)le. The thr&sts have to -e havin) the hand fin)ernails@

&p# the arm strai)ht# the -od &pri)ht# made ,ith onl the ,rist.

The master ,ill thro, himself -elo,# to p&t himself in# in order to

$at$h the 8&illons. He tea$hes that he doesn;t flee# rather -ind his

s,ord ,ith the master;s# p&ttin) in the left foot# ma+in) a

movement of $on$l&sion.

Demonstration of the v&l)ar -lo, of al,as $rossin) the s,ord to

the -od.


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T has -een $&stom# not onl amon) v&l)ar masters# -&t in the

)reater part of men# to sa ,hen one )oes to fi)ht# he ,ill invite

))amar him# thro,in) a ripped tajo rom(ido# the -od

remainin) &n$overed. It ,ill -e thro,n to me li+e this to ,o&ndme# thin+in) to -rin) me r&nnin)# and in the time that it is thro,n#

he ,ill ,ithdra, the s,ord# p&ttin) it to me# )ivin) a -lo, ,ith it.

It ,ill -e done ,ell - man# - $omin) a$ross fearf&l men. I find

this to -e part of s$ien$e# and that ,hi$h ,as ta&)ht to me# ,ith

,hi$h I defeated man# that ,ere said to have the tr&th. Th&s# it

s&its that the master )ives a$$o&nt to the dis$iples of the post&res

and de$eits# -e$omin) the v&l)ar# rippin) a tajo# pla$in) the s,ord

a$ross his $hest# dire$tin) the dis$iple to -e planted in ri)ht an)le

on point A# and to )ive a step to point 1# the s,ord strai)ht to the

master;s fa$e. Defle$tin) the point in order to p&t in -elo,# ,hi$his ,hat the desire in order to ma+e their -lo,# the dis$iple ,ill

re$eive it ,ith the point of the s,ord# $omin) to &nderstand that he

passed - the ,ea+ -elo, the stron).

I


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1lo, of ,ea+ -elo, the stron).

AVING made a perfe$t atta$+ to the fa$e# )ivin) a $&rved

step from point A to point 1# that he ,ill )o to defle$t# it

,ill -e ne$essar to ta+e the point of ,ea+ -elo, the

stron)# )ivin) him a -lo, in the $hest# the -od ver strai)ht and

profiled. He ,ill also -e a-le to )ive a verti$al tajo# )ivin) a step to

his ri)ht side. At the remedin) of the tajo# a thr&st in the $hest ispossi-le# passin) the s,ord -elo, the opponent;s 8&illons# ma+in)

a -a$+,ard C. These seven -lo,s are eno&)h in order to defeat the

v&l)ar# ta&)ht in this form that I ,ill sa. The master havin)

dire$ted the dis$iple to do one of these te$hni8&es# he ,ill )ive him

this end ,hen the dis$iple ,o&nds him# he ,ill remove the s,ord

in the v&l)ar mode a-ove# havin) his in o-t&se an)le# and it ,ill -e

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removed to one side or the other. The dis$iple thro,s thr&sts

,isel# feintin) one and )ivin) another# the arm strai)ht# the hand

fin)ernails@&p# and ,ith these thr&sts# he does not have to let the

v&l)ar in# as it is al,as his desire to enter in order to ,o&ndfin)ernails@do,n ,hi$h# as the are $&rved# $annot ,o&nd at

len)th# and th&s the desire to enter. Ho,ever# ,e )o ,ith him

enterin)# p&ttin) in the left foot tea$h him that he doesn;t defle$t

the s,ord# rather that he ma+es firmness on it# p&ttin) in the left

foot# )ivin) a transverse step to his left side# $apt&rin) the 8&illons.

This does not have to -e pardoned# as it is the diestro5s safet. Also#

tea$h him that if he doesn;t ,ant to $at$h the 8&illons# he )ives a

lateral and -a$+,ard step to his ri)ht side# ,o&ndin) him ,ith a

thr&st# -&t for no,# it is -etter to tea$h him to $at$h the 8&illons.

inall# follo, the oppositions of the )eneral of line in $ross and,ea+ -elo, the stron)# ,hi$h is the &niversal of this s$ien$e# as in

la$+in) it# he la$+s everthin). As ,ell as I have said# the master

has to involve all his intent in it# and in this form# he ,ill -e a-le to

&nderstand and th,art all the post&res that a man $an ma+e#

travelin) - these )enerals# al,as attendin) to the ri)ht an)le#

formin) -lo,s from the opponent;s movements.


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1lo, of verti$al tajo.

HE dis$iple havin) made an atajoof line in $ross# )ivin) a

$&rved step from point A to point 1# the master leavin) to,o&nd ,ith a thr&st# rip a tajo# helpin) it ,ith his o,n

movement# )ivin) a step to his ri)ht side. At the defle$tion of the

tajo# )ive a thr&st in the $hest# passin) the s,ord -elo, the

master;s. Altho&)h the master leaves ,ith a tajo# the tajois possi-le

,ith the same movement# and step.

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%a)itta# ,hi$h is the opposition of line in $ross.

LL -lo,s have their oppositions# ,hi$h are $alled

$o&nters in $o&rse lan)&a)e. Th&s# the master ,ill )ivea$$o&nt to the dis$iple# )oin) to ma+e an atajoof line in

$ross# )ivin) a step from point A to point 1. At the -e)innin) of the

movement# the master ,ill )ive another step# also from point A to

his point 1# )ivin) a thr&st -elo, the arm# or in the $hest# the arm

tense# and the -od profiled.

A


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With the demonstration a-ove# this -lo, of reves,ith a deviation

,ill -e &nderstood.

LL these -lo,s are done for the p&rpose of +no,in) ho,to do the )enerals -etter. Havin) made the atajoof line in

$ross# )ivin) a $&rved step from point A to point 1# the

master leavin) to ,o&nd the $hest# the dis$iple ,ill )ive a

transverse step to point C# ma+in) a ne, atajoin a $ir$le# follo,in)

the s,ord# ver &nited to it. At the end of ma+in) the $ir$le# he ,ill

ma+e a deviation to,ard the point of the opposin) s,ord# )ivin) a

revesin the head ,ith a ro&nded $ir$le# and at the remedin) of the

reves# a tajois possi-le# ma+in) a movement of $on$l&sion# or )ivin)

a tajo# removin) the foot# and profilin) the -od. At the ori)ination

of this reves# the opponent $an $reate another reves,ith the ,rist#defle$tin) the s,ord# )ivin) a $&rved step ,ith the left foot to the

left side. A tajo is also possi-le a)ainst this reves# ta+in) it to the

-ase of the left thi)h# ,hi$h ,ill arrive first - havin) less to )o. It

is ,hen he ma+es the deviation in order to )ive the reves# ta+in) the

tajo. The &se ,ill )o &n$overin) this.

A


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1lo, of ,hole $ir$le# $apt&rin) the 8&illons.

AN( a&thors have not follo,ed this )eneral - not

+no,in) its val&e# and ,hat is important in order to

+no, this s$ien$e. It is done - havin) made an atajoof

the )eneral of line in $ross# )ivin) a $&rved step from point A to

point 1 ,ith the re8&isites that to&$h the art. The master leavin) to

,o&nd# he ,ill )ive a transverse step to Point C ,ith the left foot#$apt&rin) the 8&illons# ma+in) a ne, atajoon the s,ord in a $ir$le

,itho&t separatin) from it# &ntil p&ttin) in the hand# or the da))er#

-&$+ler# or $loa+.

!


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The demonstration pre$edin) this# ,hi$h is the -lo, of ,hole

$ir$le# $apt&rin) the 8&illons# serves for the present -lo,.

1lo, of half tajoto the fa$e.

L%9 havin) made an atajoof the )eneral of line in $ross#

from point A to point 1# the master leavin) to ,o&nd#

ma+e a ne, atajo# )ivin) a $&rved step to point C# p&ttin)

in the left foot# )ivin) a half tajoin the fa$e. At the defle$tion of the

half tajo# )ive another tajo# removin) the foot# )ivin) a step to his

ri)ht side# the -od remainin) profiled# or $apt&re the 8&illons

,itho&t movin)# )ivin) a tajo# and pla$in) the s,ord strai)ht to the

fa$e# and the hand firm on the s,ord.

A


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Thr&st ,ith a movement of in$rease# $apt&rin) the 8&illons.

HE thr&st that ,e )o dealin) ,ith is done from havin)

made an atajo from point A to point 1. The master ,ill

leave to ,o&nd# and the dis$iple ,ill ma+e a movement of

in$rease# &nited to his s,ord# r&nnin) it -elo,# $lose to the master;s

8&illons# p&ttin) the left foot to point C# ma+in) a movement of

$on$l&sion# )ivin) a thr&st. The hand has to $at$h the 8&illons

a-ove# and $over the point at the movement of in$rease.

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1lo, of tajoof se$ond intention# $apt&rin) the 8&illons.

HE !aster has to tea$h the dis$iple in the ad"&stment of this

)eneral# that it is made - havin) the dis$iple )ive an atajo

from point A to point 1 the master ,ill leave to ,o&nd# and

the dis$iple ,ill )ive a transverse step ,ith the left foot to point C#

-rin)in) his s,ord $lose to the opponent;s# and to his o,n -od#

t&rnin) the hand fin)ernails@do,n. He ,ill )ive a tajo# $apt&rin)

the 8&illons# and the hand has to -e p&t in -elo,.

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Verti$al tajoat the -e)innin) of the movement.

L%9# ,hen he )oes to ma+e an atajofrom point A to point

1# )ive a step from point A to point 1# )ivin) a tajo. With

this the arm is e/er$ised it )oes ma+in) a man lord of this

s$ien$e# and the masters ,ill ma+e room for these -lo,s so that he

does and &nd

Method.of.Teaching.of.Masters.translation

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