Fiore's Posta Bicornu....thoughts?

[Karen Rose]

Ever the newbie <img src="/forum/images/icons/crazy.gif" alt="" />
I've spent some quality time with my waster in the driveway, trying on for size a couple of different styles Italian + German.
Still experimenting with the flow. I understand that none of the stances are static.
The posta bicornu (two horned) stance feels very awkward and very .... vulnerable.
Can someone with some Fiore expertise clue me in on the advantages of this guard/stance?
Thanks much.

[Casper Bradak]

I don't know what work others have done with it, I haven't studied Fiore much, but I see it being a transitory position. Master Ringeck describes similar positions, used in techniques, not to be stood in.

[Stuart McDermid]

Hi Karen,

Below is my (likely quite poor) understanding of Bob Charron's interpretation that I have since looked at myself from the manual and now believe is correct. If you really want to know Fiore then beg, borrow, steal and lie your way to one of his seminars. Bob is a great guy who is committed to the study of Fiore's works in isolation from any outside influences. You could learn a fair bit just by meeting him down the pub for a chat.

Anyway, here goes......

This is an instable posture. You don't lie in it.

The primary use of the bicorno posture is to draw the hands back out of the way of a cut to set up a return thrust.

Eg I am lying in the iron gate guard (alber) with my right foot forwards. My opponent cuts out of posta di donna (right shoulder). I pass my left foot forwards and left to parallel with my right foot to get outside the arc of the cut. (This takes serious guts but is oh so cool when it works) As I bring my sword into bicorno to prepare the thrust, I am careful to make sure it points above the head of my opponent to facilitate an easy "falling" return thrust. Whilst I am making this hand movement I bring my right foot back so that I am left foot forward and am ready to thrust from bicorno by means of an extension and/or a short step.

Hope this is clear.
Cheers,
Stu.

[leam hall]

Karen,

Had my first real workout today with Gary G. Very fun, wore me out. One of the thoughts I had was that no guard should be used unless you know how to get there. That is, no strike should be considered "good" unless you end up in some defensible guard position.

So I think the answer here is to figure out a strike that would, on completion, let you end there.

Hope that makes sense...

[Karen Rose]

Leam,
Exactly what I am learning as we speak, that is, all cuts end up in a guard, all guards are places to strike from. It's all a matter of getting correct footwork, form and practice transtions from there. I'm learning slow, but sure!