Venetian Rapier

Tom Leoni was born in Switzerland and grew up in Northern Italy. Since an early age, he developed a passion for antique arms and armour and Renaissance-Baroque culture. His meticulous research of Italian swordsmanship treatises helped him become an internationally-known teacher specialising in the Italian styles of the 1500s and 1600s. In 2005, Tom published an English translation of Master Salvator Fabris' 1606 rapier treatise Scienza d'Armi, one the of the most important fencing works of the late Renaissance. In 2009, he published a translation of Italy's earliest extant martial-arts treatise, Fiore de' Liberi's Fio di Battaglia (circa 1409).

• AcknowlegementsIntroductionWhat we know about GigantiWhat we know about Gaganti's 1606 BookGiganti's Voice and Language, and a note on the TranslationGiganti and the Italian TraditionWhat You need to Know to Tackle GiganteThe School, or Salle, by Nicoletto Giganti of Venice, 1606The Guards and Counter-guardsTempo and MeasureHow to Deliver the ThrustWhy I Begin with Single SwordGuards, or PosturesExplanation of the Strike in TempoThe Correct Way to Gain the Opponent's Sword and Strike Him While He Performs a CavazioneThe Correct Way to Perform a Cavazione The Contracavazione to the Inside The Contracavazione to the OutsideFeints-Explanation The Feint of Cavazione From the HandHow to Strike to the Chest With Single Sword-From the Measure and Parity of SwordsThe Pass With Feint from Out of MeasureThe Pass With Feint Above the Opponent's PointThe Feint to the Face from Out of MeasureThe Correct Way to Deliver a Thrust While the Opponent Attacks You With a CutThe Correct Way to Deliver a Sure Strike Using Both HandsThe Correct Way to Defend Against a Mandritto or a Riverso to the LegThe Inquartata or VoidAn Artful Way to Strike the Opponent in the Chest after Pressing Against Each other's BladesHow to Play Single Sword Against Single Sword, With Full-intent ThrustsHow to Parry Thrusts to the Chest With Single SwordThe Thrust to the Face, Turning the HandCounterattack with Cavazione from out of MeasureHow to Use Single Sword Against Sword and DaggerHow to Parry a Thrust to the Face in Sword and DaggerHow to Correctly Parry a Thrust to the Left FlankHow to Correctly Parry a Thrust to the Right Flank in Sword and DaggerHow to Parry a Thrust to the Face in Sword and DaggerHow to Parry a Cut to the Head in Sword and DaggerHow to Parry a Riverso with the DaggerThrust to the Chest in Sword and DaggerDelivering a Thrust While the Opponent MovesThrust Above the DaggerA Deceitful Guard That Leaves the Left Side of the Body OpenA Deceitful Guard That Leaves the Right Side of the Body OpenA Deceitful Guard That Leaves the Chest OpenThe Feint of Sword and Dagger, to Strike Above the DaggerFeint of Sword and Dagger, to Strike in the ChestFeint of Sword and Dagger, to Strike to the Face With a Cavazione Over the Dagger-pointHow to Use the Sword to Parry a Lunging Thrust While Bringing Your Body BackHow to Parry with the Dagger with Your Body BackDagger-parry with the Body Back, with Simultaneous Sword-strikeSword-parry and Strike to the FaceThe Pass in Sword and Dagger, to Grapple the Opponent and Strike Him in the Face with the DaggerThe Thrust to the Right Shoulder in Sword and DaggerThe Pass in Sword and DaggerGlossary