MARTINEZ ACADEMY OF ARMS

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CLASSICAL FENCING AND HISTORICAL SWORDSMANSHIP EXPOSITION

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| Expo | Arte Dell'Abbacciare | Dusack | Sword & Buckler | Spada y Daga | La Destreza | Italian Rapier | Classical Fencing |

Arte Dell'Abbacciare

Illustration from Fiore de' Liberi's Flos Duellatorum	Illustration from Marozzo

The arte dell'abbracchiare, literally, the "art of embracing" (or "seizing") is a general term taken from Fiore de' Liberi's Flos Duellatorum to describe all unarmed self-defense techniques. As Baldesar Castliglione says in that indispensable manual for the Renaissance gentleman, The Book of the Courtier: "I deem it highly important, moreover, [for the Courtier] to know how to wrestle, because this frequently accompanies the use of weapons on foot."¹ Indeed, such grips were an essential part of training in arms. The techniques here presented are taken directly from the fifteenth-century Flos Duellatorum and Achille Marozzo's Opera Nova of 1536.

John Kovacs has studied the martial arts since childhood, and has several advanced degrees and certificates in karate, arnis de mano, and jujitsu. He has published widely and taught throughout the nation, including a series of workshops at the prestigious John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, where he held the positions of Defensive Tactic Coordinator and Firearms Instructor. Mr. Kovacs, who also holds a master's degree in forensic psychology, is currently a student at the Martinez Academy. His particular interest lies in the relationship between armed and unarmed techniques in the European martial arts.

Photos by Jeff Sauber

Attempted face slash with live blade countered with block and leg sweep.	Removal of live blade after takedown.	Application of sacrifice arm bar against attempted face slash with live blade.

| Expo | Arte Dell'Abbacciare | Dusack | Sword & Buckler | Spada y Daga | La Destreza | Italian Rapier | Classical Fencing |