Take a moment to realize that when you were a child your parents regularly carried you in their arms.  It was a part of your life so common as to be unnoticed.

They picked you up and carried you into the house, they held you while you slept, and they laid you down in your bed.

Now realize that on one particular day, that neither you nor your parent recognized, your parent picked you up and carried you for the very last time.  You probably do not remember the day when you last leaned your head into your parent’s shoulder as they held you but thinking on it today, you might wish that you did.

If you have a child of your own remember that your last time to carry them is coming and appreciate holding your child today.

There is a last time for everything so use what little time you have.

I’m intentionally going to present this from the perspective of a Pachequista (a follower of don Luis Pacheco).  Pacheco literally defined the fencing master’s examination in Spain so in this regard his work is “canonical”.

The Advantage of Downward Pressure

If I extend my arm out toward you with the palm up and you press down while I resist you will probably be able to lower my arm.  The Spanish call this the superior nature of the natural movement (descending) versus the violent movement (rising).  Your own body also provides an advantage when you use your shoulder and body to assist in the motion to increase the downward force.

Principle: If all other factors are equal a downward force will defeat an upwards resistance.

When two equal adversaries resist each other, gravity lends a hand.

The Advantage of Degrees of Strength

I have already written an article about blade mechanics, but every swordsman worth his or her salt should already know that in contact between two weapons, the swordsman with superior degrees of strength in the engagement has an advantage of power both offensively and defensively.

Principle: When two swords oppose each other in an engagement, the weapon with greater degrees of strength is stronger and has an advantage.

Carranza's degrees of strength showing higher values as stronger.

For more on strength in engagements consider this article:

Spanish Fencing Notation 5 – Strength of the Weapon

The Advantage of Time

When two adversaries act against each other the swordsman who can finish execution sooner has an advantage in time.  The Spanish use Movements as a tool for understanding time.  When the adversary’s attack requires three movements, he can be defeated by a defense or counteroffense which uses a single movement.  In addition an engagement that completely closes a line can limit the adversary’s offensive options to ensure that the time advantage is maintained.

Principle: A defensive action that requires a single movement can defeat an offensive action with more movements.

When the adversary attempts to strike with a circular reverse (3 movements) the defender answers with a thrust (1 movement). (Ettenhard Plate 11)

Principle: An engagement which prevents the adversary from attacking in a single motion provides a defensive advantage.

By closing the line, he forces the adversary into a time disadvantage. (Ettenhard Plate 15)

For more on Spanish Movements consider this article:

Spanish Fencing Notation 1 – Vector Notation

Advantage by Domination of the Shortest Path

The Spanish fencer starts with the arm extended and the weapon pointed at the adversary along the most direct path to the target.  Knowing that it is easier to push downward then to resist upward, I can use this principle to deny my adversary the shortest path to my body by pushing his blade down.  Not only do I increase the distance he must travel to strike my body, I also ensure that my offensive path is shorter and closer to the target.

Principle: By starting with the arm extended along the shortest path to the adversary and then deviating the adversary’s weapon downward you ensure your own path to the target is shorter.

Note: Deviating the opposing steel laterally would be called a desvio or a deflection.

The advantage of the shorter path (Ettenhard Plate 9)

Atajo Defined

The Spanish Atajo unites all of these ideas into a single defensive action which can protect the swordsman while simultaneously providing opportunities and the place from which to strike with safety.  Offensively, the atajo can be used to prepare a safe attack that controls the adversary’s weapon.  (We would call this preparatory action “dispositive“ and the attack “executive“.)

Pacheco in New Science p.365 (1632)

~Translated by Mary Curtis

Pacheco in New Science p.368 (1632)

~Translated by Mary Curtis

Ettenhard in his Compendium and Foundations… p.154-155 (1675)

~Translated by Mary Curtis

Eric places an Atajo over Kevin's sword. (Click for larger image)

The Defining Elements of Atajo

Between Pacheco and Ettenhard we find these three items essential in placing Atajo:

• Subjection with equal or greater degrees of strength.
• The subjection is placed from above.
• The subjected line is closed so that an adversary cannot strike with a single movement.

When Lorenz de Rada writes later, he adapts the atajo so that you initially seek the subjection from above and if you don’t find it or feel that the adversary is weak in the engagement you immediately spiral towards the opposing steel and closing the opposite line from below.   Compare this to the classical transports of 3rd and 4th from high to low or the corresponding half-circular parries from high to low.

Conclusion

This information tells us that Pacheco’s Atajo should start by seeking the superior line with greater degrees of strength in the weapon.  The defensive action subjects downward to lengthen the adversary’s path to the target while ensuring your own path is shorter. It might be tempting to equate Atajo with classical engagements but this violates the primary causes of Atajo.  Likewise, by definition two swordsmen cannot both have an Atajo simultaneously.

Part I:

The introduction includes:

• Blade mechanics
• Stance
• Movements

Part II:

Includes:

• Three Universal Methods of Defense
  • Right Angle
  • Atajo
  • Conclusion
• Footwork

Part III:

Includes material from Pacheco’s New Science

• #17 Gaining in the Air (p. 621-624)
• #3 Botonazo (p. 586-587)
• The General Technique called “Estrechar” (Narrowing) (p. 450-454)

Part IV:

Includes material from Pacheco’s New Science

• (Continued) The General Technique called “Estrechar” (Narrowing) (p. 450-454)
• #4 The Passata Sotto (p. 587-589)
• Line in Cross (p. 447- 450)

Part V:

Includes material from Pacheco’s New Science

• #4 The Passata Sotto (p. 587-589)
• Estrechar (Narrowing) (p. 450-454)

Final Notes:

There is another video available on YouTube From the SCA’s Known World Academy of the Rapier 2007 and I have a blog article for it here with comments concerning the techniques and the source texts.

• Link to previous video

You can find a series of Articles on Spanish Fencing Notation here:

LINK TO ARTICLE 1

LINK TO ARTICLE 2

LINK TO ARTICLE 3

LINK TO ARTICLE 4

LINK TO ARTICLE 5

ALL DESTREZA RELATED ARTICLES

~P.

According to the canonical authors, the length of the weapon should be no longer than 5/4 vara.    That’s an upper limit just a bit over 41 inches.

Philip II’s Law on Blade Length

Philip II

Pacheco de Narváez’s Preference on Blade Length

Pacheco de Narvaez

Later, Luis Pacheco de Narváez directly cites Philip’s law in his books.

In the seventeenth century, Pacheco de Narváez echoes the sentiments of Philip II in recommending a blade no more than 5/4 varas.

Pacheco de Narvaez’s Opinions on Longer Blades

Knowing that Pacheco de Narváez advocates a blade no longer than 5/4 vara, does he consider it important? If you use a longer weapon against someone using a proper sword, it offends Pacheco de Narváez, and he has some harsh things to say.

To summarize, blades longer than 5/4 vara:

He also goes on about how shorter blades and lighter blades are better for reacting to the adversary and more macho.  Practically speaking, the blade should be able to deliver powerful cuts but still be light enough to change direction quickly.

My own opinion is that in an engagement of the weapons, it is useful to be able to cross and uncross your arms as well.  To see what I mean carry your sword over your left arm and then grab a friend’s doublet with your left hand.  Uncross your arms to bring your point in line with your friend’s chest.  This is easier when the blade is shorter and a sidesword fills the role nicely.

Other Authors

Sword from Carranza's Text

The weapon images in the texts of Carranza (1569) and Pacheco de Narváez (1600 – approx. 1630s) show us swords that look different from the long slender rapiers in Thibault. At least in the time period of Carranza and possibly Pacheco de Narváez as well “Spanish rapier” isn’t a precise description of what I would personally consider an edge sword or side sword if you prefer.

Even as late as Francisco Lórenz de Rada’s work in the late 1600s and early 1700s, 5/4 vara is the maximum length.  That being said, Girard Thibault‘s work is outside the Spanish canon so if you are interested primarily in Thibault, exceeding 5/4 vara might be acceptable.

Science versus Specific Tradition

Destreza theory is a science which can describe all types of martial arts.  The Spanish tradition of swordplay is what is most often described with this science.  We must not confuse the science with the specific practice of the art.  Pacheco de Narváez and Carranza practice the Spanish tradition, and we can describe this with Destreza fencing theory, but that science is also used as a tool for analyzing Italian fencing and other forms as well.

While Pacheco de Narváez and the other authors recommend a sword of 5/4 vara or less for the martial tradition, Destreza doesn’t recognize a limit on weapon size from the perspective of the science.  The montante and other weapons will obviously surpass this value, and Destreza still applies.