Lunge in Quarta (Plate 8)
Commentary
Jonathan Allen
As you perform this thrust, ensure that the left shoulder is raised as per the illustration. This will allow for a more stable thrust than if you simply allow the left hand to dangle until needed. The way I recommend learning this is by touching your ear with the back of your fingertips. This action pulls the shoulder up and back, lengthening your attack. (You can then extend it forward as per plate 8 when it becomes necessary for your defense.)
You can prove this with a few tests:
- Thrust in Quarta with the left hand on the chest or hip. Then raise it as described above and note if it affects your range.
- Thrust in Quarta with the left hand on the chest or hip, this time watching your point. See if it drops or wanders. Repeat the thrust, this time simultaneously raising the left shoulder. Note any changes in accuracy.
- While at the end of the thrust, ask your partner to press directly back on your hilt. Do this with the shoulder high and low, noting the differences in stability.
In each test we found a marked improvement from the raised shoulder.
The counter is in chapter 8, plate 11.