Glossary

The Four Virtues

Italian	English	Animal	Meaning
Prudenza	Prudence	Lynx	Judgment, awareness, measure, and timing
Celeritas	Speed	Tiger	Quickness in action and recovery
Audatia	Audacity	Lion	Courage, initiative, and commitment
Fortitudo	Fortitude	Elephant	Strength, structure, and stability

Animal	Associated Virtue	Fiore's Lesson
Lynx	Prudence	Observe carefully before acting
Tiger	Speed	Move quickly when opportunity appears
Lion	Audacity	Commit confidently to action
Elephant	Fortitude	Maintain strong structure under pressure

Italian	English	Characteristics
Stabile	Stable	Strong, grounded, difficult to displace
Instabile	Mutable	Flexible, adaptable, transitions easily
Pulsativa	Pulsing	Aggressive, offensive, generates attacks

Italian	English	Classification	Primary Idea	Natural Attack
Posta di Donna	Woman's Guard	Pulsing	Power generation and initiative	Fendente
Posta di Fenestra	Window Guard	Mutable	Deception, probing, thrusting	Punta
Dente di Zenghiaro	Boar's Tooth	Stable	Rising pressure and upward attacks	Sottano
Coda Longa	Long Tail	Mutable	Deception and explosive entry	Sottano
Posta Longa	Long Guard	Mutable	Measure and centerline control	Punta
Posta Breve	Short Guard	Stable	Compact structure and quick offense	Punta / Fendente
Porta di Ferro Mezzana	Middle Iron Gate	Stable	Strong defense and central control	Punta / Cover
Tutta Porta di Ferro	Full Iron Gate	Stable	Defensive strength and safe entry	Punta / Cover
Porta di Ferro Alta	High Iron Gate	Stable	High-line defense and interception	Mezzano / Punta
Posta Frontale	Frontal Guard	Stable	Central obstruction and strong covers	Fendente
Posta Corona	Crown Guard	Stable	Protective covering and counterattack	Fendente
Bicorno	Two-Horned Guard	Stable	Centerline dominance and pressure	Punta

Italian	English	Direction	Common Targets
Fendente	Descending Blow	High to Low	Head, shoulders, arms
Mezzano	Middle Blow	Horizontal	Head, neck, arms
Sottano	Rising Blow	Low to High	Hands, arms, underside openings
Punta	Thrust	Straight Line	Face, throat, chest, abdomen

Note: Fendente, Mezzano, and Sottano are performed from both the right and left sides.

Attack	English	Naturally Generated By
Fendente	Descending Blow	Posta di Donna, Posta Breve
Mezzano	Middle Blow	Posta Breve, Fenestra, Porta di Ferro Alta
Sottano	Rising Blow	Dente di Zenghiaro, Coda Longa
Punta	Thrust	Fenestra, Longa, Breve, Bicorno

Italian	English	Description
Passare	Passing Step	Rear foot passes forward and becomes the lead foot
Accrescere	Gathering Step	Front foot advances, rear foot follows
Decrescere	Retreating Step	Front foot retreats, rear foot follows
Volta Stabile	Stable Turn	Turn without changing lead foot
Mezza Volta	Half Turn	Front foot becomes rear foot
Tutta Volta	Full Turn	Complete rotation of the body

Italian	English	Meaning
Gioco Largo	Wide Play	Actions before a deep crossing of the swords
Gioco Stretto	Narrow Play	Actions after a deep crossing when distance collapses
Coverta	Cover	Defensive action protecting the body while controlling the opponent's weapon
Ferire	To Strike	To attack with a cut or thrust
Colpo	Blow	Any offensive strike
Presa	Seizure / Grip	A grab, grip, or control of the opponent
Rompere	To Break	To disrupt a guard, attack, or structure
Scambiar di Punta	Exchange of Thrusts	Deflecting a thrust while delivering your own
Zogho (Gioco)	Play	A technique, sequence, or tactical exchange
Falsa Guardia (Posta Falsa)	False Guard	A guard intended to deceive the opponent
Stringere	To Close / Constrain	Gaining control of the line while advancing
Contrario	Counter	An action that defeats or opposes another action
Rebattere	To Beat Aside	Deflecting or knocking the opponent's weapon off line

Term	Meaning
Measure	The distance between you and your opponent
Tempo	The timing of an action
Centerline	The direct line between you and your opponent
Threat	An attack the opponent must respect
Structure	Alignment that efficiently generates and receives force
Initiative	Acting first and forcing reactions
Provocation	Creating a reaction you intend to exploit
Deception	Causing the opponent to misread your intention
Line	The path between your weapon and your opponent
Pressure	Applying threat or force to create a reaction
Recovery	Returning safely after an attack
Transition	Moving from one guard or action into another

Principle	Meaning
Guards are not static positions.	A guard is a tactical idea, not a pose.
Every guard generates actions.	Guards naturally produce certain attacks and defenses.
Defense creates offense.	Covers often become attacks.
Threat controls behavior.	The opponent must react to credible threats.
Measure governs fencing.	Distance determines what actions are possible.
Structure enables power.	Strong alignment creates effective actions.
The shortest path arrives first.	Efficient actions often defeat larger motions.
Control the centerline.	Whoever owns the line often owns the exchange.
Strike and recover.	Every attack should return safely under cover.
Force reactions.	Make the opponent solve problems rather than executing their own plan.