Chapter 3 — Surrounded in a Narrow Street from Behind and in Front
Including: How to Grip the Montante
Source Text
If you are surrounded with opponents behind and in front in a street where tajos and reveses cannot be played, take hold of the montante with the right hand close to the quillons and the left close to the pommel and turn your sides to the opponents and your back to one of the walls. Play a tajo to those on the right side, putting the right foot to that same side. This tajo has to be armed in the air and has to cut from high to low, because if the street had room for the tajos to be ripped in the middle of the body, the rule for being surrounded would be better. Play a tajo in this manner, and the tajo does not stop until it ends in a nails-up thrust to those that are on the left side. At the same time, put to the left side the foot that you had put to the right side, from one side to the other in a manner that the body ends up turned with the back to the other wall. The placing of the foot, the tajo, the turn, and the armed thrust all have to be in one time.
Then turn with a reves to those on the same right side, which goes armed above the head in the manner of the tajo and finishes with a nails-down thrust to those on the left side in the manner of the nails-up thrust that is dealt with above. When the reves passes, put the left foot in with it in the manner that you put in the right foot in the first step, so that the body ends turned, and your back turned to the other wall. The placing of the left foot, the reves, the armed thrust, and the turn of the body all have to be made in one time.
Take note that when you turn the body, the step having been made, you have to turn your face to the opponents, that is, to where the blows began, in the manner that your eyes go after the montante. Continue the battle as long as necessary with the two above-mentioned steps of the left and right foot.
Summary
When surrounded by opponents in a narrow street where you cannot use tajos or reveses, hold the montante with your right hand near the quillons and your left hand near the pommel. Position yourself with your back against one wall.
Begin by executing a tajo to the right side, stepping to the right with your right foot. The tajo should cut from high to low and continue into a nails-up thrust toward the left side. As you complete this sequence, move your left foot to the left side, turning your body so your back faces the other wall. This entire sequence — stepping, tajo, turning, and thrust — should be done smoothly in one motion.
Next, perform a reves to the right side, starting above your head like the tajo and finishing with a nails-down thrust to the left side. As you complete the reves, step in with your left foot, similar to the initial right foot movement, turning your body so your back faces the opposite wall. This sequence of reves, thrust, and foot movement should also be executed in one fluid motion.
As you turn your body during these movements, make sure to face the opponents where the blows started, keeping your eyes on the montante. Continue using these steps — advancing and retreating with both feet — until the battle is resolved.