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Rule 10 — Surrounded in a Plaza, Field, or Street

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One must have much acuity, speed, and great vigor when surrounded by opponents in a battle. One quickly takes up his montante by the form in Rule Three. Positioned in the middle of the attackers, he cuts a tajo, bending at the knees with the head straight, established on the left foot. Then he cuts another, putting in the right foot, in a manner that he goes sideways, alternating left and right foot, cutting tajos in a continuous motion, circling himself in a wheel with the montante, giving a tajo at each step, which may be up to three or four, and not passing five because of the danger that it can have in weakening the head. These steps with tajos finished, he returns to where he started with other steps with reveses, in the same order as the tajos, giving a reves at each step of the foot, and circling his whole body with the reves. Note that when you turn with said blows, the feet are placed surely, and more than this, they are always placed straight from each other, the body always going very upright, the face alternating from one side to the other. In this manner, stepping to one side with tajos, and then to the other with reveses, do these steps for as long as the battle lasts.

Take note that if you will be surrounded in a wide field, that when you give the steps, they aren't always to one side, returning to where you had left, but continually stepping first to one side, then to another, running the whole circuit in a wheel.

If the encirclement will be in a wide street, make the steps to one side and the other. Take note that in no manner is there a thrust. If it happens that you have to break the squad of enemies that keeps you surrounded, press with the step to the side where you see more weakness, and arriving close, shout with a loud voice, and at the same time, give a nails-up thrust to that side with a big leap in a circle, and at the end of the thrust, a tajo and reves.

Being outside, take advantage of them with Rule 9. Be advised that the moment you are surrounded, that you always press to the side to where the opponents are stronger.

Summary

When surrounded by opponents in battle, you must act with great speed, acuity, and vigor:

  1. Prepare with Chapter Three: Quickly take up the montante in the form described in Chapter Three, ensuring your stance and grip are firm.
  2. Initial Defense — Tajos: Position yourself in the center of your attackers. Begin by cutting a tajo, bending at the knees while keeping your head straight and centered on the left foot. Follow with another tajo, stepping with the right foot, moving sideways. Continue alternating between left and right foot, cutting tajos with each step. Circle yourself in a continuous motion, delivering up to three or four tajos as you turn, but avoid more than five to prevent weakening your position.
  3. Follow-up — Reveses: Once the steps with tajos are complete, return to your starting point by executing reveses. Follow the same footwork pattern as with the tajos, but now delivering reveses with each step. Circle your entire body with these reveses, ensuring your feet are placed securely and straight from each other.
  4. Maintaining Posture: Keep your body upright throughout the motion, with your face alternating from side to side as you turn with each blow. The steps should be executed continuously, with tajos to one side followed by reveses to the other, until the battle ends.
  5. Adjusting to the Environment: If surrounded in a wide field, move continuously, stepping from one side to another, covering the entire circuit in a circular motion. If in a wide street, move to one side and then to the other, without lingering in one spot.
  6. Breaking Through: If you need to break through the squad of enemies surrounding you, press toward the side where you perceive a weakness. As you close in, shout loudly, then deliver a nails-up thrust toward the weak side with a powerful leap. Immediately follow the thrust with a tajo and reves to further disrupt the enemies.
  7. After Breaking Through: Once outside the encirclement, take advantage of your position by applying Rule 9.
  8. Final Advice: As soon as you find yourself surrounded, always press toward the side where the opponents are strongest, keeping the pressure on and exploiting any opportunities to break through.