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Rule 8 — Guarding a Cloak

Source Text

The montante taken as dealt with in Chapter Three, put the left foot on the cloak, then bending the body and extending the arms as much as you can, play a raking tajo to the legs. Passing the right foot to the left side so that your face ends up where you had your back, play another tajo, higher, in a manner that there have to be two tajos and one single step of the right foot, armed over the left foot. The two tajos given, turn to pass the right foot to the place where you had it, playing two reveses, one to the legs and another higher. The first blow always has to be the lowest, in a manner that you give two reveses in one single step with the right foot, and the left foot doesn't leave from over the cloak. Always when you finish the last tajo and the last reves, the montante encircles your back, turning your whole body in a circle while leaving the feet in place, the left over the cloak and the right always to the side of the left, and both very straight. Give battle with this step as much as necessary.

This rule isn't ruined by speed, nor are there thrusts in it.

Summary

To defend a cloak using the montante:

  1. Start with the montante as described in Chapter Three: Place your left foot firmly on the cloak to secure it.
  2. Bend your body and extend your arms as far as possible while performing a low tajo aimed at the legs.
  3. Step with your right foot to the left side, turning your body so your face ends up where your back was, and perform a second, higher tajo. These two tajos should be executed with a single step of the right foot.
  4. After the tajos, turn your body back to its original position by moving your right foot to where it was before, and perform two reveses — one low and one higher. Again, this should be done in one step with the right foot.
  5. Keep your left foot on the cloak throughout the movement, ensuring it doesn't move. After completing the final tajo and reves, rotate the montante around your back, turning your entire body in a circle while keeping both feet in place.
  6. Maintain the position of your feet — left foot on the cloak and right foot to the side of the left, both held straight.

Continue this motion, alternating between tajos and reveses, as long as necessary. This rule emphasizes continuous movement and does not rely on speed or thrusts.