Practical Destreza (Spanish rapier) - Part 5: Basic Atajo 2 techniques
- HEMA 101 admin
- Jun 27
- 4 min read
Atajo 2 is a gain of the opponent's sword on the outside, with a step to the left (i.e. away from their sword).
Rada gives 8 first intention techniques from afar. His explanations of each are very hard to understand, so this is my best guess.
Something you should start to appreciate, having learned technique from Atajo 1: in Atajo two, we are walking away from the opponent's sword, not into it. This means that we can't perform a thrust in opposition (without doing something first), as the more we walk left the more offline our point will naturally become, assuming we are maintaining blade contact.
If we simply step away from the opponent's blade then we can make a free thrust or a free cut, without any blade contact. However, that also means the opponent can attack us. If we want to thrust while maintaining blade contact then we need to perform an envelopment of the opponent's blade, which brings their blade to our left side. The basic techniques described below cover both of these situations. We either:
Envelope our opponent's blade so that we can thrust with blade contact, or
We expel their blade away from us so we can thrust or cut without blade contact, but safely.
First intention attacks from afar
1) Full circle thrust to the shoulder
This technique starts by explaining how to form the Atajo, presumably from a position where your sword is to their inside, by way of a disengage. From the inside (both fencers in the right angle position), disengage under their hilt in a clockwise motion, and form an Atajo onto the outside of their blade, with your point at around 1 o'clock (or line 3 on Rada's pyramid), place the 3rd of your blade on the 2nd of theirs. If they fail to do anything, then push their blade down so that it points towards 4 o'clock from your perspective with a step to your left.
Now you will perform an envelopment of their blade in a clockwise motion in order to thrust at their shoulder, while stepping forwards. Their blade will be trapped by your quillon on top of your blade. You then retreat backwards with a diagonal step to the left.
This video gives some idea of how it is done, although isn't perfect because I'm trying to control the camera and I'm not using the correct type of sword.
2) The quarter-circle-thrust
In essence, you are circling clockwise over their blade and, as you step left, you trap their blade and thrust underneath their hilt. It is easier to show this than to explain it. Rada suggests the thrust is performed with a step to the right rather than left.
3) Line-in-Cross
This technique is very simlar to #1, except it starts from the Atajo already formed, and it is said to be done with the 4th portion of your blade on the 1st portion of theirs.
As you gain the Atajo, perform an envelopment of their sword in a clockwise fashion, roughly a full circle, with a step to the right. You should find your sword is pointing at the opponent's shoulder, and their sword is trapped on top of your sword by your quillon; their sword is pointing well off to your left side. You can now step forwards and thrust them.
4) Weak Over the Strong
From Atajo 2, do the line in cross envelopment forcefully as you step left so that you expel their sword to your right, and now you can now deliver a free thrust over their hilt without contacting their blade.
5) Half cut of first intention
As above, but as you expel their blade you perform a half cut at their head. Instead of a thrust.
6) Suspension and a thrust of first intention to the opponent’s shoulder or face
From Atajo 2, forcefully slide your blade down their blade (a suspension), expelling their blade downwards and to the right, then thrust them in the face with a step right, followed by a retreat.
7) Thrust of first intention under the opponent’s right arm
As above but thrust them in the armpit.
8) Thrust of first intention to the opponent’s shoulder with a diversion
Start with Atajo 2 on the opponent's blade. As usual your point is over their blade pointing at around 2'oclock (or line 4 on Rada's 'pyramid'). Now you will drop your blade over theirs to the inside of their sword and, in a sort of 'hanging' position or as an envelopment, push their blade forcibly to your left (your inside). Now you need to disengage (circle) your point underneath their quillon in a counter-clockwise motion over the top of their hilt and thrust them in the shoulder (taking the right angle position) as you take a step to your right. The thrust and step are completed at the same time. Now retreat diagonally backwards, as usual.
The below video gives some idea of what this might look lit.
Bonus techniques
Mixed angle thrust
From Atajo 2, you basically scoop up their blade with your hilt and cross guard and then thrust them, with or without grabbing their hilt with your offhand.
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