Practical Destreza (Spanish rapier) - Part 5: Basic Atajo 2 techniques
- HEMA 101 admin
- 2 days ago
- 3 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
I can't figure this technique out. I presumed it was a full-envelopment of the opponent's sword in a clockwise fashion as you step left, followed by a thrust, however this is what technique #3 seems to be. Therefore, I do not know what this technique is, and Rada's description is extremely difficult to understand. It is possible that it is just a counter-clockwise disengage in order to bring their blade into Atajo 1, and then possibly a low thrust. However, this would seem to make it an Atajo 1 technique (similar to the quarter circle thrust in Atajo 1).
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.
3) Line-in-Cross
As you gain the Atajo, perform an envelopment of their sword in a clockwise fashion, roughly a full circle, with a step to the left. 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
I'm not exactly sure what is happening in this one.
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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