1.3 The line of engagement

Overview

The line of engagement, or the line for short, is one of the key principles of the Italian rapier system. Quite simply this line is the imaginary line that would be formed if you joined the middle of your body to the middle of your opponent's body. Tactically, you want to dominate or control the line so that you control the fight.

Correctly aligning your body to the line

The front foot and knee should be pointing directly at the opponent, along the line of engagement. Ideally the back of the rear foot should also be on the line (extending the line through the leading foot). In a correctly formed terza guard, the sword arm and sword is also be aligned with the line of engagement.

The 4 Quadrants

The 4 quadrants are related to the line of engagement, but are determined by the position of the sword hand. For the purpose of the explanation we will assume that the sword hand is in 3rd.

The 4 quadrants are formed by extending 2 perpendicular planes from the sword hand, parallel to the line of engagement. The vertical plane, perpendicular to the ground, defines whether objects are inside or outside the sword hand. Anything on the palm side of the sword hand is on the inside. Anything on the back of the hand side of the sword hand is on the outside. The horizontal plane, parallel to the ground, defines whether objects are high or low. Anything above the sword hand is high, and anything below the sword hand is low. These areas are always defined in relation to the sword hand, not the center of the body.

The First Quadrant

This is the Low Inside quadrant. Thus an attack made to the low inside quadrant is also called an attack into first.

The Second Quadrant

This is the Low Outside quadrant. Thus an attack made to the low outside quadrant is also called an attack into second.

The Third Quadrant

This is the High Outside quadrant. Thus an attack made to the high outside quadrant is also called an attack into third.

The Fourth Quadrant

This is the High Inside quadrant. Thus an attack made to the high inside quadrant is also called an attack into fourth.

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