di Grassi: Pick it Up and Use It

 Greetings,

In this month's post in which we look at a section in di Grassi's treatise in which he regards anything by which a person may offend and defend as a weapon. From this premise I will expand on this idea to examine some odd items which are often found laying around a campsite that may be used as a weapon, primarily of a defensive nature.

"ALbeit Wepons aſwel offenſiue as defenſiue be infinite, becauſe all that whatſoeuer a man may handle to offend an other or defend himſelfe, either by flinging or kepinge faſt in his hand may in my opinion be tearmed Weapon." Giacomo di Grassi (1594)

The following discussion is formed on the basis of the above statement found in Giacomo di Grassi's (1594) The true Art of Defence exactlie teachinge the manner how to handle weapons ſafelie, aſwel offenſiue as defenſiue, With a Treatiſe of Diſceit or Falſing, And with a mean or waie how a man may practiſe of himſelfe to gett Strength, Iudgement, And Actiuitie. This has been sourced from the 1594 translation of the treatise not the 1570 Italian and then translated, because I do not speak Italian and the Elizabethan English text is a text in its own right, worthy of study as I will likely have discussed previously. Moving on with the subject at hand...

There have been quite a few movies, especially of recent times, where a protagonist has picked up something convenient and used it as a weapon. This usually in the middle of a brawl, where rules have been thrown out of the window and the pair are fighting to survive. An incidence comes to mind where a rolled up magazines was used as a baton, for example, in "The Bourne Supremacy" (2004). The same sort of thing occurred in sword combats. While we are not likely to be involved in a brawl with a sword to save our lives, it is useful to examine some different objects, and approaches that can be used just in case we are surprised with an unfamiliar item.

Defensive Items

In this case, the focus will be on weapons of a defensive nature. This means weapons which are not intended to strike an opponent. A dagger, for example has both offensive and defensive capabilities, so will not feature in this discussion. Where as the buckler, which has the prime object of being defensive will be present, at least in reference in these discussions. 

Defensive weapons can be used for offensive purposes. Indeed, it is di Grassi who mentions the use of the "muſtachio" a blow to the face with the edge of the buckler, should the opponent be close and the sword bound or occupied. This is not their prime purpose, their prime purpose is for defending the individual who picks them up. Further, it will be some generic items, things that may be lying around in a Renaissance setting that will be addressed for use as these defensive items.

Relatable

The trick in each of these items is to approach using the item by relating it to an item more commonly used in fencing and then applying the same rules, taking into account its idiosyncrasies. There is no item which should not be relatable to another item more familiar. It is these links that should allow you to pick up anything you like and defend yourself with it. 

In an attempt to keep this discussion relatively brief, there will be a limit on the number of items that will be discussed. Each one of these will be related to a weapon form that I have discussed in one of my articles previously, so the rules can be found there, if you are unfamiliar with them. The trick is to look at them from the correct point of view.

"Buckler"

So we no doubt have all walked into a kitchen and picked up a pot lid and thought ,"Hey if this was bent the other way, it would make a great buckler." in return it could be said that it could make a good buckler just the way it is, especially in an emergency. It is the right shape, it comes with a handle in the right spot and it is made of a robust material. Further, being in a kitchen, finding an offensive device to go with it should not be a problem. The word messer does mean "knife" in German after all, and a stout blow with a rolling pin is going to make an opponent think twice. 

"Kitchen Combat" here we come? Instead, I think we should move a little "outdoors" though the same objects would be available in a camp kitchen as well. There are even more objects available when you think about it here, and the items become even more robust in nature.

"Cane"

The idea behind using a cane is a stick used to defend yourself, in its simplest terms. In a truly combative situation, the same stick could also be used as a club, and thus as an offensive device, but we will focus on the defensive aspect. Here there are many options, not restricted to flags, staffs, shooting sticks for muskets, pretty much anything with a stick involved. Let's push that envelope just a little further, what about a shovel?

It could be used sort of like a buckler and cane combined if you use the blade upward. This method, by the way is rather unwieldy and strains the arm a lot (Yes, I've actually done it.). The better way is to hold the shovel by the handle and use the blade as a counter-lever. This way it makes a very solid defence which the opponent will have a very hard time moving. It is not particularly mobile, but once you're behind it, you're pretty safe from an opponent's attacks if you stay there.

"Cloak"

Any, preferably large, piece of material can be used as a cloak. I really mean any. I have used a coat, and a tabbard both used as a cloak on separate instances. A blanket or a tablecloth, both of good material will serve as good stand-ins for cloaks in emergencies. In fact some of the best cloaks that I have seen, and worn, were made from blankets, or at least blanket-type material. It's the volume of material that makes this device effective, and also keeps the warmth in when you wear it. This is why slightly heavier and thicker material is more effective than thinner.

"Rotella"

A rotella is a large shield which protects most of the arm and shoulder, and extends out from the arm. If a chair was picked up, especially a wooden camping chair; forearm against the back, seat grabbed and legs toward the opponent, it could act as a rotella with some added reach. Now, the hand would be exposed on the outside, but the opponent would have to get past the legs of the chair first. Of course the wielder of the chair also needs to be careful about those legs, if using certain rules, to ensure they do not strike their opponent. If no such rules exist, they could be a potent weapon for striking. This does not even begin to investigate their potential for entanglement.

Out of the weapon suggestions that I have discussed, this is the only one that I have not actually put into practise more than a single time, at least in a practical/bouting situation. I have certainly thought about the theoretical side of it, and I think that there is a lot of potential. After all, I am the one who is usually writing about people sitting on the chair, not using them for weapons.

Why?

The purpose of this investigation has been to open your eyes to different possibilities. To show how different things are related to one another, that many things that we think are foreign, are actually not that different from one another. You may not have learnt, or been taught, how to use a device, but if you relate it back to a device that you do know of similar construction, then you have a step-up.

Examine the usual weapons that are used during your form of fencing, compare them to other forms of fencing, then compare them to other items that you might find laying about. See how they might be used in a similar fashion should you have to use them at a moment's notice. Think about the chance of a sudden invasion of a campsite, you have to pick up the closest thing to you to defend yourself. Think about a tavern brawl, you have to pick up the closest thing to you and defend yourself. Expand your mind have a look at objects differently, it will reveal a lot about the objects, and the objects you are basing their use upon.

Cheers,

Henry.

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