Zogho Stretto


 * “Qui commenza zogho de spada a doy mani zogho stretto,
 * in loquale sara dogni rasone coverte, e feride e ligadure.
 * e disligadure e prese e tore de spade, e sbatter in terra
 * per diversi modi. E sarano gli rimedy e gli contrary de
 * e zaschune rasoné che bisogna a offender e a defender.” — [ Getty vol. 27v-d ]

Zogho Stretto (lit. "close play") is the second form of combat illustrated by Fiore de'i Liberi, and is commonly the "endgame" conflict of a longsword duel between more advanced, equally-matched swordsmen. It is rarely entered by zugadori, as they have usually ended one or the other by means of zogho largo early on in the duel.

This form often makes use of grappling techniques found in the abrazare, including the "bring a friend" and Serpentine maneuvers. It will begin incrosare- that is, at the moment the swords lock -and escalate from there, when the first scolaro makes his move. He will quickly find that he can use the free-hand maneuver to take control of his opponent's weapon in the brief pause by various different means; taking hold of the enemy's swordblade, taking hold of the pommel and carrying upward into a strike, stepping on the foot and using the confusion to grapple, and a host of other possibilities.