Dueling in thirty days: day three

Tonight was free fencing night, so we didn't get a chance to do much with the drill, unfortunately. However, the three of us spent about 15 minutes after class working through each defense in isolation, and then walking in a circle. I'm becoming more and more convinced that the ridoppio/imbroccata combination is the way to go for two reasons:

1) This is the way it is described in the solo form described during the first day of Dall'Agocchie's treatise. (Coda Lunga + riverso ridoppio + imbroccata)
2) Performing the imbroccata after a ridoppio provides excellent cover, and almost always gives a bonus cut to the sword arm.

Tomorrow, we'll be working on refining the circle drill, and integrating all five of the attacks - and all one defense - without warning. The stoccata seems to me to be very appropriate, as it is specifically directed to the face, which, when doing the drill, is the only available target! This Dall'Agocchie was one crafty guy...Finally, depending on what kind of energy the opponent gives during the parry (hard forward, weak, etc.), the presa described in the paired form comes out very readily in a number of situations; in this specific case, against a wide-spaced riverso ridoppio. More results to be posted tomorrow.