Classical Academy of Arms: 14.1.2. Intrecciata

The Intrecciata is the Italian Schools' change beat. We are fortunate that there are three English language fencing manuals from the classical period that describe this technique: Mansaniello Parise;s Treatise on the Fencing of the Sword and Sabre (1884) available in a 2015 translation by Holzman The Roman-Neapolitan School of Fencing, Generoso Pavese's somewhat rare Foil and Sabre Fencing (1905), Luigi Barbasetti's The Art of the Foil (1932 although the majority of the text may have been written in the late 1890s) available in reprint.

Maestro di Scherma Parise described the intrecciata as a disengage followed by a beat to free the fencer's blade from the opponent's. The technique is executed in two ways:

when the opponent is engaged in terza (third) the internal intrecciata is executed with the hand in third-in-fourth, ending with a straight thrust in fourth. This is termed the intrecciata in quarta.
when the engagement is in fourth, the external intrecciata is executed with the hand in second in third directed to the flank, termed the intrecciata and cartoccio. It may also be performed to the chest. with the thrust with hand in either second or fourth.

Parise described two additional uses of the intrecciata. The first is the intrecciata and feint direct employed when it is likely the opponent will use a lateral parry in defense.

The inside intrecciata is followed with a feint of straight thrust and a disengage to the external chest to deceive a parry in four.
The outside intrecciata is followed by a feint to the flank and a disengage to the chest in four to deceive a parry of two.
The outside intrecciata can be followed by a feint to the chest and a disengage to deceive the parry of three.

The second is the intrecciata and circular feint direct. The disengage at the end of the intrecciata and feint direct, the disengage is replaced by a circular movement to deceive an opponent's circular parry.

The internal intrecciata is executed as a straight thrust with the hand in third in fourth and avoids the outside circular parry by returning to the same target in a circular movement. To elude the parry of mezzocerchio it may be directed to the flank with the hand in second.
The external intrecciata is executed with the hand in second in third. If the opponent executes a circular fourth parry, the attack moves circularly to the inside chest with the hand in fourth. If the opponent attempts a parry of mezzocerchio, it can be deceived with a feint of cartoccio with a circular action to the flank.

Maestro di Scherma Pavese's text appears to be the first English language publication describing the method taught at the Military Fencing Masters School of Rome and to be based on Parise. He described the technique as a passage of the blade under the opponent's blade. This tracks slightly further away from the blade than is normal in a disengage and ends with a beat in the new line to displace the opponent's blade laterally. The beat is executed with the hand in second-in-third and is the immediate preparation for a straight thrust with the hand in fourth hand position and lunge.

Pavese described the intrecciata con la finta (change beat with feint) is a combination of (1) intrecciata, (2) thrust in the line from which the beat was made as a feint, and (3) a disengage to avoid the opponent's attempt to make a lateral parry and hit. This is essentially an abbreviated form of Parise's explanation.

Maestro di Scherma Barbasetti used the English language term "change beat" and addresses it in the context of the binds (an engagement that diverts the opponent's blade from the line). Barbasetti's standard binds are: (1) Prime - from both blades on the inside line, opponent's blade diverted to the inside, (2) Seconde - from both blades on the inside line, opponent's blade diverted to the outside, (3) Tierce - from both blades on the outside line, opponent's blade diverted to the outside, (4) Quarte - from both blades on the inside line, opponent's blade diverted to the inside, and (5) Quinte - from both blades on the inside line, opponent's blade diverted to the inside in the extended arm guard. Note that Barbasetti's English language text used the French titles of the various positions.

The movement of the change beat is described as being the same as that required to change a bind. This creates a wider interpretation of the change beat than the descriptions of Parise and Pavese. Barbasetti suggested that the change beats listed below are possible:

from bind of quarte, change beat in tierce.
from bind of quarte, change beat in quinte.
from bind of tierce, change beat in quarte.
from bind of tierce, change beat in seconde.
from bind of seconde, change beat in quinte.
from bind of seconde, change beat in prime.
from bind of quinte, change beat in quarte.
from bind of prime, change beat in seconde.
from bind of prime, change beat in quarte.

These create movement patterns that are semi-circular, rather than the circular beat of Parise and Pavese. Barbasetti also discussed the change beat as a method of disarming the opponent - Pavese had mentioned this possibility but did not provide specific examples. Also of note is that Barbasetti taught a Counter Beat, executed as a circle against an opponent whose arm and blade are fully extended.

All of these actions require a good understanding of Italian School hand positions, the meaning of internal and external, and the formation of Italian School guards and parries, all of which have differences from the French School. The Classical Academy of Arms Catalog of Classical Fencing Actions and Glossary may be of assistance. Understanding the movement patterns themselves requires walking through them with a partner and weapons.

Sources:

Barbasetti, Luigi; The Art of the Foil; [fencing manual]; E. P. Dutton and Company, Inc., New York, New York, United States of America; 1932.

Holzman, Christopher A.; The Roman-Neapolitan School of Fencing: The Collected Works of Masaniello Parise, Maestro di Scherma; [fencing manual]; Christopher A. Holzman, Wichita, Kansas, United States of America; 2015.

Pavese, Generoso; Foil and Sabre Fencing; [fencing manual]; Press of King Brothers, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America; 1905.
Copyright 2020 by Walter G. Green III