These are the basic guards for Bolognese Sidesword.

Credit: Paul S created these images, descriptions, and audio.

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Guardia Alta

High Guard
Mnemonic: Altitude

  • Feet: Feet approximately your shoulder-with apart with the sword-side foot forward
  • Buckler: Extended forward at shoulder height
  • Sword: Sword hand above and sword-side of the head with the palm facing your head. The sword should be vertical, or near vertical with the true edge facing forward

Coda Lunga e Stretta

Long & Narrow Tail
Mnemonic: strict / restricted = narrow

  • Feet: Wide stance (feet about your shoulder-width apart) with the sword-side foot forward
  • Buckler: Extended forward at shoulder height
  • Sword: Hand at waist height, to the outside of your right leg with the tip of the blade pointed at your opponent’s face. The True edge of the blade should be angled slightly to your sword side

Coda Lunga e Larga

Long & Wide Tail
Mnemonic: your sword point drops after a few lagers. Large = wide

  • Feet: Wide stance (feet about your shoulder-width apart) with the sword-side foot forward
  • Buckler: Extended forward at shoulder height
  • Sword: Hand at waist height, to the outside of your right leg with the tip of the blade pointed at the floor about a foot in front of you. The True edge of the blade should be angled slightly to your sword side

Porta di Ferro Stretta

Iron Gate Narrow
Mnemonic: Porta ~ portal = door; Ferrous = iron

  • Feet: Wide stance (feet about your shoulder-width apart) with the sword-side foot forward
  • Buckler: Extended forward at shoulder height
  • Sword: Sword hand should be to the off-side of your forward leg with the tip of the blade pointed at your opponent’s face. The true-edge should be angled towards your off-side at about 45 degrees

Porta di ferro larga

Iron Gate Wide
Mnemonic: Porta ~ portal = door; Ferrous = iron

  • Feet: Wide stance (feet about your shoulder-width apart) with the sword-side foot forward
  • Buckler: Extended forward at shoulder height
  • Sword: Sword hand should be to the off-side of your forward leg with the tip of the blade pointed at the floor about a foot in front of you. The true-edge should be angled towards your off-side slightly

Guardia di Faccia

Face guard

  • Feet: Sword-side foot forward, feet about shoulder-width apart
  • Buckler: Extended forward at shoulder height angled slightly towards the ceiling, covering your sword hand
  • Sword: Arm extended forward at just under shoulder height with your palm up so the true edge of the blade points at your off-side. The tip should point at your opponent’s face

Guardia di Testa

Head guard

  • Feet: Feet about your shoulder-with apart with either foot forward
  • Buckler: Extended forward at, or just above, shoulder height
  • Sword: Sword arm at about shoulder height, extended forwards with your palm facing the floor. The sword should be angled across your face to end just in front of your buckler, true edge facing forwards

Guardia di Alicorno

Unicorn Guard

  • Feet: Wide or narrow stance, either foot forward
  • Buckler: Extended forward at shoulder height
  • Sword: Your hand should be to the sword-side of your head, slightly forward of your face with the tip of the blade pointed at your opponent’s face over the top of your buckler. This should place the true edge of the blade pointed upwards

Coda Lunga e Distesa

Long and stretched tail
Mnemonic: distended = stretched

  • Feet: Off-side foot forward, narrow stance
  • Buckler: Extended forward at shoulder height
  • Sword: Sword arm extended backwards with your palm facing to your off-side (Reading interpretation) or the floor (Godalming interpretation) so that the blade points behind you

Guardia di Sopra il Braccio

Guard above the arm
Mnemonic: Soprano is the high part in a choir

  • Feet: Wide or narrow stance with your sword-side foot forward
  • Buckler: Extended forward at shoulder height
  • Sword: Sword hand above the buckler arm, about level with the elbow. the palm should be pointed down so that the true edge of the blade points to your off-side, pointing backwards

Guardia di Sotto il Braccio

Under Arm Guard
Mnemonic: “Sotto voice” is a quiet “under” voice; subtle

  • Feet: Wide or narrow stance with your sword-side foot forward
  • Buckler: Extended forward at shoulder height
  • Sword: Sword hand under the buckler arm, about level with the elbow. the palm should be pointed down so that the true edge of the blade points to your off-side, pointing backwards

Cheat Sheet

Ben Franklin produced this cheat sheet for candidati