Matt Galas - HEMA - Montante Cutting Drill by de Viedma (1639)

This is a solo drill for the Montante (Spanish two-handed sword) by Luis Díaz de Viedma (1639). He says that this exercise is for beginners, and that they should practice it for 8 days. The sword is 5 feet tall and weighs 5 pounds. Original text can be found below. Translation (Matt Galas): “Firstly, the student takes the Montante in his right hand, placing himself in the middle of a hall. Then, he makes a forward movement with the Montante, and then passes the Montante and his hand over his head, turning the surface of his face over the right shoulder in such a way that the right eye comes to look at the point of the Montante, and cutting a Tajo (right blow) as it runs, giving a step forward with the right foot, having at that point the left hand on the pommel of the Montante. And without moving the left foot, he makes various Tajos, which should all begin from his right shoulder. And in the same way, carrying the Montante to his left shoulder, and making Reveses (reverse blows), he should draw the right foot backward with compass steps, and this must be done without moving the left foot. He should work on this for eight days.” Transcription (Tim Rivera): 65v-66r of Luis Díaz de Viedma, Método de Enseñanza de Maestros (1639): Primeramente se le pondrá el montante al dicípulo en la mano derecha, plantándose en medio de una sala, y que haga con el montante un movimiento accidental adelante, y luego pase el montante, y su mano por cima de su cabeça, volviendo el superficie del rostro por cima del hombro derecho en forma que con el ojo derecho llegue a ver la punta del montante, y cortando con el corra un tajo, dando un paso con el pie derecho adelante, habiendo puesto la mano izquierda en el pomo del montante, y sin menear el pie izquierdo, dé, y haga tajos, los cuales han de salir de su hombro derecho; y a simismo trueque el montante al hombro izquierdo, y saque reveses, sacando el pie derecho con compases hazia atrás, y esto ha de ser sin mover el pie izquierdo. En esto le traerá ocho días.