The Italian Arte della Daga is a method of dagger combat which also included unarmed defense against the dagger. As with the German Dolchfechten style, the Arte della Daga was designed for use with thrusting daggers of the type used in armored combat. The standard attacks included powerful reverse-grip downward stabs and thrusting attacks to the abdominal region.

Both Fiore dei Liberi and Filipo Vadi illustrate a wide variety of techniques drawn from the Arte dell Daga. Many demonstrate sophisticated imbalancing techniques which combine leverage and joint manipulations.

The Arte della Daga could be applied in self-defense, duelling, or even on the battlefield. In dagger vs. dagger combat, the basic tactic was to parry the opponent's attack, either with your own dagger or by deflecting their forearm with your own. Because the blades were edgeless, fighters using the Arte della Daga would then frequently grip their own blade, or that of their enemy, to assist in painful trapping and throwing actions directed against the wrists, elbows, necks and knees.

When an unarmed combatant was forced to employ the Arte dell'abbrachiare to subdue a dagger-wielding opponent, he would typically deflect and control the attacking weapon and then use a joint-lock, leverage throw, or combination of these techniques to fell his enemy. Occassionally the opponent would be disarmed and then dispatched with his own weapon.

Many of the techniques illustrated in the Flos Duellatorum can be applied as counter-counter attacks, designed to flow according to the enemy's reaction to the defender's intial defensive technique.