Counterattack sequence from the Flos Duellatorum, 1410

1 - The attacker (left) grabs the defender's right shoulder with his left hand.

The defender checks the attacker's right arm at the bicep with his left hand, and either strikes or checks the attacker's extended left elbow with his right hand.

2 - The defender overhooks the attacker's extended left elbow with his right arm, applying a bar lock. The defender must ensure that the attacker's elbow is pointing upwards and that the lock is applied flush against the joint. Note that the defender reinforces the lock by gripping and pulling his own right wrist with his left hand. The defender then steps away from the attacker with his right foot, adding his own body weight to the leverage of the lock. From this position, the defender could either break the attacker's elbow or throw him forward.

3 - If the attacker resists or escapes from the counter demonstrated in 2, the defender can move with his resistance, strike across his face with the right hand and advance the right leg, seizing inside the attacker's left leg with his left hand. By simultaneously pressing up beneath attacker's jaw and drawing his leg in, the defender can throw the attacker backwards. Note that the defender could also effectively hook the attacker's leg from the outside.

4 - The attacker defeats or evades the counters demonstrated in 2 and 3 and steps in, securing a hold on the defender with his right hand. The defender can still control the attacker's balance by extending his right hand across the attacker's face and jaw, turning his head.

5 - By advancing his right leg and continuing the pressure across the attacker's face and jaw, the defender can throw the attacker backwards. Note that defender shifts his weight dynamically onto his right foot, and also pins the attacker's right arm with his own left arm.

6 - If the defender attempted to apply the head control hold with his left hand as demonstrated in this picture, the attacker could easily escape the hold by pressing up against the defender's elbow. This would also put the defender at a leverage disadvantage.

PAGE 3 - Arte dell'abbracciare defense sequence #2

PAGE 4 - Arte della daga counterattack sequence