Pietro Monte's Levata of the Poleaxe, 4th Blow

Our drill for practicing the fourth blow of the levata of Pietro Monte's poleaxe, at the historical Combat Academy, Dublin. This 'blow' shows a principle most simply expressed in Monte's Collectanea, Book I , Chapter XII'...it is useful that, for every blow he wishes to strike, to throw with the calx ('heel', the butt spike) of our poleaxe into his face, drawing our body upwards.'

The 4th Blow of the Levata:
In this drill, the Attacker gives a thrust to the defender's face, the technique is shown applied in three different circumstances, A., B. and C.

A. Versus an opponent who parries a thrust: 1. Attacker thrusts towards the face.
2. As the defender parries, attacker passes forwards and thrusts there with the calx of his axe.

B. Versus a stationary defender:
1. Attacker makes short feinted thrust to create an opening and passes forward to attack the defender with the calx.

C. Versus an attacker who attacks with a thrust:
1. Attacker thrusts to defender's face.
2. Defender turns the side of his body which is under attack away and parries with the calx.
Defender then passes forwards to thrust with his calx.

Techniques performed by Ilaria Torre and Mike Prendergast, of the Historical Combat Academy.