Cavazione
Cavazione
Cavazione is a disengage of the blade in Italian rapier fencing, by which the fencer evades the opponent's control over their blade.
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Cavazione is a disengage of the blade in Italian rapier fencing. The fencer uses it when the opponent has gained control over their blade: the point passes under the opponent's blade in a spiral motion, moved from the fingers and wrist, not the elbow and shoulder. It is described in the teaching program of the Italian fencer Nicoletto Giganti. Cavazione does not itself attack; it changes the blade's line under the opponent's weapon to evade their control, restoring command of the line of attack to the fencer. The same program distinguishes it from the related actions mezza-cavazione and contra-cavazione. We have not been able to document the literal meaning of the name.