fendente

Fendente is a term in Italian historical swordsmanship describing a diagonal cutting blow delivered with the edge of the blade. Derived from fendere, to split, it is a core cutting action described in medieval and Renaissance treatises.

In Italian manuals from the 14th to 16th centuries—Fiore dei Liberi, Achille Marozzo, and Filippo Vadi—the fendente and its variants appear as principal cuts alongside tagli (horizontal cuts) and stoccate (thrusts). The precise naming and emphasis varied by school, but a diagonal, edge-driven cut was consistently taught as a fundamental attack.

Technique: The fendente is executed along a diagonal plane, typically starting from a high guard on one side and moving toward the opposite hip. The power comes from the torso and hips, with the blade tracing an oblique path and finishing through the line of target. The edge is used to maximize cutting power, while proper footwork and balance support the angle and delivery.

Variants and targets: Some traditions distinguish fendente alto (high) and fendente basso (low), and in some schools the fendente roverso (reverse-edge fendente) as a backhand variant. Targets range from the head to the torso, depending on opening and protection.

In modern historical fencing (HEMA), the fendente remains a standard category of cut, practiced with emphasis on edge alignment, timing, and safety, often in conjunction with other cuts and drills that reproduce period principles.