Hand-to-hand combat in WMA.

[John Partika]

While I am aware that there are many manuals that cover Abrazare/Ringen in Western Martial Arts, I am only aware of one (from Saviolo) that covers hand-to-hand combat that isn't entirely based on wrestling and includes striking as well. Other than Saviolo's work, are there any other masters that wrote treatises that cover striking with the hands and/or feet as well as the wrestling?

[RayMcCullough]

Ringeck and codex wallerstein come to mind.

[LafayetteCCurtis]

Virtually all medieval and Renaissance wrestling manuals I know incorporate small numbers of striking techniques, particularly for setting up a subsequent lock or throw. Many of the grappling techniques are also presented as responses to an incoming blow from the opponent, so I don't really see any shortage of striking in contemporary unarmed combat.

It's quite possible that the masters restricted themselves to teaching only striking techniques that would also work with a weapon, hence the prevalence of hammer fists (which would have been analogous to a dagger stab in an icepick grip or a pommel-bash with a sword) and also low kicks/knee strikes. Strikes with little or no armed application would have been redundant in the contemporary context and might even be harmful to the student if they end up having to fight an armed adversary.

Where is the unarmed striking part in Saviolo, anyway? I don't think I've seen much unarmed material in his manual, and the only mention of him in an unarmed fight that I can recall out of hand is the box on the ear he received from an Englishman.

[John Partika]

I had originally heard from a friend who had practiced in Saviolo's system that there was a larger emphasis on striking, but on further research it seems that statement doesn't hold up. Should have researched a little more before saying anything.

[LafayetteCCurtis]

Maybe he meant the use of the unarmed off hand to set aside the enemy's blows in single-sword combat. Not right off the bat, of course, but after the blow had been stifled/parried with the sword. Saviolo seems to do this a little more often than most of his contemporaries.