Fiore's Abrazare - Lethal Martial Art from Medieval Italy

[@RobertGareau-z2b]

where can I buy this book?

[@GaawutProductions]

@@RobertGareau-z2b All the 4 copies (Dossi, Getty, Latin, Morgan) are free online. There is a site called Wiktenauer that collects all the material regarding HEMA

[@shanescallin8421]

There is a newer translation by translator Ian Davis Carmichael that is also available online. Our club studies from it and it's been the most rewarding version yet

[@diamond_dude1063]

​@@GaawutProductionsHello there, really love your muay boran work but you seemed to have deleted a couple of videos about it, are you gonna make a more of updated version of them. Also, i'm kinda curious about the diagonal kick. It looks very much like a roundhouse kick. What's the difference? Is it commonly used and if so any famous fighter who uses it a lot? How effective is it in terms of risk reward and power generation?

[@GaawutProductions]

@@diamond_dude1063 Yes I will make updated videos. The diagonal kick (Tae Chieng) actually was the classic Muay Boran kick, it follows a diagonal ascending path, as far as I know, the term "roundhouse kick" is used to refer to the horizontal kick (Tae Dtad). They are both round kicks, the leg just follows a different trajectory. The diagonal kick generally strikes the head, the neck, or the ribs, it is slightly faster than the horizontal kick and requires less commitment in rotation, so you can recover quickly after it, but there is a higher risk to strike the opponent's elbows. Which one is better depends on the situation and your way of fighting, there is no absolute way to answer

[@diamond_dude1063]

@@GaawutProductions oh, thanks for the clarification!

[@nateskinner97]

I’m a Fiore instructor and it’s great to see more Representation in the wider MA community. Great job!

[@stefanschleps8758]

Where do you teach? Who was your teacher? How many years have you trained? Do you have channel on You Tube we might learn from. Thank you. All the best. Laoshr #60 CYKFA

[@frank-ko6de]

every one has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.

[@nateskinner97]

@@stefanschleps8758 Hi, I was trained at DEMAS in California but now teach at Lake Superior Armizare in Michigan. Ive been training for 8 years and teaching for 5.

[@nateskinner97]

@@frank-ko6de Very true lol

[@nick-müsc]

​ @frank-ko6de people like you don't even know what a punch in the face feels like

[@justjosie0107]

I wish the Medieval and Renaissance martial arts of Europe were more widely available, as in schools.

[@centurione6489]

I can see a lot of Flos duellatorum in Aiki Ju Jutsu as well as Escrima ...🤣

[@MP-db9sw]

Yea the manual definitely has depictions and descriptions of stuff thats still valid in the major grappling systems. Its a great piece of history and a cool thing to look through. For people who like history of martial arts its a must see. For people who want to be good at doing martial arts it wont hurt to check it out but its unnecessary. I enjoyed the video, thank you!

[@GaawutProductions]

@@MP-db9sw Great comment, thank you for your support.

[@emilthompson7813]

I love these drawings. I have many medieval manuals. Thanks for the video.

[@brucehillbillybarthalow3786]

Interesting techniques, they do look devastating. Thank You for your time and research to bring such great content

[@GaawutProductions]

I'm glad you liked it. Thank you for your support 🙏

[@willleon2383]

Wow❤ Fiore,James Figg,Fairbairn and other Masters in the real combat are the bests 💪💪

[@brittakriep2938]

In Italy ( parts on paper still HRE) and HRE many fencers and wrestlers treatises had been written between 1400 and 1600. In many european countries local wrestling styles still exist.

[@florianadolf2256]

Pretty interesting stuff - bet, there's also some awesome disarm/ dumog stuff in there for escrimadores; Fiore came from a fencing background after all. You are scratching that issue right at the end of the video. Consider me hooked👍

[@LIONTAMER3D]

Exceedingly good video, quality content is ALWAYS gratefully appreciated; thank you very much.

[@Gdahron]

Awesome! I can appreciate this as someone who has practiced grappling for a couple of years. Alot of this goes by the same principles taught in Judo. Some of the locks and takedowns are similar and a few are actually the same!

[@Trollioli]

I like how all the guys that are supposed to be the reader have a golden crown on.

[@GaawutProductions]

@@Trollioli That's not exactly how it goes, it is explained in the preface: Basically, the Crown = Masters and Remedy masters. Garnets = Students. Crown and Garnets = Counter Masters. Indeed it is great to understand what's going on! But sometimes there is a crown or garnet missing, or placed where there should not be one.

[@kanucks9]

I was always confused by the first play (standing ude gatame) because Fiore treats it as fundamental to the system, and several other plays follow up by going back to that move. In practice, when doing BJJ / Judo, the opportunity is extremely rare. I realized recently that it's because of the equipment. Fiore assumes you will be wearing a closed coat, with no lapels to grip, and relatively tight sleeves. Therefore, the only jacket grip available is the back of the collar. This means that the majority of the time, your opponent will end up in the position shown in the first play It's crazy how much the clothes change things

[@imstupid880]

That is an exceedingly good insight, thanks for sharing

[@WarriorVVanaB]

Man your channel is a gold mine

[@GaawutProductions]

@@WarriorVVanaB Thank you 🙏

[@CUSELİSFAN]

I do judo and enjoy italian history. I will have many happy hours with this book, for sure. Thank you. 😍

[@ramonvelasquez8431]

The Fiore manual is impressive and it shows the high level of skill they had in melee combat back then.

[@winnilerberzerkir1738]

Italian ancient martial arts are the base of a lot of modern fighting techniques. Boxe derivates from it but the italian martial arts are very anciente...lotta greco romana and pancrazio for example. Also kali/escrima derivates from italian spada e daga by fiore de liberi because when spanish empire invaded philippine italian mercenaries were in the spanish army. Everyone when think about martial arts think to the orient but in europe we have a very ancient tradition of very powerfull martial arts. We have to be proud...expecially italian people.

[@alessandromarcomini4280]

Great video!!

[@_BillyMandalay]

LOVE the drawings.

[@MarcoMenozziPro]

Although Fiore de Liberi's “Flos Duellatorum” was the first major text, more comprehensive later works exist. Bartolomeo Dardi was a professor of mathematics and astrology at the University of Bologna but also a fencing master. He founded a school with a more methodical and structured university approach from which great fencing masters emerged. The most famous was Achille Marozzo, who, in his book “Opera Nova”, discusses all types of swords, dagger or polearm, as well as unarmed combat. I think it is the most comprehensive work of his time.

[@branip9414]

Abrazare, Armizare and Kampfringen are three names for one and the same martial art. Only the first two names are of Italian origin, and the third is of German origin.

[@oodo2908]

BOAR’S TOOTH STANCE!!! What a badass name! Get the Japanese on this book right away! I want an Italian martial arts anime!!!

[@lorenzozapaton4031]

I think it's what you could call "Under Hook" in modern wrestling.

[@oodo2908]

@@lorenzozapaton4031 I like Italian artsy fartsy better, haha! Just imagine freeze frames when a character pulls off a move. The narrator announces BOARS TOOTH! in Italian and it flashes on the screen in calligraphy!

[@lorenzozapaton4031]

@@oodo2908 I guess just like traditional Kung Fu, it was easier to visualize a "boar tooth" from someone in that era than trying to explain under hooks and upper hooks. Or simply Fiore thought it sounded cool, lol.

[@oodo2908]

@@lorenzozapaton4031 I think youre right. Older cultures depend on visualization and concepts to communicate. If you say boar tooth, I know exactly what the shape is and understand it three dimensionally, even how it moves, in less than one second.

[@lorenzozapaton4031]

@@oodo2908 Yes there are a lot of similarities between cultures in different aspects of civilization (military, art, law, engineering, etc). Sometimes the same thing is said in a different way while maintaining the core concept.

[@saburosakai9129]

In the palace of king Frederick II of Swabia in Palermo ,dating back to1200 , you can stell see frescoes of fighting techniques, projection , joint locks etc.

[@JGATM]

i have a green belt in jujutsu (samurai hand to hand combat) and we have almost all of these moves. they are absolutely relevant. those figure 4 armlocks are brutal and can be used in standup and ground fights.

[@johndoeyedoe]

Heifuku Kumiuchi. That is what you are practicing. Have a Google.

[@JGATM]

​@@johndoeyedoe looks like a match

[@FedericoMalagutti]

Very good video, and you explained the poste concept correctly

[@GaawutProductions]

@@FedericoMalagutti Thanks, I often watch your videos, nice to see you here!

[@FedericoMalagutti]

@@GaawutProductions 😉😉😉

[@RAPEDBYBLACKS]

Excellent

[@JiubeiKibagami]

This should be taught in mid school.

[@maximmilliandahszz4571]

Amazing. 🍻

[@giorgiociaravolol1998]

Apparently, the art of Abrazare (in modern Italian is abbracciare, to hug) was used to train the italian Arditi in WW1 for hand to hand combat, because they used daggers and were quite fearsome for it. The only ones who could stand their ground in hand to hand combat with them (correct me if I'm wrong) were the Bosniak veterans.

[@GaawutProductions]

@@giorgiociaravolol1998 Abrazare was dead at the time, and the Flos surfaced only around a decade before WWI without receiving much attention because fencing at the time was so different that most masters didn't understand Fiore's teaching. The Arditi and the "Caimani del Piave" were trained in Jujitsu, with some influence from the sports grappling practiced in Italy. The most important teacher was Giovanni Racchi, I explain it in my video on the Arditi linked at the end of this video. However, most of the Jujitsu techniques used by the Arditi are similar if not identical to some found in Fiore, that's because what really works is found all over the world since the human body is the same. So in a certain sense, some techniques of Abrazare were passed on to the Arditi, but they took it from Jujitsu.

[@ForgeDuLys]

i never knew about the unarmed part of fiore's teachings, i've mostly practiced two handed sword

[@dposting2941]

4:58 he stays on feet. Yeah, this guy understood the diff between SPORT and COMBAT.

[@CUSELİSFAN]

yeah. that is why BJJ is not "real fighting" 😂

[@willleon2383]

❤ yes

[@KubaSzI]

I like your content like this your reasearch is uniqe ❤

[@bitsandbytes-code]

very nice

[@joaoguilhermebastos519]

When a guys knows how to use shanks he understands going ground is a major fuckup

[@ericsonhazeltine5064]

Very interesting

[@JeffMcDuffie72MeridianGate]

I have the book. Its most with sword and dagger and some wrestling.

[@BradYaeger]

As far back as recorded history goes, and beyond , there are 2 things that have never changed . Human biology and physics . So nobody should be surprised that people that have been beating the crap out of each other since day one would come up with techniques that look just like ones we use today . The only factors that change are regional. What was the terrain , what clothes did they wear , what kind of weapons did they prefer ?

[@morpheus3128]

Its pure Jiu-Jitsu. Very cool.

[@LIONTAMER3D]

There's no jiujitsu here.

[@morpheus3128]

@@LIONTAMER3D You say that because you don't know Jiu-Jitsu. If you did, you would know what I meant.

[@LIONTAMER3D]

@@morpheus3128 you're absolutely clueless about the art, enjoy your day

[@morpheus3128]

@@LIONTAMER3D LOL. I have forgotten more about martial arts than you will ever know.

[@CUSELİSFAN]

@@LIONTAMER3D it is not a bad comparison. The samurai used grappling to get their opponents to the ground and finish them (eg trip+ stab). That is the origin of JJ.

[@blackdeuce669]

Is there a source for reproduction prints?

[@GaawutProductions]

Check out the pinned comment. There are free high qualities scan on the internet without copyright

[@vitorcrema7167]

Good evening, I'm from Brazil and I practice Muay Thai, I also know a little Muay Boran. My question is the following: I know that Wisit lertrit created his own hand-to-hand combat system based on muay korat and other martial arts from other countries, do you know what these martial arts are? I read that he learned the basics of ancient Kodokan judo, is that true?

[@GaawutProductions]

@@vitorcrema7167 He studied Jujitsu, Judo, Aikido and Karate.

[@nekif820]

Thumbnail: "You will fall and won't get up" *proceeds to show someone punching the other in the nuts ME: yes, yes, I can see why I won't get up.

[@jakeObryan283]

Wrestling, judo, shuai jiao, bokh

[@sujuc8706]

Abrazare / Abbracciare means hugging some one in Italian.

[@feranard]

How would these compare to modern grappling arts like wrestling and judo?

[@GaawutProductions]

@@feranard Many of the techniques of Abrazare are still used nowadays, near the end of the videos you can find some examples of Judo techniques identical to those in the Flos Duellatorum, because grappling is universal since the human body is the same everywhere. The main differences is that Abrazare is a dead martial art without a line of masters, while Judo and other Wrestling arts had a continuous line of masters that kept teaching the art. There are some HEMA schools practicing the techniques and working with them but most of the teachers had a grappling background in other arts. Also, training only what is written in Abrazare might make you lose sight of other grappling techniques. As explained in the video, it is great as a support to other martial arts still alive, as it can definitely provide some good techniques and strategies to add in the repertoire.

[@haffoc]

comparable but more nasty than what's allowed in sport judo and wrestling. I've used some of it in free style, but toning it down a bit.

[@tatumergo3931]

It's more comparable to old samurai yawara, which was an art design for the battlefield.

[@jonnick3634]

All valid martial arts share some common concepts and techniques, but one has to understand the context they were developed for. Some of Fiore's techniques such as his defense against dagger attacks are designed specifically for his times. Given that many people wore some type of protection underneath their clothing and/or armor, rondel daggers (long stabby things designed to penetrate through tough material rather than cut/slash) were quite common. Some of his masters work perfectly against a 1400's rondel, but are less effective against, say, a regular knife. Also, Fiore's main concern is with winning the fight as efficiently as possible, meaning inflicting as much harm as possible to your opponent. Applying some of Fiore's techniques may land you in jail faster than judo or wrestling

[@GaawutProductions]

@@jonnick3634 Wise words!

[@julesjones2442]

🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 Uussshhh

[@arx3516]

Funny how in modern italian "abbracciare" means "to hug".

[@GaawutProductions]

Yeah, that's bizarre. Even other martial arts use "to hug" in their respective languages for grappling or some grappling moves. For example, in Muay Thai, there was "Kod," which literally means "to hug."

[@badgerbusiness9059]

Hmmmm the Arditi were trained extensively in hand to hand combat and so what martial art could they have been taught then? Seems a strange statement to throw out at the end, otherwise how cool is this eh! Thanks.

[@GaawutProductions]

@@badgerbusiness9059 Their martial art is explained in my video about the Arditi, it was included just to clarify that there is no connection between Fiore and the Arditi (I often see people saying that).

[@lilitmoon4880]

Цари дерутся, цари. Kings fighting, kings!

[@AZadeh-nd8vx]

People dont realise that the average person in Europe, and probably all over the world, was a trained martial artist at what would probably today be considered a competent MMA fighter and would also be willing to fight to the death. Intwrstkng rhat he makes it clear that in a real life or death fight, going to the ground in a BJJ submission grapple scenario is to be avoided. 💯 true as in a real no rules fight you couldnt be more vulnerable than rolling around on the floor

[@mrkus-nc7od]

You see the same in Siam - krabi kapong with weapon - Muay Thai with out weapon 😊

[@AiShinDS]

No comparison valuable may exist between what the book shows and Martial Arts, from which you include extracts.

[@GaawutProductions]

They are literally the same techniques, the only one that's totally different is the last example with the back take, but from that position you can get the full Nelson showed. It's full of Aikido, Judo or Jujitsu masters breaking down Fiore's content and saying how some techniques are identical. Many of the same techniques were also used in WW1 and WW2 combatives as they were taken from Jujitsu.

[@emilianosintarias7337]

the problem with wrestling is competition means the least useful for self defense will be natural selected - since self defense means dealing with extra constraints besides just good physics. Whereas sports means the freedom to pursue superior physics without penalty like KOing yourself or ripping your skin on dirty pavement

[@konkyolife]

Very similar to Muay Boran/Muay Thai clinching

[@GaawutProductions]

@@konkyolife Yes, 90% of what Flos shows in unarmed grappling is also in Muay Boran, for example Fiore's second Play corresponds to "Plae Dtawad Nguang" in Muay Boran.

[@konkyolife]

@@GaawutProductions Let's make a new UFC category and pitch to Dana White. Grappling with daggers. LOL

[@JeremiahHawkes]

Some advanced principles

[@jimsimminins3020]

I prefer no touch bullshido.I'm currently level 117 ultra super grandmaster.

[@leonardobleda6699]

Wait, I thought you said there would be no more educational videos

[@GaawutProductions]

@@leonardobleda6699 Yes, but only related to Muay Boran

[@arturmaximilinfreund5090]

🙏🙏🙏👍

[@M_K-Bomb]

It's hard to follow. But, what I can see is it looks quite similar to other styles. I've even Kung Fu techniques like what is shown.

[@tatumergo3931]

I saw the movie

[@upreydeen]

Abrazare means "hugging" what means that this concept of fighting comes from "Greco Roman Wrestling"

[@thibaultcolin8455]

La majorité des gestes contre lames ou à mains nues a été découverte il y a très, très longtemps, depuis que le combat existe ! Bien vite oubliés puis redécouverts avec de nouveaux noms. Les humains s'entretuent depuis le début des temps et oublient les leçons utiles au lieu de les enseigner. C'est pas mieux pour moi, même si j'ai enseigné et enseigne encore un peu ! Il ne faut jamais oublier qu'il y a plus rapide, différent, efficace, un jour ! On est toujours une ceinture blanche. Mais bon, imaginons un monde avec des personnes de type ceintures noires dans tous les arts martiaux et aussi tireurs d'élite longue distance comme tir instinctif ? Carpe diem !

[@joeblogs-vx4ep]

Okinawan karate

[@howes1960]

You see some of this in street fighting...on rule win with any means.

[@manchagojohnsonmanchago6367]

Ai switching accents

[@GaawutProductions]

@@manchagojohnsonmanchago6367 😂

[@alexisleon23]

It is based on ancient OLYMPIC GAMES era "ΠΑΛΗ" or wrestling. I don't see anything different.

[@thomashobbes8786]

pew pew

[@tcapo514]

Can do without the music lost interest halfway through

[@mattias969]

It is not a forgotten art

[@britschmenn]

None of this will work if you get smacked in the face before your first smart grab.

[@chaosordeal294]

Don't believe everything you read. At a quick glance he shows at least two locks that are naive and useless -- the kind of thing a beginner might attempt.

[@GaawutProductions]

Of course this has to be approached with common sense and prior fighting knowledge as explained in the video. The techniques need to be tested to see if they work for you and in modern scenarios. For example standing Ude Garami (Chiave Soprana in Fiore) is not reliable in my experience. Chiave Mezzana is definitely more reliable, even Jon Jones did that in a Ufc fight during a clinch exchange.

[@bennyguardian3225]

Italo dancing. 😂

[@CognitiveDissident-b7m]

What is the Latin/Romance cultures influence on the South East Asian kali, eskrima, silat close combat knife fighting styles?

[@TimmyBongo]

That's an "over hook arm break" , not under hook. But good video! Thanks for making it! OSU..!!!