The first plate shows what I’ll call the “Withdrawn Prima”. Fabris doesn’t like this posture, but does discuss its merits and flaws before introducing his preferred posture which we’ll call the “Extended Prima”.

Guard Analysis

The width of the stance is narrow (left) or crossed (right)

The length of the stance close, approximately half a foot-length apart

The right leg is straight with the knee over the rear foot

The left leg is bent with the knee over the same foot

The hips are back, well behind the feet

The head is just past the front foot.

The shoulders are over the feet

The right hand is high

The right arm is bent and somewhat withdrawn

The right shoulder is higher than the left

The left hand is extended past the hilt

The eyes are looking beneath the sword

Comments by Fabris

Advantages

The head is well defended, especially on the outside.

Disadvantages

It is not safe because the forte (strong) of the sword is too far from the body

If you are attacked below your sword you don’t have time to defend yourself with the sword

Unless you break measure (back way), you must use the left hand to defend the face/body

If you do parry with your sword, your counter-attacks will be with a two-tempi action. This is to say, you can’t parry and attack at the same time from this posture.

Uses

Breaking measure, exclusively

Comparison with Other Styles

Only Agrippa has the close stance, but he does not cross the feet. Capoferro does cross the feet in this posture, but with a long stance.

No one else has the hips shifted back nor the head so far forward.

While all of the other styles have the hilt high, none actually pull the arm back as shown in Fabris.

Agrippa

Capoferro

L`Ange