Book One

Summary

Chapter 1: Explanation of terms

So that your lordship may more easily understand what follows, before we come to the exercises, I will explain some terms, some Latin, some vernacular, sometimes both together. In any case I will say much about the Spanish language, since that is the language in which I first wrote this treatise.

In discussing the skills and tactics of wrestling, people often use words idiosyncratically, and I like others have devised some specialized terms in the vernacular based on how we maneuver our limbs. Likewise in armed play or combat there are many attacks that have no Latin names; therefore I will explain them in terms of their form. Also, we are constantly using diverse new arms of offense and defense: since we name them in the vernacular, it is appropriate for the Latin to imitate the vernacular.

In various places I will explain selected terms for their better understanding, which I did not generally do in the vernacular version, except to explain how something might be done well or poorly. But I expect that everyone will understand about equestrian vaults, since they are not new, given that I have written about them in The Appraisal of Men. With each vault, or most of them, I said something about how the hand is positioned on the saddle or horse. Gonzalo Ayora, in translating the Appraisal, also offered many explanations, and I agree with them, so you can find explanations of the techniques there.

I have written more extensively in Latin than in the vernacular version, for two reasons. First, the bodily exercises that call for great physical strength are commonly practiced among those unlearned in letters rather than among scholars; hence I should add explanatory definitions so that scholars may understand more easily. The second reason is because in the vernacular every exercise has established terms, or terms that could be regarded as established and are understood by everyone, but this is not true in Latin.

When we wrestle, techniques of the feet and arms are called mañas in Spanish.

We call it a torno when our foot intercepts the opponent's foot from the front, and our arms pull him toward us, so that he falls head-first where we were before. It is called a torno because we do not pull the opponent along a straight line, but twisting or turning.