A first look at Manciolino. Working from the Leoni translation and introduction, we tried the first four attacks and responses from Guardia di Testa.
Problem: There is little footwork specified. Instances where footwork is specified are passes, except one instruction to step with the right foot at the opponent to make sure you get close enough to strike with a cut. Inspection of the rest of the chapter shows this is the approach throughout. I note one instruction to step towards an attack.
Hypothesis: Standard footwork is left tacit, with specified footwork only where it is exceptional or non-obvious.
Suggested model: Footwork is like Meyer, with left foot steps away from blows and right foot steps on cuts and thrusts (at least from right foot forward stances). Manciolino's stepping instructions, where they occur, indicate exceptions/variations to those rules.
Don Emrys walking through the exercise with Katherine