The following text is an excerpt from "Old Sword-play" written by Capt. Alfred Hutton, 1892. The text is un-altered to preserve the "spirit" of his instruction.
"The six moulinets are absolutely necessary for the acquirement of dexterity in wielding the two-hander; and in practicing them great care must be taken to keep the hands well advanced, in order to avoid the accident of entangling the arms with the long quillons of the sword. They are as follows:
Moulinet 1.
Motion 1. Extend the arms with the sword pointing to the front a little above the diagonal line 1 on the target, the right hand holding it close to the quillons and the left hand close to the pummel.
Motion 2. Bring the sword down, true edge leading, with a circular sweep from right to left along the line, causing it to pass close to the left side, and completing the circle bring it again to the front.
This moulinet, as likewise all the others, must be performed at first quite slowly in order to ensure precision of movement; and afterwards the speed must be increased, and the circle repeated continously ten or twelve times. (this paragraph from "Cold Steel", A.Hutton)
Moulinet 2.
Motion 1. Extend the arms as before, the point of the sword being just above diagonal line 2.
Motion 2. Describe a similar circle, the point traversing the diagonal line from left to right, and passing close to the right side.
Moulinet 3.
Motion 1. Extend the arms and sword with the point directed just below line 3.
Motion 2. Make the cut diagonally upwards, and, after the sword has passed through the target, complete the circle close to the right side.
The following text is an excerpt from "Old Sword-play" written by Capt. Alfred Hutton, 1892. The text is un-altered to preserve the "spirit" of his instruction.
"The six moulinets are absolutely necessary for the acquirement of dexterity in wielding the two-hander; and in practicing them great care must be taken to keep the hands well advanced, in order to avoid the accident of entangling the arms with the long quillons of the sword. They are as follows:
Moulinet 1. Motion 1. Extend the arms with the sword pointing to the front a little above the diagonal line 1 on the target, the right hand holding it close to the quillons and the left hand close to the pummel. Motion 2. Bring the sword down, true edge leading, with a circular sweep from right to left along the line, causing it to pass close to the left side, and completing the circle bring it again to the front. This moulinet, as likewise all the others, must be performed at first quite slowly in order to ensure precisioMoulinet 4.
This must be performed as the last, save that the sword describes its circle close to the left side and passes diagonally upwards from left to right.
Moulinet 5.
Motion 1. Extend the arms and sword with the point just outside line 5.
Motion 2. Describe the circle horizontally, the sword traversing the line from right to left, and in the rearward half of the circle just clearing the top of the head.
Moulinet 6.
This must be executed similarly to the last, the sword describing the circle from left to right."
The moulinet is intended to be practiced on one's own without a partner. This drill will enhance one's strength and flexibility in the wrist and arms. This training drill has been recommended in one form or another by swordsmasters of the past such as Giacommo di Grassi (1570). The drill is comprised of six cuts, beginning with position #1 in the upper right point. The pattern in the illustration is obtained from a reference to Roworth in Hutton's book.