2017-03-08 AHF Longsword

AHF Fencing 08-03-2017

Handwork Lessons: Verfliegen & Zucken, Felhen & Absetzen

Both sets of handworks are designed to allow you to decieve or interrupt your opponent and strike just after their strike. In each case the main movement of the handwork is delivered by the left hand on the pommel. The right hand acts as the pivot.

Verfliegen

Useful when you notice your opponent is keen to parry without striking back. Go to make the strike as usual, but before the blades make contact, quickly pull the blade back and around theirs to strike on the other side.

A: Zornhau, stepping out to the right

D: Attempts Zornhau parry

A: Before blade contact, pulls the blade back, stepping to the left delivers a cut on the other side to a high target zone

Zucken

Identical in form to Verfliegen but instead makes blade contact. At the point the defender goes strong, the attacker can pull the blade round their blade to strike.

A: Zornhau

D: Zornhau parry

A: On feeling D go strong, pulls the blade back, stepping out to the left, strikes a high target zone.

In both Verfliegen and Zucken there is a risk that a fast opponent will strike or follow through their attack during the quick pull back. The nature of these handworks favors catching your opponent off guard. Felhen and Absetzen are more defensive in that they natrually resemble a hanging parry during their transition.

Felhen

Works much like Verfliegn in that it is performed before blade contact. Requires a rotation of the pommel to allow you to pass their sword and strike. Works well against an opponent which is keen to rush in.

A: Zorhau stepping out to the right

D: Attempts Zornhau parry

A: Before blade contact is made, lifts the pommel and drops the point. Starts a rotational movement with the pommel that takes the point down, round and back against the opponent on the other side of the blade. Right hand stays mostly still, with left doing the rotational work. Performed whilst stepping out to the left.

Absetzen

Functionally identical to Felhen, however this time blade contact is made allowing attacker to determine if the defender goes strong or weak.

A: Zorhau

D: Attempts Zornhau parry

A: Makes blade contact to determines if D goes strong. Performs the same rotational movement as Felhen whilst stepping out to the left.

AHF Longsword 15-02-2017

Last week we covered the Shieldhau, when it was to be used and how to counter it.

This week we looked at the Krumphau. Two main use cases where presented.

• Offensively: as a preemptive strike whilst moving off line.
• Devensively: In response to an on-line attack like a thrust or Shieldhau

Offensive

Useful because it takes you off line and allows and should be delivered at maximum reach.

A: Does nothing

D: Steps off line to D's right, delivers Krumphau to A's lead arm or hands.

Defensive

A useful and unusual response to straight line attacks.

A: Thrusts

D: Steps off line to D's right and performs Krumphau. Binding with their blade, locking it down. (Sword pointing towards the floor).

D: Rotates the pommel again to deliver a Shieldhau to the head.

Another variant for D.

D: Steps off line to D's right and delivers Krumphau. Once (or regardless) blade contact is made continue the downward motion running off their blade to swing round and deliver either a Shieldhau or Zwerchhau to attackers head.

!3, A's counter to the Krumphau

The standard counter to a Krumphau is to go strong. D can counter this as shown.

A: Thrusts

D: Performs Krumphau stepping off line.

A: Goes strong attempting to lift their blade against the Krumphau.

D: Cannot risk releasing the blade to use previous.

D: Raises crossguard to A's hands attempting a grapple.

D: Moves underneath and delivers a pommel strike to the head.

When bound like this, A should drop their sword and grapple.

We also observed that A would likely attempt to back off to deliver an off tempo strike whilst retreating.

Noted that a correctly executed Krumphau against an opponents trhust should leave you in Shrankhut:

A guard delivered with crossed hands and the point towards the ground.

By keeping their blade low you prevent them from doing anything in response which is why A's counter of going strong proves at least troublesome for the Krumphau.

AHF Fencing: 13th July 2016

Even more Sword and Buckler of Andre Liegniczer.

Nick and Esther sparring at AHF

This time covering the final play, the first play and recapping plays two and four.

The Sixth Play

The sixth play is an unusual one in the Liegniczer collection in that it is the only one that appears to be impractical with regards to martial technique. It is however a move which looks straight out of a Hollywood sword fight, and perhaps its role was to impress crowds.

The variants presented offer far more utility for the fencer than the original play.

Each of the plays presented here make use of half-swording with the sword and buckler. Specifically; with buckler held in open hand (or as much as gloves will allow) bring the point of the sword towards your hand to allow you to catch it as part of the parry you are performing. With practice we found it was possible to catch the sword consistently as part of full speed sparring. Cold Steel bucklers where a little bulky for this, but catching the sword with the thumb proved serviceable at speed.

Liegniczer's Original

Take the blade and the buckler in your left hand and wind against him in the half sword. If he strikes or thrusts at you from above to the face or from beneath to the legs, then set him aside with the shield and with the sword, and go with your right hand from the grip of your sword. Shoot with your right hand towards his right side, grasp his shield from underneath and twist to your own right side. So you will take the shield from him.

• Attacker strikes a high strike to upper target zones.
• Defender transitions to half sword to parry whilst stepping in with the right foot.
• Defender then releases sword with main hand, whilst still gripping the sword and buckler with the off hand, reaches for opponents buckler, snatches it from their grip and then strikes the opponent in the face with the buckler (edge preferred).

This play is problematic because we felt it was unlikely that the defender would willingly release the buckler and would be more likley to respond by grappling, striking with the buckler or just backing off to recover.

Classic Halfswording

• Attacker strikes to a high target zone.
• Defender transitions to half sword to parry. Winds to the right to bring the point towards opponent. This had the effect of throwing their blade aside.
• Defender steps in to thrust to the face/neck.

Minor variant: Defender winds to the left, allowing a pommel strike to the opponents face, before moving to another half sword strike.

The First play

"The first play with the buckler from the Oberhaw. Mark when you drive the Oberhaw (over strike / strike from above) to the man: with the pommel go inwards, your sword close to the buckler and your thumb, and thrust in from beneath to his face. Wind against his sword and then go with a snap over and around."

• Attacker strikes a zornhau to upper target zones.
• Defender responds with a zornhau, on contact winds the blade by lifting the hilt (hanging) and cuts Cut 2.

AHF Fencing: 29th June

Even more Sword and Buckler of Andre Liegniczer.

Image from Paulus Hector Mair who taught in the same Liechtenauer as Ligeniczer.

Recap of the Second/Third-ish Play

• Attacker strikes a Zornhau to opponents head.
• Defender steps slightly off line with a rising Unterhau to parry, once contact is made, strikes directly to the opponents head with a Mittlehau (Cut 6).
• Defender then steps towards inside line to deliver a variety of possible strikes. The most natural was a Mittlehau to the opponents middle, but Cut 2 to the leg would work just fine.

Fourth Play

"From the Mittelhaw (middle strike) make the Twer (cross strike) to both sides and the Schaitlar (skull strike) with the long edge, then make a thrust in underneath."

• Attacker strikes a right Mittlehau at opponents head, which the Defender will parry with their buckler.
• Attacker then strikes a left Mittlehau round the buckler, which the Defender will parry with sword or buckler.
• Attacker then feints an Oberhau drawing the Defenders guard high to parry, the cut is delivered short allowing the Attacker to then thrust low, whilst driving forward with buckler.

AHF Fencing: 22nd June

Fencing session based on the early and classic Sword and Buckler work of Andre Liegniczer, perhaps also known as Andres Lignitzer.

Image representative of the fencing posture, specifically that of the buckler which should be held forward and covering the top left target zone. For a right handed user, left foot should be forward.

The Second Play

"From the Underhaw (under strike / strike from below), when he strikes from above. Wind against him to your left side, [with his sword] against your shield. Thus you stand in two shields. So wind to the right side opening and strike in at the mouth. See if he deals with this by raising his shield, and if so then take the left leg. This works on both sides."

Drills

First drill creates familiarity with the moves.

• Attacker strikes zornhau aiming for head
• Defender starting in a low guard steps in a half step and strikes with unterhau to parry. Once contact is made, wind clockwise to threaten a thrust to defenders face.
• Defender goes strong to deflect thrust.
• Attacker flows off strike and stepping out to the left, strikes at the upper target zones.

Second drill was a variation on the first allowing an alternative.

• Defender starts in a low guard.
• Attacker strikes a zornhau to opponents head.
• Defender steps in a half step off line to parry with a rising unterhau. Once contact is made, wind counter clockwise so as to deliver a thrust whilst stepping out to the left.

The Third Play

"From the buckler, from the Wechelhaw (changing strike), sweep from the left side. From your buckler sweep clearly above with your sword then cut into his head from the left side; wind [to the] opening and thrust into his mouth. If he lifts with the shield and with the sword and defends against this then cut with the long edge in at his right leg. This works on both sides."

• Defender is in Wechelhaw, typically the end position after delivering a Zornhau.
• Attacker strikes a Zornhau at opponents head.
• Defender sweeps up from the left to beat aside strike, in doing so deliver a fast strike to the head using a Mittlehau (Cut 5).

A number of variations were explored from the position of the defender successfully beating aside the opponents strike including:

• Moulinet to Cut 2 to the head.
• Moulinet to Cut 2 to the lead arm.

AHF Fencing: 08th June 2016

Sabre with companion weapon: Cutting to the lead leg

A number of techniques which open the opportunity to strike at the opponents lead leg.

Standard riposte

The techniques discussed are intended to counter the following scenario

• Attacker lunges and strikes with cut 1 to defender's lead leg.
• Defender withdraws lead leg and strikes an overhead cut to attacker's head or torso.

Feint creates opening

• Attacker opens with cut 1 as a feint to defender's head or torso.
• Defender prepares to parry off hand weapon, perhaps preparing a counter thrust to attacker
• Attacker continues the feint by then striking the lead leg, in the same action raising off hand weapon to parry any riposte to the upper target zones.

Cutting short

• Attacker opens with a well telegraphed strike to the lead leg which cuts short, off hand weapon readied to parry.
• Defender withdraws leg in response.
• Defender, seeing the opening lunges to strike with a counter to an upper target zone.
• Attacker interrupts timing by parrying with off hand any incoming strike and cuts with cut 4 to the defender's now extended lead leg.

Thrust to the foot

Note: Thrusts delivered quickly to the foot are hard to defend against because they have little telegraphed intent.

• Attacker lunges and thrusts to the defender's lead foot.
• Defender (from outside guard) rotates sword counter-clockwise downwards to deflect the thrust (resembles cut 4).
• Defender strikes directly to attackers head with a fast cut 6.

Note: rotating the sword clockwise downwards would also parry a cut 1 to the lead leg, but this is less preferable as it ties up the sword in a dead parry, rather than striking the opponent as described in the standard riposte above.

Value of Human Life in Medieval Warfare

An interesting article on Medevalists covering the value of human life and its impact on Medieval warfare.

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