Introduction:
The following is meant as a way to organize the material and jog one's memory of what a particular technique consists of. It is not meant to be a detailed description of the techniques nor a replacement for the original source materials. It is a supplement and guide for training only. As such, it is subject to continuing evolution and change. It draws primarily on the 15th century works of Hans Talhoffer and uses the method presented in his writings as the basis or foundation for the rest. Hence the use of the terminology…."kampfringen." "Ringen" is the German word for wrestling/grappling, but was generally meant to refer to any fighting performed without a weapon. Thus, striking and kicking methods were also included. "Kampf" is the German word for fight/combat. Therefore the term "Kampfringen" can be translated as "combat grappling" to distinguish it from the less deadly sportive forms. The medieval version resembles the more modern-day World War II Combatives approach. Many of the historic "fechtbuchs" or fighting manuals state that grappling is the foundation of all the weapons skills. Battlefield combat usually ended up at close-quarters where grappling skills were imperative, even with the weapon still in hand. Lots of overlap is seen when comparing the grappling methods with close-in fighting with the longsword, and especially when fighting with the dagger. In fact, working through the techniques in my previously written "Dolchfechten Primer: Medieval Use of the Dagger" makes an excellent introduction to the kampfringen methods. Talhoffer's material is supplemented with input from the grappling sections of the Codex Wallerstein, the Goliath Fechtbuch, and Marozzo's "Opera Nova."
A Note on the References:
The main source for this work is Mark Rector's translation of Talhoffer's 1467 text published as "Medieval Combat." References cited in the form of "P190" refer to plates from this work. The other Talhoffer source is his text of 1459 as made available on-line by the Royal Library Denmark. References cited in the form of "49R" or "51V" refer to this source (R for "recto" and V for "verso", or the front and back of the original page). The other major source is the Codex Wallerstein/Vom Bauman's Fechtbuch written in the late 1300's/early 1400's. References in the form of "CW39L" or "CW39R" refer to this source (L and R for the left and right sides of the plate). Two other sources offered some minor supplementation. First is the Goliath Fechtbuch of the early 1500's. It has lavish illustrations, but of the 130 plates devoted to grappling, only ¼ of them are illustrated. The rest is text. This will undoubtedly become a major source for medieval grappling once it is translated from the Old German. References in the form of "G231" refer to this source. And finally, Achille Marrozo's work of 1536 as translated and interpreted by Pete Kautz in his book "Mani Contra il Coltillo: Hands Against the Knife", though not a German work, is used as well. References in the form of "M15" refer to this source. Including all of the reference notations for each technique may seem a bit tedious, but it is meant to show how prevalent these techniques were across several different sources. This really was not just Talhoffer's own style, but a common fighting method of the era. The references will also allow you to check the different sources in the event that something is not clear. These sources are all available on-line at the AEMMA webpage by going to:
http://www.aemma.org/onlineResources/library_H.htm
I can be reached for questions or comment at: myers4321@aol.com
1. Ready Positions:
Few of these are actually shown. Either they are considered to be so basic that
they are just implied and not discussed, or they are not well defined and it
is just left up to the individual to arrive at something with which he is comfortable.
Talhoffer does show an unarmed defensive position in P77 in which he says "this
is an advantageous stance for a disarmed man." It seems to be a variation
of the longsword stance and shows an individual standing with feet almost twice
shoulder width, one leg advanced, knees slightly bent, and hands held forward
at waist level. The Goliath Fechtbuch seems to actually cover ready positions
in G228 and G251 and shows an individual standing with feet only about 6 inches
apart, knees bent in a "squat" position, and hands held close in and
at waist level as if palming a ball.
1. Double Arm: (P190, P204, 49R, G232, G257)
This is the basic starting position for a friendly grapple or training session,
and can set-up many of the techniques that will be described in upcoming sections.
You have grabbed both of the opponent's upper arms from the inside and he has
grabbed both of yours from the outside or vice versa. Alternatively you could
each grab one on the inside and one on the outside. From here you would each
try to off-balance the other by pushing and pulling back and forth or using
a foot sweep to gain advantage. You can also transition to any of the other
tie-up positions that will be described and use them in the same way. This forms
the core of a good training drill by using this back and forth play to set up
any of the throws, takedowns, armlocks, etc. that will be described. Your partner
can provide just enough resistance to keep you honest while you are learning
to apply the techniques. Since he doesn't know exactly when you are going to
apply the move, he is less likely to just "play along." As you both
get better you can also add the counter moves. From the back & forth grapple
for balance and position your partner launches a technique at an opportune time
to which you respond with the counter. As you let the exchange go and become
more and more open, you enter into free-sparring.
2. Shoulder-Waist: (P191, 52R)
You both are bent over, each grabbing with one hand to the partner's shoulder
from either the inside or outside and the other grabbing the partner's waistband
or belt from either the inside or outside. Generally, either both of your grabs
will be from the inside while his are outside or vice versa.
3. Double-Waist: (P195, 50R)
You both are bent over, each reaching around the waist of the partner to grab
one of your hands/wrists with the other behind his back. One arm will go over
and the other under his arms and vice versa.
4. Single-Arm: (P196, 57R)
This one is more of a transitional position and less of a primary tie-up. You
are grabbing his forearm near the elbow from the inside while he does the same
from the outside or vice versa. Your Lft to his Rt or vice versa.
5. Neck-Arm: (Implied/suggested by P219)
This one is seen often in modern wrestling but only implied in Talhoffer's manual.
You both are bent over, each grabbing/hooking the partner around the back of
the neck with one hand and behind the upper arm with the other.
1. Over-The-Shoulder Armbar #1: The Pivot Out
You can tell by the number of references that this was a very common technique.
Grab his extended Rt forearm with both your hands at the same time, pivot to
your Rt (clock-wise) 180 degrees to place his extended Rt elbow across your
Lft shoulder. Lift up with your legs as you pull down with your arms to hyperextend
his elbow. It is commonly shown as a defense against a straight thrust with
the dagger.
Counter #1: The Pull Back
React quickly before the armbar is set by bending your elbow and stepping back
to pull the opponent off balance onto his back.
Counter #2: Knee & Pull Back
This is a variation of the above counter that comes in handy if you have not
reacted soon enough to accomplish the simple Pull Back. Bend your elbow and
slap it down with your free hand to keep it from being hyperextended and to
drive your elbow into the opponent's shoulder. At the same time bring your knee
up and drive it into his back just above the waist line in order to break his
balance and pull him onto his back as before.
2. Over-The-Shoulder Armbar #2: The Pivot In
In this variation, do a smaller pivot to your left or counter-clock-wise as
you step with your Rt leg between his legs and duck under his extended Rt arm.
Hyperextend his arm across your left shoulder and back of the neck. On both
of these OTS armbars be sure and keep his elbow pointed to the ground and his
hand palm up.
3. Over-The-Shoulder Armbar: In Front
This is similar to #1, but rather than pivoting to your Rt to lay his Rt arm
across your Lft shoulder, you have pivoted to the Lft and layed his Rt arm across
your Rt shoulder. This leaves you in a position vulnerable to a counter. Should
you find yourself pivoting in the "wrong" direction, simply step forward,
duck under, and do OTS Armbar #2. We'll assume the CW fechtbuch illustrates
this in order to show how easily is it countered. But note that it is the only
OTS armbar shown in Georg Passchen's Ringbuch.
Counter #1: The Pull Back (or Choke)
This is similar to the Pull Back counter shown for OTS #1. Bend your elbow and
turn your arm inward across his chest and step back to pull him off balance
to the rear. Passchen's text says to use the knee in the small of the back (as
in Petter's counter above), though the knee is omitted in the illustration.
You will find in doing this one that it is just as easy to wrap your arm around
his neck to execute a rear choke as it is to pull him backwards.
Counter #2: The Hip Throw
Proceed as above, but rather than just stepping straight back and pulling him
down, pivot 180 degrees as you hook his neck into the crook of your elbow, hike
your hip back to provide lift, and then throw him to the ground.
1. Downward Bent Armbar #1: The Press
Grab his Rt wrist with your Rt hand; pull and twist to roll his arm over; pivot
to your Rt as you press against the back of his elbow with your left hand. Becomes
a takedown if you step in front of his Rt leg with your left as you pivot and
lever him across your leg onto the ground.
2. Downward Bent Armbar #2: The Pull
Grab his Rt wrist with your Lft hand; push down and forward as you pass your
Rt arm through the crook of his elbow; lift and pull towards you with your Rt
while pressing down and out with your Lft to apply leverage across his elbow.
Becomes a takedown by stepping in front of his Rt leg with your Lft and levering
him across your leg just as above.
3. Downward Bent Armbar #3: The Trap
This can either be a follow-on technique to The Press described above so that
you free one of your hands, or it can be the primary armbar. From The Press,
simply pass his hand behind his back with your Rt and trap his forearm in the
crook of your Lft elbow before letting go with your Rt. Bend forward to apply
press and leverage across his elbow. As a primary technique, scoop down from
above his Rt forearm with your Lft arm and circle your arm back between his
arm and chest, grab the back of his arm near the elbow with your Lft hand and
sharply lever him forward as you pivot 180 degrees and again trap his forearm
in the crook of your elbow. As with the methods above, The Trap can be converted
into a takedown by stepping in front and levering him across your leg.
1. Upward Bent Armbar #1: The Wrap
Grab his Rt wrist from below with your Lft hand as you step forward with either
foot and begin to force his arm backwards; reach around from the outside of
his arm with your Rt to grab his forearm near your Lft hand; continue your forward
momentum to carry him backwards onto his back.
2. Upward Bent Armbar #2: The Forearm Wrap
Dei Liberi shows a variation on the Wrap that does not involve grabbing his
forearm. This would be a good way to do the Wrap technique if you had a weapon
in your hand. Stop his Rt forearm with your Lft forearm as you step in and force
his arm up and back; reach behind and grab your own left wrist with your Rt
hand and lever him over backwards.
3. Upward Bent Armbar #3: The Elbow Cup
Same as before, but rather than reaching all the way around and grabbing his
forearm with your Rt hand, catch his elbow in the palm of your Rt hand and lift
to apply leverage and force him over backwards.
4. Upward Bent Armbar #4: The Key-Lock
This is the one you see in lots of modern-day martial arts, but here it is in
the Codex Wallerstein from 500 years back. Grab his Rt wrist from below with
your Rt hand as you step forward and begin to force his arm backwards; reach
around behind his forearm with your left arm and grab your own Rt forearm to
form what is often called the "key-lock" in modern systems; continue
your forward momentum to carry him backwards onto his back, or step behind his
leg to combine the technique with a rear leg takedown.
5. Upward Bent Armbar #5: The Reverse Key-Lock
This one shows up in Dei Liberi's manual as a variation of the Key-Lock. Grab
his Rt wrist with your Lft hand as you step forward, force his arm backwards,
and then reach around and behind to grab your own Lft forearm. It ends up being
the mirror image of the Key-Lock described above.
6. Upward Bent Armbar #6: From Behind
Grab his Lft forearm from below with your Lft hand; pivot to your Lft so that
you end up facing the same direction as the opponent; bring your Rt palm against
his Lft upper arm from the outside; pull back with your Lft as you press with
your Rt to lever his forearm back.
Note: Any of the above Upward Bent Armbars (except #6) can be converted into a Rear Leg Takedown simply by stepping with your Rt leg behind his Rt leg and levering him across your leg onto his back.
Counter : The Wrist Block
This is a simple, basic counter that comes from Dei Liberi and that will work
for any of the Upward Bent Armbars described above. Timing is always the key.
Before he has you completely locked and off-balanced, reach up quickly with
your free arm and grab your opposite wrist; lean forward and pull your arm downward
to break his leverage. This can easily be converted into your own Rear Leg Takedown.
1. Straight Armbar #1: The Come-Along
Grab his Rt wrist with your Rt hand and pivot to your Rt to extend his arm across
your chest; pass your Lft arm upward from below his arm to grab his forearm
with your Lft hand; pull with your Rt as you push out to apply leverage against
his arm with your Lft upper arm to direct him where you want him to go. Becomes
a throw by shifting your Lft hand up to grab around his upper arm/shoulder;
stepping in front of his Rt leg with your Lft; and levering him forward across
your leg.
2. Straight Armbar #2: The Chest Press
Grab his Rt wrist with your Rt hand and pivot to your Rt to extend his arm across
your lower rib cage; pass your Lft arm over his arm from above as you twist
his arm with your Rt to force him into a forward bending position; pull with
your Rt as you press into his arm with your chest to apply leverage. At this
point one can throw both legs out in front so that you drop to the ground in
a sitting position to break the attackers elbow. If this one does not come off
as planned and the opponent manages to bend his arm, simply flow into an upward
bent armbar, downward bent armbar, or rear leg takedown. The same is true of
the technique above.
3. Straight Armbar #3: The Shoulder Lock
This is a very common move and can be applied as a counter to any technique
attempted by the opponent that requires him to put his arm across your shoulder….such
as setting up for a thigh lever takedown. You could also apply it from a tie-up
position by first popping his arm up onto your shoulder. Regardless, you are
facing the opponent and his Rt forearm is across the top of your Lft shoulder;
bring your Lft arm up from the outside and throw it across is Rt arm just above
his elbow as you pivot to your Rt so that you are both facing the same direction;
grab your Lft wrist with your Rt hand and pull downward to bend him forward
and hyperextend his elbow and/or lock his shoulder. Easily becomes a takedown
by levering him across your Lft leg.
Counter #1: The Spin
Before he can set the shoulder lock, press his free elbow up and back with your
free hand to spin him around and off-balance him backwards. You can pivot and
step behind his leg to convert it into a Rear Leg Takedown.
Counter #2: Straight Armbar #4/The Hook
Stand upright quickly and shoot your trapped arm down and inward to perform
The Hook.
Counter #3: The Back Lever Takedown with Neck Twist
Stand upright quickly and use your trapped arm to reach up and grab his nose
or chin; step behind him and pull his head back to lever him across your leg
as you press against his chest with your free arm.
Counter #4: The Rear Scooping Throw
This one works if you are unable to stand upright quickly in order to execute
one of the counters noted above. Grab his leg from behind with your free arm
as you shift your weight back and pull backwards against his shoulder with your
trapped arm. Lift his leg as you pull back with your trapped arm and stand upright
to throw him over onto his back.
4. Straight Armbar #4: The Hook
Pass your Lft arm over the opponent's extended Rt arm as you step in. Circle
your arm behind his and then hook forward as you pivot 180 degrees to trap his
extended arm against your back. This can be applied with a lot of force that
would severely damage his elbow joint. It works well as a counter to the Shoulder
Lock, as described above. It can also be applied readily from several of the
tie-up positions that are described in another section of this manual. You can
be deep with leverage across his elbow, or relatively shallow with leverage
across his wrist.
Counter: The Shoulder Lock
Not explicitly shown in the fechtbuchs, but obviously if he can use a Hook to
counter your Shoulder Lock, you can use a Shoulder Lock to counter his Hook.
Its all a matter of timing and who has the leverage.
5. Straight Armbar #5: The Lock-Out
This is very similar to Downward Bent Armbar #1/The Press, and set up much the
same way. The only difference is that you press directly downward on his elbow
in order to lock his arm out completely into a straight armbar. The Press and
The Lock-Out can flow back and forth as the opponent tries to free himself…..you
can apply The Lock-Out….he struggles and manages to bend his elbow to escape
the pain….and you flow directly into The Press. From The Lock-Out, you
can shift your weight into the opponent as you press your forearm into his upper
arm to drive him off-balance to the side. Let him go and he will collapse to
the ground and you can turn to face the next opponent.
1. Between-The-Legs Armtrap:
From an Arm Drag turn the opponent so that he is facing away from you; pass
his arm down; reach from behind with your other hand and grab his arm from between
his legs; quickly reach up and grab him behind the neck with your other hand;
direct him where you want him to go! You could now ram his head into a wall
if you wanted to.
2. Inward Wrist Torque:
Catch his Rt wrist from below with your left hand and twist down and inward
to wrench his arm.
Counter: The Spin
Spin counter-clockwise with his motion circling 360 degrees and apply your own
Upward Bent Armbar.
3. Double Shoulder Hold/Full Nelson:
Guess what! Charles Nelson didn't invent this! This is a technique common in
modern-day self-defense courses that dates back to Talhoffer circa 1459. It
is the classic hold we all learned as kids horsing around with our buddies or
siblings. Pass both your arms beneath each of the opponent's arms from below
and behind; clasp your hands across the back of his neck; press with your hands
to lever his head down as you pull back with your shoulders to tighten the hold.
4. Single Shoulder Hold/Half Nelson:
Same as above but applied to only one of his arms. This one requires bending
him forward more to maintain control.
5. Behind-The-Back Double Armtrap:
Similar to the Double Shoulder Hold, but the opponent's arms are down rather
than up. From behind hook your arms through both of his; pull your arms together
and draw him backwards to off-balance him. The picture also implies its counter:
pulling both arms forward as you hike back with your hips to lift the opponent
into the air; shift your weight to one side or the other to toss him over your
hip to the ground. If he manages to drag you down with him, just land on top
of him!
The terms "throw" and "takedown" are often used interchangeably. I prefer to make a distinction between them. For our purposes, a "throw" will refer to any technique which requires taking some of the opponent's body weight onto yourself and actually lifting one or both of his feet off the ground. A "takedown" will refer to any technique in which you lever the opponent across your body to "trip" him to the ground rather than lifting him up. The terminology used to distinguish between the different categories of takedowns is my own.
1. The Arm Drag Takedown:
This can be set up by moving into an Arm Drag from any of the tie-up positions,
by shifting into it from a Double Downward Grab, or by simply repositioning
the hands a bit from the Come-Along Straight Armbar. Pivot so that you are facing
the same direction as the opponent as you step in front of him. Pull forward
and down on his arm to lever him across your leg and onto his face.
Counter: Rear Scooping Throw:
Bend forward, grab his leg from behind with your free hand, stand up quickly,
lift with your free hand and press back with your trapped arm to throw him over
onto his back.
2. The Hook:
This can be done any time you manage to trap the opponent's arm behind your
back, and begins as the Hook Straight Armbar. It can be set up by going into
the Armbar from a tie-up position, or when using the Hook Armbar to counter
a Shoulder Lock. Pivot so that you are facing the same direction as the opponent
as you step in front of him and apply the Hook Straight Armbar. Bend forward
at the waist and apply continued pressure against his locked arm in order to
lever him across your leg and onto his face.
3. The Shoulder Lock Takedown:
A Shoulder Lock can be converted into a Thigh Lever Takedown simply by stepping
in front of the opponent, bending forward at the waist, and applying additional
pressure across his shoulder so that he is levered to the ground in front of
you.
Counter: Rear Scooping Throw:
Similar to the counter described above. Grab his leg from behind with your free
arm as you shift your weight back and pull backwards against his shoulder with
your trapped arm. Lift his leg as you pull back with your trapped arm and stand
upright to throw him over onto his back.
4. The Downward Bent Armbar Takedowns:
Any of the Downward Bent Armbars can be converted into a Thigh Lever Takedown
simply by stepping in front of the opponent, bending forward at the waist, and
applying additional pressure to the armbar so that he is levered across your
leg and onto his face. Some specific examples follow:
1. The Press:
The set up for this can be from a tie-up position or following an escape from
an attempted armbar or grab. Step behind the opponent so that you are both facing
the same direction while trapping his near arm behind you. At the same time
reach across and grab his far arm from in front to prevent a counter. Apply
pressure with your arm across his chest to lever him over your leg and onto
his back. The press can be preceded by a solid elbow strike to the throat or
upper chest for good effect. You can also actually kick/lift up with your Lft
leg to sweep his Rt leg out from under him to make it more of a throw than a
takedown. Achille Marozzo shows a useful variation that involves grabbing the
opponent's Rt wrist with your Rt hand as you step in from the outside to place
your Lft leg behind his Rt leg; extend your Lft arm across his neck/upper chest,
and force him backwards across your Lft leg with your Lft arm to throw him onto
his back.
Counter: Reversal
The Press is counter by simply applying your own Press Back Lever Takedown.
Before he can off-balance you, quickly step behind his leg, pass your rear arm
over his head and drop it onto his chest, and press him backwards across your
leg.
2. The Waist Pull:
Again, set ups for this one can vary. It tends to work well from the neck-arm
tie-up position. Step behind the opponent as before and reach behind his back
and grab his hip. Grab him by the throat or chin with your other hand and then
pull him at the hip and push him at the head to lever him over your leg and
onto his back.
3. The Neck Twist:
From a tie-up position, quickly step behind the opponent and pivot so that you
are both facing the same direction. Shoot your arm over his shoulder and behind
his neck as you step in and then grab him by the chin or nose from the outside.
Press against his chest with your other arm as you twist his neck and head to
lever him backwards across your leg. Dei Liberi shows a variation in which you
grab the opponent's arm instead of trapping it behind your back, and apply the
neck twist from the inside rather than the outside. It can also be applied as
a mix of the two variations by grabbing the arm as Dei Liberi shows, but still
twisting from the outside (seen in Achille Marozzo's Opera Nova).
4. Kneeling:
This comes from the older section of the Codex Wallerstein. Shoot in almost
as if doing a modern wrestling single leg takedown. As you drop to one knee
with your planted leg behind the opponent's leg, strike him solidly across the
abdomen with your lead forearm to start his fall across your leg. Grab him behind
his calf with your other hand and lift to help him over onto his back. It is
not clear from the illustration whether one should shoot in from straight on,
or try and angle off to the side. Work it both ways. This would come in handy
if the opponent was swinging at your head with a weapon.
1. The Arm Drag:
This can be set up from a tie-up position, arm drag, or any exchange that ends
up with the opponent's arm across your chest. Reach up and trap his arm against
your chest with both of your hands at his elbow as you pivot to face the opposite
direction and step behind him. Bend at the waist as you pull on his arm to lever
him backwards across your leg.
Counter: Neck Hook & Fall:
As you feel yourself going over backwards, yank your arm loose from his grasp
and hook it across his throat. Turn to look at the ground as you go down and
extend your free arm out to break your fall. As you land on your side pull him
over backwards and drive his head into the ground.
2. The Press:
This one flows well from the double-arm tie-up. From the outside grab the opponent's
arm just above the elbow as you step behind his leg. Press against his upper
arm with either your palm or the forearm of your free arm as you pull with your
other arm and lever him to the ground backwards over your leg.
3. The Hook:
This is probably the simplest and most instinctive of the Rear Leg Takedowns.
It can be set up in numerous ways and has several variations. The basic idea
is to step behind the opponent's leg as you throw your arm around him and lever
him backwards. Talhoffer's version includes a pull on his arm nearest to you
as you throw your other arm around his neck from in front. Durer's version has
you trapping his nearest arm behind your back as you reach across his chest
and under his opposite arm to lever him to the ground. Dei Liberi's version
ignores his arms completely and just has you catch his neck in the crook of
your elbow as you lever him backwards.
4. The Spin:
This comes off of the double-arm tie-up. Gain the inside and grab onto his upper
arms on both sides. Quickly step behind him as you pull down with one arm and
push/lift with the other in order to spin him around and lever him backwards
across your leg.
5. The Upward Bent Armbar Takedowns:
Any of the Upward Bent Armbars can be converted into a Rear Leg Takedown simply
by stepping behind the opponent's leg and continuing your forward momentum to
send him over backwards across your leg.
Counter: The Wrist Block
The takedown can be countered by countering the armbar itself before you are
off-balanced. Dei Liberi shows the simplest counter, which is to reach up quickly
with your free arm and grab your opposite wrist. Then lean forward and pull
your arm downward to break his leverage. This can easily be converted into your
own Rear Leg Takedown.