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echtbuch author Joachim Meyer felt that the understanding of the principles of longsword (known in German as Langeschwert) was the best way to teach all other fighting styles and forms. Thus it forms the foundation of all the his teachings and is the primary focus of our studies as well. A Langeschwert was not generally used by Landsknechte on the field of battle, though some officers are depicted wearing one.
The foundation of German fencing was set by 15th century fencing master Johannes Liechtenauer, whose cryptic verses taught his students combat with the Langeswchwert without armor, with armor, and unarmed combat. The Liechtenauer system is simple and efficient. When engaged in blossfechten, litterally "shirt fencing," there are four basic guards and five basic strikes.
The following two tables state the German name of the guard or strike, the English name, and a brief definition. In depth information follows these tables. A photograph shows three people in the same stance so that three different angles of the same body position are presented; plus, three different body types show three variations of the same position.
Vier Leger - The Four Guards
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Vom Tag
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From the Roof
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Held over head, point up.
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Ochs
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Ox
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Held over head, point forward.
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Pflug
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Plow
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Held at hip, point foward.
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Alber
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Fool
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Held at groin, point down.
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Meisterhau - Master Strikes
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Zornhau
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Wrathful Hew
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Overpowers opponent's strike.
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Zwerchhau
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Cross Hew
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Conquers vom Tag.
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Krumphau
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Crooked Hew
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Conquers Ochs.
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Scheitelhau
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Parting Hew
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Conquers Alber.
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Schielhau
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Squinting Hew
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Conquers Pflug.
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Vom Tag - From the Roof
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| Vom Tag held over head. |
Vom Tag held at ear level.
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From the guard of vom Tag held over his head, the fencer brings down the wrathful strike of Zornhau with spite and violence. The pull of gravity assists the blade's movement.
From this guard, many can be conquered with the crooked strike Krumphau aimed at their hands. If facing another opponent in vom Tag, a wise combatant will strike across his foe with Zwerchhau, fencing off the opponent's strike and simultaniously postioning for a strike or thrust. Vom Tag is always weak to the Zwerchhau.
Ochs - The Ox
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| Left Ochs. |
Right Ochs.
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Guarding from Ochs defends against strikes to the head while threatening the advarsary. A fencer may throw many strikes from this position or thrust the blade into his opponent. While Ochs may have many attacks, it is always weak to the Krumphau, as this attack closes off any line Ochs might follow.
Pflug - The Plow
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| Left Pflug. |
Right Pflug.
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From Pflug, the fencer threatens his opponent with a fatal thrust while closing off one side of his body from attack. Falling back into Pflug will save a fencer from many dire situations; however, Pflug can not defend against Schielhau, the squinting strike.
Alber - The Fool
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| Left Alber. |
Right Alber.
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A fool rushes into he who stands in the guard of Alber. Having been lured in, a strike can rise to the underside of the aggressor's hands, cutting them; a mortal thrust follows. The fencer in Alber decieves his foe into believing he is weak.
However, it is a fool who strikes from Alber against an opponent, for he will be quickly be hewn in two by the parting strike Schietelhau. Similarly, the man in Alber is weak against a crooked Krumphau.
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