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Training

Meyer is unusual, perhaps unique, among the authors of early martial arts treatises in offering substantial information about the training process, including a significant number of training drills. Most of his drills serve to develop facility in delivering multiple attacks in rapid succession.

See Meyer Sequences 27v.1, 29r.1, 29r.2, 29v.1, 29v.2, 29v.3, 29v.4, 30r.1, 30r.2

Strikes

Principle Strikes all long edge, and are primarily used in the beginning or at the withdrawal.

Over, middle, under, and wrath, (Thwart, glance, and the bent strikes can also be used in the beginning even though not long edge blows.)

Turned or Secondary strikes (strikes with short edge) used primarily when opponent strikes short(edge) or has shortened reach(primarily used in the middle or war phase.)

 Short, Crown, Squint (Glance), Arc, Traverse, Bounce, Blind, Wind, Knee Hollow, Plunge, and Changer Strikes.

Master Strikes

Wrath, Over, Thwart, Squinter (Glancing), and Bent.

Wrath and Over are long edge

Thwart and Squinter(Glancing),  are short edge

Bent can be used short edge or long edge. Used like a

windshield wiper in front of you against his flat, or can be

any strike which is delivered with crossed hands.

Strikes to Break Guards 

Over: (long edge) against fool, and everything that comes from

above, below, and from both sides.

Thwart: (short edge) Against Roof and high strikes

Squinter (Glancing): (short edge) against plow, good to use against

strikes and stabs from below.

Bent: Against Ox, from above and from Barrier.

Over Strike.

The Over Strike is a strong strike directly from Above,

against your opponent's head or scalp, therefore it is also called

Vertex Strike.

Note: The Scheitelhau is also examined on page 74 of Goliath

Doebringer

This is regarding the Scalp strike [Scheitelhawe] the scalp strike [Scheitelere] is a danger to your face. With its turn it takes the breast fast and what comes from him the crown [Crone] will take. Cut through the crown [Krone], that is how it is strongly broken. Press the strike in there, with cuts pull it away. The scalp strike [Scheitelhaw] I praise, if it does not come too slowly.

 

Meyer

Wrathful Strike

The Wrathful Strike is a serious strike from your Right Shoulder, against your opponent's left ear, or through his face or chest, consider how it's done through two lines, with the lines drawn through the upper right and crosswise overtop one another. This is the strongest beyond all others in that all one's strength and manliness is laid against one's opponent in fighting and fencing, therefore the ancients also named it Straight Strike or Father Strike. Along the considered lines you can move onwards, etc.

Note: The Zornhau is also discussed on Page 21 of Goliath.

 

Doebringer

This is regarding the Rage strike [Zornhaw] When someone strikes at you from above, strike a rage strike [Zornhaw] and draw (or slide?) the point at him, and you shall also step towards the right side. If he notices this, take away from above without fear, be stronger, turn [Wind] against it, and take it down. If he notices this, then go down. Note this; strike [Hewe], thrust [Stiche], guards [Leger], soft [Weich] or hard [Herte]. At once [Indes] and the before [Vor] the after [Nach]– do not haste into war, what the war strikes from above, is ashamed from below. In all turnings [Winden], strikes, thrusts and cuts learn to find. You shall also try strikes, thrusts or cuts in all meetings with the masters if you whish to fool them. Do not strike at the sword, but always to the openings, to the head, the body if you whish to remain unharmed. If you hit or miss, always search for the openings, in all teachings turn the point to the openings. He who strikes widely around, he will often become seriously shamed. Always strike and thrust at the closest openings.

 Glossa. Here note that Liechtenauer strikes an upper strike [Oberhaw] from the shoulder, it is called the rage strike [Czornhaw].  When you are angry and raging, then no strike is as ready as this upper strike [Oberhaw] struck from the shoulder at the opponent. That is why Liechtenauer means that when someone strikes an upper strike [Oberhaw] against you, then you shall strike a rage strike [Czornhaw] at him; that is you move quickly in towards him with your point leading. If he defends against your point, then go quickly up and over to the other side of his sword. If he defends against that as well, then be hard and strong in your sword and turn [Wind] quickly and skilfully. If he defends against your thrust then throw and strike quickly below and you will hit him in the legs. That is you should always try one after the other so that he never has a chance to come to blows himself. And the aforesaid words – Before [Vor] after [Noch] at once [Indes] weak [Swach], Strong [Stark], strike [Hewe], thrust [Stiche] and Cut [Snete], these you should think on well and never forget in your swordplay. And you should not rush into war, since if you fail above were you aim, then you will hit below as you will hear how to do one out of the other according to the true art, regardless if it is a strike, thrust or cut. And you shall not strike at the sword, but at the man himself, to the head or the body anywhere you can. One can also understand the first passage so that when you strike from above with the rage strike [Czornhaw], then you are also using the point of the rage strike. Just act according to this teaching, and always be in motion, whether you hit him or not, so that he cannot come to blows. And always step well out to the side with the strikes. And also know that from two strikes alone come all other strikes that are possible to name: Over and Under.

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