Chapter
10
Meyer:
Handtarbeit
Handwork
All
in the first part of fencing up until now, both the Stances and Strikes, were
sufficiently and properly done, and from thus we come ahead, that you come to
your opponent as equals under the sword, and so first push one's self to strive
seriously, so that you drive against him accurately and forcefully into the
Middle work such as Misleading, Following After, Changing, Doubling, Hitting
After, setting the Prize thus as the goal all Fencers work toward and wish to
attain and keep with quick work.
Because
it doesn't start off fully and immediately, where you neither close nor safely
attack, then from there on the largest art lies, which is fully grasped here in
this chapter of handwork. Since similar things must happen in various ways, on
this you'll have advice in every special word and way, which will be through
lessons, and from there through demonstration you shall fully draw clearly and
rightly how it is done and understood.
Now
stands the whole Handwork applied in binding or staying, following after,
Cutting,
Chopping Down, Walking Around, Misleading, Flowing Off, Putting Away,
Displacing,
Twitching, Doubling, Overturning, Capturing, Avoiding, Circling,
Channeling,
Winding, Winding Through, Changing, Changing Through, Cutting Away,
Hand
Punching, Shooting Ahead, Hanging, Moving Out, Blocking, Adjusting, Grappling,
Closing,
etc.
Meyer:
Anbinden,
Bleiben, Fülen.
Binding,
Staying, Feeling.
These
are names for when the swords are in contact with each other. Staying is two
modes, firstly when the swords stop each other, watch what one wants to fence
with then and where you can attack your opponent if you will. Then there is the
other with which one sends strikes, when you set yourself as if you sought to
recover from a strike, only to slash quickly and come inward again with the
short edge, thus back to the Before to strike with the long edge. Now mark the
word "feeling" which means so much, as it therewith sends or finds,
you will become aware how hard or soft on your sword he is, etc.
Talhoffer:
From the Bind, thrust away with the elbows.
It
seems that the tafel shows how to extract away from a bind by thrusting the
sword "with the elbows." This seems to mean a quick forearm thrust
designed to extract yourself away from a bind to re-establish range.
Egenolph:
Remaining
Get
ready in the high guard or “Hochort” and strike with the long edge at his
left ear and let him think that you want to twitch but remain with the short
edge at his left ear. Then twitch and let follow a strike with the long edge.
Break.
When
somebody remains with the short edge at your left ear, remain at the other side,
too. If he twitches first, he will hit himself.
Engaging
at the sword
When
somebody binds above, test if he is hard or soft at his sword. If he is hard in
his binding, wind down through out of the roses against his face to the left
ear. This way you are going to wind his sword away and expose him. But when he
twitches back and strikes, move upward and displace.
Break.
When
somebody binds above and is strong in the binding, that you cannot twitch and he
also does not want to twitch, then lift your pommel upward and move the point
between his hands. If you now twitch backward to your body, he must let go.
Meyer:
Nachreisen.
Following
After
This
is an especially good handwork, and therein the need and will to know will be
raised if you want to rise and become a Master at low cost, thus conduct
yourself in Following After: When your opponent starts to move his sword above
or below himself so as to prepare to strike, you rush at his targets and thus
preemptively intercept his Strike, which then can be joined against as you come
to want or need, with this one fences and sweeps away with your strike. Since
you soon require better understanding, I will clarify this to you with an
example.
When
one fences against you, take on whatever part his sword takes, if leading first
in the right Ox, that is in the high right quarter, thus you shall take off as
soon as he changes his sword from there to the other side or off to seek a
strike, move similarly and strike after it with cunning, and of course you'll
need to pick a strike and target, against which you close and soon you'll want
your displacement. However if he fences out of the Low
Guard,
thus mark that as soon as he drives out, (he fences from either left or right
side), and follow cunningly under his sword from below with the long edge and
strike the next opening.
Danzig:
Of Following After
Teach following After twofold or cut in the defense. Take the work two ways and there after begin to test if the threat is light or hard. Learn to feel Just As it would be cut hard. Following After one hits twice, the olden cut to make with it.
Egenolph:
The
fourth guard is named “Pflug”.
When somebody strikes impetuously at you, step triangular [traverse] with the
right foot and displace quickly with the flat so that his sword slips down. Then
make a step with your left foot and strike with the true edge.
Ringeck:
The "Traveling
After" (Nachreisen):
There are two kinds of Nachreisen,
and you should learn both. Use the first against an Oberhau. If he raises
the sword to strike, travel after him with a strike or a thrust and hit him in
the upper opening before he can complete the strike. Or fall on his raised arms
with the Lange Schneide (long
edge) and push him away from you.
Another Nachreisen
When
he strikes an Oberhau and brings the blade down with the strike, travel after
him with a strike on the head before he can get his sword up again. But if he
wants to thrust at you and pulls the sword back to prepare for the thrust,
travel after him and thrust at him, before he can do it himself.
The "Abnahmen"
from the outside
Note, there are two
"Abnahmen" from the Outside, which are two "Nachreisen"
at the sword (am Schwert). Do them like this: If his strike falls short, travel
after him. If he displaces that, stay at the sword (maintain blade contact) and
check whether he's hard or soft in the bind. When he pushes up your sword with
strength, place your blade on the outside of his blade and thrust at his lower
opening.
The second Abnahmen
from the outside
Also, if you fence against him with low strikes or other techniques, and he forestalls this and winds against your sword from above, so that you cannot move it up, maintain strong contact with his sword from below. If he then attacks, your high opening follow with your sword, take the weak of his blade with your long edge, push it down and thrust into his face.
A third Nachreisen
When he strikes short in front of you, travel after him with a strike to the high opening. If he moves up and winds against your sword from below, note: as soon as the swords clash together, fall on his arms with the long edge and push him away from you. Or cut through his face. Practice this from both sides.
Goliath:
Text
regarding the Traveling After
Double
travels after hits one with the ancient cut made
Analysis
That
is you shall travel after to both sides and not forget the cuts inward. Take
this on when he would strike before you from high on the right or left side,
then strike after him driving to the opening he makes and bind below on the
sword, so mark as soon as one sword glides on the other, then cut him Just Then
to his throat or let your long edge fall on his arm and cut closely.
Goliath:
A
good travel-after on the sword out of low strikes
When you fence against him from low strikes or out of a strike, or stand against him in the guard named Fool, if he feints then with the sword onto yours as and when you come out of this, then stay low with your sword on his and raise them up above yourself, if he winds on the sword bringing his point at your face or chest, then don't let him come off the sword and from there follow after him to work your point to the next opening. If he strikes over from the sword then follow or travel after him with the point but, as before, mark that you shall, from all strikes and guards, follow after him as soon as you can when he has struck or opened with the sword before you, and when you yourself have opened or struck, wait so that you will not be followed after, mark this on both sides.
Danzig:
Of overrunning
He
who roams under, run over that he will be shamed. When it glides above then I
will praise the strong Make your work, the hard hit double.
Ringeck:
The Overrunning.
When he crosses swords, with a cut or thrust to the lower openings, then you
will not set him aside. Rather wait, until you may strike or cut at his head. So
you defeat him because the Oberhau and thrust have longer reach then Unterhauw.
Goliath:
Text
on the overrunning
He who roams
below overrunning will then shame him. When it glides thus strong above I will
praise that well, make your work or hit hard twice. That is when you come to him
with pre-fencing, if he then strikes you below to the low openings then don't
displace him but strike him strongly from above to his head, or if he strikes to
you with upstrikes, then mark as and when he comes out with the upstrike, then
shoot the point long to his face or chest and beset him high so he won't want to
reach you below. All high attacks break and baffle the low ones. If he drives
then to you below on your sword, then stay with the long edge strong on his
sword and work nimbly to the next opening, or let him work and Just Then you can
hit him
Meyer:
Schneiden
Cutting
When
during the handwork one's right skull is targeted, then you rush from your
opponent with quick and agile blows, you can block and impede him better with no
other move than with the cut, which you, though you will treasure it in all
instances as special as here, will hold in reserve. You must however complete
the cuts thus: after you entangle your opponent's sword with the bind, you shall
strive thereon, feel if he would withdraw or flow off from the bind, as soon as
he flows off, drive against him with the long edge on his arm, thrust the strong
or quillons from you in the swing, let fly, and as he himself seeks to retrieve,
strike then to the next opening.
Meyer:
Umbschlagen
Slashing
Around
Is
named from hitting around with the sword, when you have bound from your right
against his left, from this bind leave off again, strike or rush around to the
other side.
Meyer:
Ablauffen
Flowing
Off
On
whichever hand you bind on your opponent's sword, so move while retrieving your
hand, and let yourself flow off below you with the half edge, and twitch under
to bring your riccasso high overhead to strike, and drive such to both sides.
Egenolph:
Pull
away
When
somebody binds at your sword and remains strong in the binding, move with your
hilt over both his hands and pull them down towards you again. You create an
opening and hit him
Meyer:
Verführen
Misleading
Remember
this: when you show your intent, as if you mean to fence to one of your
opponent's openings, absolutely do not do so, but instead slash the strike unto
another opening, to which you should come properly without injury, and thus
Misleading enables many moves, such as facing with the Glancer Strike, Hacking,
Flying, Beckoning, Off
Flowing,
Twitch, Circle and others. In addition, Misleading is not only performed with
the sword, but also by presenting various initial stances, which are not yet
more techniques, because techniques are the fencer's distinction, toward which
you direct yourself throughout fencing at every single distinction and habit
which then shall be set upon with wrath. This quickly clears hands fenced
slowly, thus misleading likewise requires forms, which will be directed in the
work.
Egenolph:
Mistake/feint
Take the mistake out of the high guard. Strike short through to his left ear and step with your left foot to his right side. The other strike long to his right ear. Stay high with good displacement.
Break.
Beginning
from the “Ochs” strikes down against him through the roses and place him
your false edge in his face. Turn short away and let follow a strike with the
true edge.
(“Through
the roses” = circular strike with the lowest point of the arc at the thigh).
Rule.
Strike through against his blow and step with the right foot in triangle, that you nearly expose yourself. Give him a cause to strike to your opening. After that, step with your left foot and hit him with your hand.
Goliath:
Feints
mislead from below after wants to pull
Analysis
Feinting
is a part in which many fights become blended and you want to pull after and
strike to those who will displace and fence to the sword and not the body. Mark
when you come to him in pre-fencing, then move as if you would strike to the
head in a free downstrike, and twitch off the strike and strike him with a
traverse to his lower opening on either the left or right side as you will, and
see that you keep the hilt over your head and thus also drive the traverse
strike.
Meyer:
Verfliegen
Flying
Off
Withdrawing
thus is shown: when you in either pre-fencing or full work strike at your
opponent's opening, but he drives to intercept your strike in the air, do not
allow him to put his blade onto your sword, but twitch off the strike with one
flight in the air to another opening, which will work very well against this,
follow only after your sword and your body will not come to be hurt.
Meyer:
Absetzen
Putting
Away
Now in all Fencing moves, as above were shown, two things are necessary, namely strikes, and strikes which clear or displace with the sword. So mark that this handwork is the proper clearing or displacing, with which you won't address the strikes badly and not strike onward again, but move at the same time to address his opening during the withdrawal. As you come during pre-fencing into the Changer, and as he strikes to you then from Above, drive above yourself with the long edge against his strike, and step at the same time with your right foot against his left and offset him, then as soon as he glides, wind the short edge, and rush at him against his head.
Danzig:
Of setting aside
Teach
to set aside artfully stabbed strikes. He who stabs to you meets your point and
his breaks. From both sides hit always if you will advance.
Ringeck:
The
Absetzen
You must learn the art of setting aside so that his cuts and thrusts may be
broken.
Do it like this. When he stands before you, as though to strike your lower
opening, then take the guard of the plow on your right side to open your left.
When he strikes to your left wind against his sword to your left and take one
step with your right foot toward him: so you achieve your thrust and he has been
displaced.
The Second Set-aside.
When you stand opposite him in the guard of the plow on your left side and he
strikes towards your open left side move your sword high to your left side, with
the hilt before your face. Take one step towards him with right foot and thrust
through his face
Goliath:
Text
on how one shall set aside stabs and strikes
Teach
setting aside weapons artfully laid strikes stabs, stab out from you, your point
hits and breaks his, hit from both sides, at all times you will stride
Analysis
Observe
the parrying, when you come to him in pre-fencing drive thus if
he stands against you as if he would stab: put your left foot forward and stand
against him in the guard of the Plough on your right side and give an opening
with your left side, if he stabs to that opening then wind the sword onto his
stab to your left side with the short edge on his sword, setting it aside, and
stride then with your right foot and stab him Just Then to his face or chest.
Another
Element
When
you stand in the guard of the plough on your right side and he strikes high to
your head's left side, then ward off with the sword and wind it against his
strike on your left side with the hilt in front of your head, and stride then
with your right foot, and stab to his face or chest driving this piece to both
sides.
Meyer:
Schlaudern
Slinging
Is
nothing other than how you let a strike fly in a Sling to your opponent's head,
for this put yourself in the Fool's guard, and pull your sword back though close
to your right, step with your right foot to your opponent while pulling your
sword back to you, and sling your strike to his head. This Slinging Strike shall
fly out even like a stone is thrown from a sling, whatever more you need note on
Slinging you will find described in sections after here.
Meyer:
Zucken
Twitching
Twitching
is one very good handwork with which you can masterly mislead your opponent, and
which shall be operated thus: After you have bound against your opponent with
the long edge or have struck in to an opening, handily twitch over yourself
again as if you want to strike to the other side, however don't drive ahead, but
handily execute the strike with the short edge again onto the point, from which
you are exited.
Danzig:
Of twitching
Step close in binding that twitching gives good finding. Twitch to hit his twitch finds more work, do this always as twitching all hits will attain you the mastery.
Ringeck:
The
Twitching.
When you move in to strike him from your right with an Oberhau to the head and
he binds your sword, take a single step towards him, maintaining pressure
against his sword. Then jerk your sword backwards and away from his to
disengage. Then strike his head from the other side. If he sets this aside, then
hit him on the other side and work skillfully to his upper openings with
Duplieren and other pieces.
Goliath:
Text
on Twitching on the sword
Step
close in binding that twitching gives good finding. Twitching to hit his twitch
finds more work, do this always as twitching all hits will attain you the
mastery. Know
to drive the Twitching against masters who bind strongly on the sword and stay
on the sword in the bind, and wait to see if he would strike off from you or
pull off of the sword, that you can then follow after to the opening to reach or
touch the same master, then drive the twitching against him thus: strike him
strongly from the right side high to the head, if he drives forward in the
strike strongly with the sword and will displace or strike to the sword, then
twitch your sword nimbly as and when you bind on and stab him on the other side,
do this against all hits and binds of the sword.
Mark
here another twitching
When
he has bound onto your sword and then stays against you in the bind waiting to
see if you would pull off of the sword, then do as if you would twitch yet stay
on the sword and pull your sword on the half edge to you and stab him soon again
on the sword to the face or chest, if you don't hit rightly with the stab then
work with doubling or any other element that is the best for you.
Meyer:
Doplieren
Doubling
Is
a strike or move made double in this wise: Strike first from your right to his
ear, as then when the swords glide together, thrust your sword's pommel through
under your right arm, driving at the same time out with both arms, and hit him
with the short edge behind his blade onto his head. This handwork will therefore
be called Doubling, because through it a double or twofold strike will be
accomplished, first with long and then with short edge.
Meyer
Verkehren
Turning
Turning
is: bind onto your opponent's sword against his left, and just as the pommel
moves under your right arm, thrust through, if he at the same time would come at
your head in a strike against your right, push your blade or arms from you with
crossed hands so as to ward him below you so that he cannot work onward, however
make your required space to work.
Meyer:
Umbschnappen
Clipping
Clipping
is two modes, the first is when you, as just now was told, come at him in a flip
his arm or blade, thus stopping his blade or arm with quillons stiff under you,
and under this let the blade Clip to his head. However, the other is where he
closes to you with a Loop under him, retreat with the left foot towards his
right, and at the same time reach over his right arm with the pommel above, pull
back under yourself, and let the sword edge come under his blade to clip against
his head, such that your hands come to cross over each other.
Meyer:
Fehlen
Missing
Missing
can be wanted each time, however it will be useful and resorted to properly and
in the suitable time which only the advancing fencer knows, thereby you will
effect a false strike with advantage, that you seek to attain another from
there, and take it soon. When you strike at one opening, and your opponent would
displace you, don't pull the strike but let it flow off nicely, and strike to
another opening, as in this example. In advancing come into the right Wrath, and
as soon as you can reach him, step and strike at the left ear unto his sword,
however in the strike, even and then pull it, thus lift the pommel and let the
blade miss and flow off near his left, and twitch over the head, as to then
strike him on the other side, out over his right arm to his head.
Meyer:
Zirckel
Circle
When
you stand in the bind before your opponent, and both you and he drive the swords
forward in the air overhead, but neither will give away an opening to the other,
then the
Circle
is an especially good work model at need which you will execute thus: Strike
with the half edge and crossed hands from above toward his right side forward
through above, so that both your hands stay overhead, but in striking cross your
right hand boldly over your left, thereby you will want to reach or graze his
right ear with the half edge, the sword thus clips him with your arms under
yourself, then step with the right foot to take on his right side or to bring
yourself back, and strike a direct splitting strike to his head.
Meyer:
Rinde
Rounds
The rounds are two things, Single and Double. The single round is when you twitch off your sword from your opponent's blade or opening in a swing overhead, and let fly over in the air so that you make a round circle. The double round is this: when you so twitch strongly off from his sword, that it goes over your head two times in full swing overhead, one time to each side, thus both single and double rounds are very serviceable also to Leading On, such that you will see and drive farther onward
Meyer:
Winden
Winding
The
word Winding is known in good German as the Wind, whose work shall thus be done:
when you have bound onto your opponent's sword from your right against his left,
then hold fast in the bind and wind the far part of your blade inward against
his head, and then again out. So that you will be told how to always stay stiff
onto his sword in the bind, such will be shown in this example.
Strike
once from the Roof, thus binding from your right with a hard traverse onto his
sword, and just as he slides, thrust your pommel through under your right arm,
and wind the short edge thus in a rush inward against his head, in this all but
stay with the edge hard against his sword, if he would beware of the rush and
displace, or if you feel that he will fall down to your openings from above,
then pull the pommel from under your arm again to your left above you, and hit
him again with the short edge through the traverse to his left ear.
Meyer:
Durchwinden
Winding
Through
If
you bind with a Traverse Strike, as was described before here, wind the short
edge inward against your opponent's head, then step through under it with the
right foot between you and him, against your opponent's right side, and wind
through at the same time with your hilt under your blade from your left side,
and drive him with your pommel winding out over your right arm, step back with
the right foot, and travel at the same time from your right side out under him,
and slash in with the long edge to the head, thus have you not only wound
through, but also wrenched over with the pommel.
Meyer:
Wechseln
Changes
A
skilled fencer will have Changes, so then be skilled at such and only Change at
the right time, and only when you need, and not give away your openings without
cause. However, he who will be experienced in fencing will need the knowledge of
Changes, for is it an artful work and belongs to fencing with all this, that
while it only works against the sword and not against the body, the Changes are
many. Change in opening from one side to the other, change before the attack
from one stance to another. Remember in the attacks to change through against
the strikes, thus in the pre-fencing strike from your right a direct Wrath or
High strike against your opponent's left side, strike him against the sword and
not to his body, thus let the point flit under his sword with crossed hands with
the strike, step and strike in to the other high target, see however that you
carefully ensure that he does not attack or set upon you by following after, to
this in the beginning come into the Long Point, and stretch likewise long from
you, if he strikes at your sword, and will hit out or wind, then let the point
drop under yourself through sinking, and work him to the other side, if he
swipes after and will displace, then change through again, bite onward again to
another opening or work to stand yet rightly, then after you can strike.
Danzig:
Of changing through
Learn to change through from both sides with stabs hard on your bind. Find changes through by poking.
Ringeck:
The
Change Through
Do it like this: if he wants to engage you in a bind against Cut or Thrust,
so let the point/thrust slide through under his sword and stick/stab him in
the other side. There you find him exposed.
Goliath:
Text
on how one shall change through
Teach
changing through from both sides, with weapon bound well from you, find changes
through by poking
The
change through is much and you shall drive it properly against the fencer who
likes to displace and strike to the sword, not to the body's openings, this you
shall learn well, drive with leading ahead to the man who does not attack or
come forward while you are changing through. Drive the change through thus. When
you come to him with pre-fencing then strike him a high strong one, if he
strikes then in return against your sword and not your body, then in the strike
let the point sink through, swiping below the sword as and when he binds on your
sword, and stab to his chest on the other side. If he is aware of the stab and
drives the sword stabbing right after with displacement, then change through and
always do this when he drives with displacement against the sword.
Another
When
you come to him with pre-fencing then set your left foot forward and hold the
long point into his face, if he strikes from above down onto or from below onto
your sword and will smite it away or bind strong on it, then let your point sink
below it and stab to the other side. This drives against all strikes where your
opponent strikes to the sword.
Mark
this
You
should change through while the opponent truly engages, then you change through
and do it thus, when he displaces you and lets his point go outward to the side,
then change through inward and stab him on the other side. If he stays with the
point at your face or against other openings then don't change through but stay
on his sword and work on it to the next opening so he can't travel or engage
again.
Egenolph:
Changing through
Fighting
rule.
Pose
like before. Grab with your left hand in the middle of your blade and thrust to
his face.
When
he displaces your thrust step and let your left hand go of the blade. Move your
pommel over his both hands, place your blade at his throat and when he loses the
balance throw him.
Break.
When
somebody places his blade at your throat and wants to throw you, take your right
hand off the sword, push upward at his left elbow and he has to turn.
Rule.
When
somebody has put his blade at your breast, grab his sword at the point with your
left hand and thrust with your sword behind his left leg. Press your breast
forward in his direction and throw him with a push of your left hand against his
breast backwards over your sword.
Meyer:
Abschneiden
Cutting
Off
Cutting
Off shall you drive thus: hold the sword with outstretched arms long from you,
or sink into the Fool's guard, strike your opponent then with a long strike from
you, and thus cut away from you to both sides with the long edge, so as long as
you keep your advantage, that you onward will come to work properly at need. In
Cutting Off, chasing is also held well to be done together with the cut, thus
concerning this Liechtenauer spoke in a quote.
Cut
off the hardened / from both be driven. That is cut the hard strike from you off
from both sides. Apart than this, Cutting Off will be described more only after
here in examples and other defenses.
Goliath:
Of
the cutting off
Cut
off the hard driving both from below
That
is what you shall drive when one binds strong on your sword from above or feints
from there, and so take this when you pre-fence from the under strike or from
striking out from or standing against him in the Fool's guard, if he feints out
then with the sword as and when you come out from this, then stay low on your
sword and raise the short edge closely above you, if he then hits your sword
closely below then strike low with your sword on his sword's blade, go off
behind you from his sword, and soon again strike in to the other side of his
sword high to his mouth.
Yet
another
When
you pre-fence with low strikes or rush in the Fool's guard, if he feints out
then with the sword near to your hilt as and when you come out from this so that
your point goes out to your right side, then drive out nimbly with the pommel
over his sword and hit him on the head with the long edge, or if he binds onto
your sword so that your point goes off to the left side, then drive with the
pommel over his sword and hit to his head with the short edge. This is called
the clipping.
Danzig:
Of cutting off
Cut off hard; from below be driven in both. Four are the cuts. Two below, two above.
Egenolph:
Cutting
off
(Poem:
“Schneid ab die herten ...”)
Rule.
When
somebody is standing in the “Pflug”, “uberschiess” your sword with short
or true edge before he is able to work with his sword and you will hinder him to
twitch or strike.
Meyer:
Hendtrucken
Hand
Thrusting
Hand
thrusting is almost the same as the Cutting to the arm, of which is told above,
and not otherwise shown, how to be done with the Over and Under cuts, unless you
run one through with oafish hitting, so drive him under his strike with the
Crown or other high displacement, or go under yourself by hanging, and catch his
sword on your blade's flat, and thus you come under his sword, yet pay attention
when he with his strike goes off from your defense again over you, that you
follow after him with the strong of your sword, and take him with the hilt from
below to drive the strong, that you trap him with both the strong and your
blade, thrust at him with the hilt above you, and strike long against the
opening.
Meyer:
Verschieben
Displacement
When
you stand in the right wrath, and you will be struck at, let the blade hang
behind you, and send your hanging blade over your head and under his blade, that
you catch his strike on your flat, and your thumbs stand broad across your hilt
under you, to then wind or otherwise further work as you want, whatever you can
best take onward.
Ringeck:
The
Walkthrough.
When he holds his sword aloft to strike you a powerful blow then will you hold
your sword with the left hand on the pommel above your head and the blade over
your back. Duck under his right arm and spring your right foot behind his right
foot. In the spring grip him with your right arm around his body. Take him on
the right hip and throw him to the ground.
A Second Walkthrough.
When he holds his sword aloft to strike you a powerful blow then will you hold
your sword with the left hand on the pommel above your head and the blade over
your back. Duck under his right arm, leave your right leg in front of his and
grip him with your right arm around his back, then throw him behind you.
Meyer:
Hengen
Hanging
From
the preceding, Hanging is to be understood clearly, this you do thusly: When you
stand in the Plough and your opponent strikes to you, drive your grip above you
so that the blade hangs somewhat toward the ground, and take his strike thus on
your blade's flat, to then work with Winding to the next opening.
Talhoffer:
Tafel 6
Against the lower openings. - Also at the lower openings.
First
Look: these combatants are both in the free hanging point stance and attempting
to plunge a thrust against the lower openings. Both are also binding the
opponent's blade in a blade play meant to hold off the thrust. The guy on the
right has crossed his stance and is in trouble.
Second
look: there's probably a lot of
winding in this engagement. The guy on the right is still in trouble.
Danzig:
Of two hangings
Two hangings will be from one hand, from the ground, in all drives. Strike to stab stances hard or light.
Goliath:
Text
on the two low hangings
Two
hangings will be up from the earth on one hand, in all driven strikes stab
stances light or hard
The
two hangings from the ground would be the plough on both sides and when you
would fence or have fenced from it then in striking and in stabbing and in all
bindings of the swords you should feel therein if he is light or hard on the
sword from which you should drive four windings and from each winding
particularly one strike, one slice, one stab and still all other drives as it is
from the two high hangings.
Meyer:
Außreissen
Wrenching
Out
If
you bind once from your right, overturn your sword in the bind, and pull out to
your left side, so that you both stand close together in the meeting, thus
endeavor that you can come at him with the pommel from below and wrench over
yourself, or you rush him from Above to grapple over the arm with the pommel, or
to whatever way the winding wants to happen, then wrench out under you, that you
thereafter come farther to hear more.
Meyer:
Sperren
Blocking
Mark
when one stands before you in the Changer or Fool's guard, and cunningly drop
with long edge upon his blade, and just as he glides or pulls, cross over your
hands, and block him so that he can't come out, or when he strikes in front of
you, drop with crossed hands onto the blade and block him.
Meyer:
Verstüllen
Forestalling
Forestalling
shall be driven thus: if one comes working unto you with all sorts of actions
against the four targets, and strives then to move overhead, drop a cut onto his
arm or his sword and let him not come further, especially not where he wants to,
thus follow after him with the cut hard on his arm, and forestall thus his
advance that he can't work on, and as soon as you see your opportunity, thrust
out with your edge and let fly to the next opening.
Meyer:
Ubergreiffen
Overgripping
Overgripping
is thus: Strike from your right to his upper left opening, however in the strike
grip with the fingers out over the cross or hilt while holding the thumb on the
haft, then with the left hand raise the pommel and slash in with hanging blade
over or behind his displacement to the head.
Egenolph:
Gripping
over
“Ubergreiffen”
take out of the high guard. Grip with your right hand over your cross guard into
the blade, so that your fingers are standing in the flat of the blade. If
somebody is hitting at you, hit him with strength that you just out do his
sword, twitch him your flat of the blade at his right ear, and go high in a
displacement.
Break.
When
somebody makes the “over gripping” at you, capture him the strike and twitch
shortly. Follow with a long strike or break it with the feint cut or the crown
cut.
Meyer:
Einlauffen
Charging
In
Charging
In is nothing other than a charge in under your sword, that both swords come
together, beyond this belong grappling and throwing, so that you from here on
will attain understanding, will I retain all until now, and now move on to the
third section of my list.
Danzig:
Of charging through
Charging through let’s hang
with the pommel grip should you grapple. He who would charge through strongly
against you, you mark with.
Goliath:
Text
on charging through with grappling on the sword
Let
Charging Through hang with the pommel grip should you wrestle. He who would
charge through strongly against you, you mark with it.
The
charging through and grappling are twofold with the sword when he charges
through to grapple the body, then right after send the arm grapple, and pay
attention to drive against the fencer who gladly charges.
At
first drive the charge through thus
Mark
when he charges and drives high with the arms and would overpower you from above
with the strong, then you drive out your arms out too and hold your sword with
the left hand close over your head and let your blade hang back behind you and
charge through with your head through the arms to his right side and spring with
the right foot behind his right and in the spring drive with your right arm
against his left side ahead
Talhoffer:
Tafel
24
Ein Uberfall (schneller, plötzlicher
Angriff in der nahen Mensur).
A sudden attack (Quickly jabbed attack in close quarters).
Looking
at the illustration, this seems to suggest a quick slicing up-thrust across the
opponent's left neck/cheek while closing past a point held in The Plough
(right).
Danzig:
Of hand hitting
Your
cuts twisted to flat hit the hands.
Goliath:
Your
cut twisted to flat hits the hands
Analysis
This
is how you shall drive from the two lower cuts to the two high ones, take this
thus, when he strides in to your left side with arms stretched overhead then
twist your sword ahead and let your long edge fall under his pommel to his arm
and almost hit upward and stride with it on his right side and wind the pommel
through below and don't come away from his arms with the sword then wind the
sword from below to cut above over his arm with the long edge.
Danzig:
Of window breaker
Breaking
windows is thus made. Stand gladly showing your intent, hit just as he snaps. He
who would show off to you. I say to you be wary, you shoot no man without
driving.
Dobringer:
Text
on the Window Breaker
How
you shall put yourself in the Window Breaker
When
you go to him in pre-fencing with whichever strike, you then come onward as with
a low or high strike, then let your point always shoot in long to his face or
chest by which you force him to displace or bind on the sword and, when he has
thus bound, then stay freely with the long edge strong on his sword and straight
into the intent of what he would fence against you, if he seems to go back off
of the sword, then follow with it or to an opening; or if he slashes off the
sword over to your other side, then bind strongly against his strike high to the
head; or if he will not pull away from the sword after
slashing over then work by doubling or with other similar elements afterward as
you find him weak or strong on the sword.
This
is another mode
In
addition, this is also the Window Breaker. Mark when you have come to him with
prefencing, then set your left foot forward and hold your arms long in the point
toward his face or chest, as and when you bind onto his sword and stand freely
against what he would fence to you, if he strikes long and high to your head,
then drive out and wind the sword into the Ox against his strike and stab to his
face; or if he strikes to your sword and not your body then change through and
stab him on the other side; If he strides in and his arms are high, then drive
below the cut or charge through him with wrestling; If his arms are low, then
wait to grapple the arms; thus you drive all elements of the long point.
He
who would led, and break rightly, and would finally judge and break especially
in only three wisdoms. He who would rightly hang and wind considers eight
windings properly. Indeed one in the same windings would step through my
twenty-four verses the same on both sides. Teach eight windings with lessons and
tests, driving no longer only soft or hard;
Egenolph:
Window
cross position
(Poem:
„Sprechfenster mach / Stand frölich / besihe sein sach...“)
Rule.
When
somebody stands in the window-cross-position, move your pommel over his hilt and
between his hands. Grab the crossguard with your left thumb and pull backwards.
You create an opening and hit him.
Another.
When
somebody binds with you in the window-cross-position and does not move, push
with your left hand at his right hand and he has to turn and presents an
opening.
Egenolph:
Shooting through
Shooting
through you might take out of the high guard. Strike downward from above through
the roses, holding the hands wrongly [the German word which was used in the original text is
“verkehrt” – I personally tend to think that the author meant that you
have to make the strike with crossed arms] and short edge, in his face. Let your blade shortly run down
follow with the long edge.
Break.
When
somebody uses “shooting through” at you and tries to place the short edge at
you, so that you could not work in an other way, take the sword at the point and
hit him at the head with the cross guard.
Egenolph:
The
running through
Rule.
Remember.
When you thrust at somebody and hit him with the point, wind your sword with the
pommel under your right shoulder.
Meyer:
A
Guide to the Elements, how you can and shall be successful from the elements
previously clarified.
While
up till now all these cited and clarified elements are actually nothing other
than a start and elementary part of all Fencing with swords and shall be taken
as such, then note how and when I seize various elements from here before
showing with what ease these shall be undertaken. Now you must retain all
writings in your thoughts and memory, also know thoroughly what each and every
art and distinction is, thus you will come to write a fully correct word, that
from here on serviceable and heeded letters will flow orderly one to another
from the quill. Thus shall you also retain the previously clarified elements,
and that way you realize as often as you come to fence with someone, you will
fail with anything other than this, thus success will come from taking note.
However, just like every letter cannot be applied to each and every word, thus
it is also impossible to undertake all the previously cited elements in every
engagement.
Therefore
you shall pay attention, as the situation requires, to how your opponent poses
against you, and also observe the person, if they are quick or slow, large or
small, and then know how to apply your work to him and how to oppose him. Just
as every full fight, as was indicated above, is divided into three parts, namely
the Pre-Fencing, the Middle, and the Withdrawal, these three parts are clarified
in due order, and what is advised in every undertaking, thus in the beginning
your first need is various strikes through the stances, with which you will best
engage and overtake your opponent as intended, and in the first phase when you
engage and close to him, or maybe come to be under his sword, then forward you
must have still more moves with which to bring the part to its conclusion, which
you then learn from the second section of this book, namely the Handwork, that
you force ahead to all four openings, and he then cannot come to do damaging
work to you, or similarly as when you have made it sufficiently ineffective. And
in order to bring the engagement to its end, you must lastly add more letters to
this word, and seek onward to the third section of this book, how the engagement
shall be ended, and you withdraw without damage, or your opponent allowed one.
Because of this see that you then force the Middle Work, that you first come to
withdraw though defense, as then much will be learned in various engagements, or
you incite so that he strikes you away and then at the same time you strike over
his sword while stepping out, and justifiably want to take and claim your
withdrawal. So that with this you will understand it entirely, I will present an
entire engagement in all three parts.
In
the pre-fencing come into the right Changer, pay attention that as soon as his
sword shows bearing to strike, then before him handily strike through above you,
and strike with a Traverse from your right at the same time as his, in the
strike step on to his left side, if he drives his strike directly at your head,
then hit with your Traverse to his left ear, however mark that he doesn't strike
straight to your head by winding his strike with the long edge against your
Traverse in the displacement, thus pull the strike with a long Traverse handily
to his right ear, step just then with your left foot to his right, now you have
attacked out of the change with two traverse strikes to each side over against
the other. This you take now from the first part to this attack, Forward you
will step on to Middle work, then bring yourself to the other part thus, if he
slashes from your sword over to the other side, then move after him with a cut
against his arm, hit with the strong of your blade, or with your hilt in a jerk
away from you, just as he still threatens from the thrust, and still has not yet
reached you, then drive to rush out with crossed arms and slash him with the
short edge over his right arm to his head; and so that when he reaches you from
the thrust, but where he stops you and sweeps away through displacing, then let
your sword fly off again, and traverse to his left ear while you step away with
your left foot; or where he doesn't go off or slash around, but stays with the
cut or long edge outward, then loop your sword so that your half edge comes at
his, ride his sword thus on your right side, but just then let it clip off into
the air, so that your hands come together again crosswise high over your head,
to then slash him as before, as he reaches
from the ride with the short edge over his head, step back following with the
left foot, and strike a high traversing middle strike with the long edge from
your right to his half, and just as it glides, then pull off to your right with
a high strike. Thus you see now how there's always one part after the other, the
application and ordering through must be conceived and executed together, which
makes up an entire part of Fencing. Lastly mark here also that the entire
engagement can be completed in two or three strikes, where you rush to engage in
the first strike, and with the second strike off again and in this strike commit
either to the first or last meeting, which needs to be undertaken correctly, or
you will lead on there to a third strike. Namely engage with the first, follow
after with a second, but when the proper time such must be shown, that you have
something worth saying, then mark how one speaks such that you will learn
yourself, after which you will learn all other parts in fencing and here on
retain your lessons with diligence.
