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Martial?Arts?of?the?Middle?Ages:?
The?Longsword?
Text?JeffreyL.Forgeng2010
Contents?
1.Introduction.............................................................................................................................2?
2.TheWeapon............................................................................................................................2?
3.Grips........................................................................................................................................4?
Fistgrip...................................................................................................................................4?
Thumbgrip..............................................................................................................................4?
4.GuardsandStraightCuts........................................................................................................5?
Ox(Ochs)................................................................................................................................5?
Plow(Pflug)............................................................................................................................6?
TheFourStraightCutsandtheirGuards................................................................................6?
5.TheTargets.............................................................................................................................9?
6.Stepping................................................................................................................................10?
PassingStep..........................................................................................................................10?
TriangleStep.........................................................................................................................10?
GatherStep............................................................................................................................11?
BackStep..............................................................................................................................11?
7.TechniquesfromArmoredCombat......................................................................................12?
HalfswordGuards.................................................................................................................12?
Murder-Blow(Mortschlag)..................................................................................................12?
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8.BasicDrills............................................................................................................................13?
8.1ImprovisedKatas............................................................................................................13?
8.2TheStraightCutsDrill[Meyer1570].............................................................................13?
8.3TheTwoandFourQuartersDrill[Meyer1570]............................................................14?
9.TheFiveMasterCuts............................................................................................................17?
WrathCut(Zornhaw)............................................................................................................17?
ScalpCut(Scheitelhaw)........................................................................................................17?
ThwartCut(Zwerchhaw)......................................................................................................17?
SquintingCut(Schielhaw)....................................................................................................17?
CrookedCut(Krumphaw).....................................................................................................18?
9.1TheMasterCutsDrill.....................................................................................................19?
10.SampleEncounter:TheDouble-Thwart[Meyer26r].........................................................20?
11.SelectedSources.................................................................................................................21?
1.Introduction
Thefollowingmaterialsdescribebasicsofthe“Liechtenauer”systempredominantinGerman
sourcesofthe1400s-1500s.JohannesLiechtenauerwasafamouscombatmasterofthe1300s
whoseversesoncombatremainedcentraltoGermanmartialartsforcenturiesafterwards.The
versesaredifficulttointerpret,butthetechniquesareexplainedinavarietyoflaterwritings,of
whichthemostimportantarethe“Starhemberg”manuscriptof1452,HansLecküchner’sLanges
Messer(falchion)treatiseof1482,PaulusHectorMair’sArsAthleticaofc.1550,andJoachim
Meyer’sArtofCombat,survivinginamanuscriptdraftofc.1560andanexpandedprinted
versionof1570.
2.TheWeapon
AGermanlongswordofc.1400(HigginsArmoryMuseum1996.02.1)
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Thelongsword,alsocalledthebastardswordorhand-and-a-halfsword,waschieflyusedinthe
1300sand1400s,butsurvivedasasportweaponintothe1700s.Survivingexamplestypically
haveabladeabout40"long,andagripofabout10",andweigharound3-5lbs.Specializedsport
versionsweredesignedtoflexlikemodernfencingweapons.
Theforte(Frenchfor“strong”)haspowerfulleverage,andisusedfordefenseandcontrollingthe
opponent’sweapon.Thefoible(“weak”)haslittleleverage,buttravelsmorequicklythananyotherpart
oftheblade,andisusedforattacking.
Thetwo-handgripofthelongswordaddedsomepowertotheweapon’sattack,butmore
importantlyitallowedgreaterbladecontrol,aswellasmakingitpossibletodeliverfull-strength
cutssimplyfromtheactionsofthetwohandsworkinginconcert.
Thelongedgeattackswithmorereachandpower;theshortedgeallowsangledattacksthatcanget
aroundtheopponent’sdefenses.Theyarealsocalledthe“true”edgeand“false”edge.
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3.Grips
Fistgrip
Thefistgripholdstheweaponwiththemainhandnexttothecrossguardclosedasafist.Itisoptimized
forlongandpowerfulcuts.
Thumbgrip
Thethumbgripslipsthethumboverthecrossguardontotheshieldoftheweapon.Itisoptimizedfor
speed,maneuverability,andthrusting.
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4.GuardsandStraightCuts
Guardsserveaspositionsofreadinesswhenoutofrange,andaswaypointsanddecisionpoints
inthecourseofanencounter.Thetablesonthefollowingpagesillustratesomeofthechief
guardsaswaypointsinthestraightcuts.Notethattheillustrationsshowvariantsoftheguards
basedonspecifictacticalsituations,notnecessarilythe“official”forminwhichtheyaretaught.
OxandPlowarethetwochiefpositionsofreadiness;movingbackandforthbetweenthem,and
fromonesidetoanother,iscalledwinding.
Ox(Ochs)
Oxontherightandleftsides.InthedefaultpositionforOxthecrossbarsarehorizontal.TheOxisa
versatileguardthatprotectsthehead,andwhilethreateningathrustoralmostanycut.Itistheendpoint
oftheThwartandSquinterCuts.
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Plow(Pflug)
Plowontheleftandrightsides.Thispositionprotectsthesideofthebody,andcanthreatenathrustor
cutfrombelow.
TheFourStraightCutsandtheirGuards
ScalpCut(Scheitelhaw)
High(orDay,vomTag)
Longpoint(Langort)
Fool(Alber)
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WrathCut(Zornhaw)
WrathGuard(Zornhut)
Longpoint(Langort)
Change(Wechsel)
MiddleCut(Mittelhaw)
MiddleGuardontheleft
(Mittelhut)[Notethatthecutis
shownheregoingfromLtoR]
Longpoint(Langort)
MiddleGuardontheright
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LowCut(Unterhaw)
SideGuard(Nebenhut)
HangingPoint(Hangetort)
Unicorn(Einhorn)
DiagramofthecuttinglinesfromtheMeyermanuscriptof1560.
TheWrathandLowCutspassthroughtheStrokeLines.
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5.TheTargets
Theopponent’stargetareaisdividedinto4quartersalonglinesdownthecenterofthebodyand
acrossthearmpits.(Thehorizontallinethroughtheheadisanadditionalsubdivision,not
importanthere.)
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6.Stepping
PassingStep
Standwithyourleftfootforwardandyour
rightfootback;theleftfootpointsforward,the
rightfootanglesout.Stepforwardwithyour
rightfootsothatitisnowinfront,pivoting
yourleftfootsothatitisnowanglingout.This
isapassforwardontherightfoot.
Fromblacktoredisapassforwardontheright
foot
TriangleStep
Standwithyourleftfootforwardandyour
rightfootback;theleftfootpointsforward,the
rightfootanglesout.Stepforwardandtothe
rightwithyourrightfootsothatitisevenwith
yourleftfoot,andstepbackwithyourleftfoot
sothatyourfeetarenowinmirrorposition
fromwheretheystarted.Thisisatrianglestep
ontherightfoot.
FromblacktoredisatrianglestepontheRfoot;
fromredtoblackisatrianglestepontheLfoot
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GatherStep
Standwithyourrightfootforwardandyour
leftfootback.Gatheryourrearfoottoward
yourforwardfoot,thenstepforwardonthe
forwardfoottocomebackintoyourinitial
stance.Thisisagatherstepontherightfoot.
Fromblacktoredisagatherstepontheright
BackStep
Standwithyourrightfootforwardandyour
leftfootback.Stepwithyourleftfoot
backwardsbehindyourright.Thisisaback-
stepontheleftfoot.
Fromredtoblackisaback-stepontheLfoot
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7.TechniquesfromArmoredCombat
HalfswordGuards
TheLowandHighGuardsatHalfsword.Thesameguardsarealsousedinunarmoredcombat.
Murder-Blow(Mortschlag)
ThefigureontheleftisdeliveringtheMurder-Blow.Thisiseasiesttosetupbystartinginahalfsword
guard.
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8.BasicDrills
8.1ImprovisedKatas
Practicerandomlyrunningthroughallthetechniquesyouknow(guards,cuts,etc.).Usethis
documenttoremindyourselfofyourrepertoireoftechniques.Thisdrillcanbedonesolo,orin
pairsorgroups,withpeopletakingturnsleading.Itisanexcellentwarmupdrill.
Simpleversion:Useonlypassingstepsoronlytrianglesteps
Advancedversion:Mixupthestepping;youcanalsochoosetocutthroughorendthecutsin
Longpoint
8.2TheStraightCutsDrill[Meyer1570]
StartinFoolwithyourrightfootback.
LiftyourswordintoHighGuard,passingthroughHangingPointwithcrossedhands,bladeto
theleft,asyoubringtheswordup.
DeliveraScalpCut,passingforwardonyourrightfoot,endinginFool.
LiftyourswordintoHighGuard,passingthroughHangingPointwithuncrossedhands,bladeto
theright,asyoubringtheswordup.
DeliveraScalpCut,passingforwardonyourleftfoot,endinginFool.
Repeatthisanequalnumberoftimesontherightandleftsides,thendoitsteppingbackwardson
eachcut.
RepeatdeliveringWrath,Middle,andLowCuts.Starteachseriesfromthepositionwherethe
cutends,asyoubegantheScalpCutseriesfromFool.Bothforwardandbackwards,thecutwill
comefromthesidethatstartswiththefootback.
Variants:
1.EndthecutsinLongpoint
2.Dothedrillwithtrianglesteps
3.Deliveradifferentcuteachtime
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4.Randomizetheforwardandbackwardstepping,alsothrowingintrianglesteps
5.Mixupthesevariants
Pairedversion:AttackerendsthecutsinLongpoint,defendercatchesthecutsbywindinginto
OxorPlow—catchScalpandWrathCutswithOx,catchMiddleandLowCutswithPlow.
8.3TheTwoandFourQuartersDrill[Meyer1570]
TwoQuarters—SoloVersion
StartinLongpointwithyourrightfootback(youareoutofrangeoftheopponentatthisstage).
1.Letyourbladedroptoyourleftside,andbringitaroundtodeliverarightWrathCut,passing
forwardonyourrightfoot,andendinginLongpoint.(Thepassingstepbringsyouinto
range.)
2.DeliveraleftLowCut,doingatrianglesteponyourleftfoot,endinginHangingPoint.(The
trianglestepmovesyouaroundtheopponentwhilemaintainingdistance.)
DeliverarightWrathCut,passingbackonyourleftfoot,cuttingallthewaythroughtoChange,
andrecovertoOx.(Thisiscalledcuttingaway,andservestoprotectyouasyoumoveoutof
range.)
Variants:
1.Startthecutsinallfourquartersoftheopponent;eachtime,thesecondcutcomesdiagonally
oppositethefirst.ThebasicversionisRWrath,LLow,soaddRLow,LWrath;LWrath,R
Low;LLow,RWrath.Youwillneedtoalterthefootworkaccordingly.
2.Randomizewhereyoudeliverthefirstcut.
3.Cutallthewaythroughwiththefirsttwocuts.
4.StartfromOxinsteadofLongpoint
TwoQuarters—PairedVersion
Theattackerdoesthesameasinthesoloversion.Thedefendingsequenceisasfollows:
StartinrightPlow.
1.Triangle-stepontherightfoot,windingupintoleftOxtocatchthecut.
2.Triangle-stepontheleftfoot,windingdownintorightPlow.
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Youcancutawaywhentheattackercutsaway.
Similardefensescanbeusedagainstthevariantattacksequences.Eachtime,thedefender
triangle-stepsawayfromthecut,catchingitbywindingintoOxforWrathCuts,PlowforLow
Cuts.
FourQuarters—SoloVersion
Insteadofdoingjust2cuts,theattackerdeliversacuttoall4quartersoftheopponent,as
follows:
StartoutofrangeinLongpointwithyourrightfootback.
1.DeliverarightWrathCut,passingforwardonyourrightfoot.
2.DeliveraleftLowCut,triangle-steppingonyourleftfoot.
3.DeliverarightLowCut,triangle-steppingonyourrightfoot.
4.DeliveraleftWrathCut,triangle-steppingonyourleftfoot.
CutawaywithaWrathCut,passingbackonyourleftfoot,andrecovertoOx.
Variants:
1.Repeatthispatternbeginninginadifferentquarter(followingthenumbersasinthisdiagram).
Inthefirstsequence,theinitialattackisfromtheupperrightquarter(theoutermost“1”above),then
lowerleft(2),lowerright(3),upperleft(4).Thesecondseriesbeginswith1inthelowerright,2inthe
upperleft,andsoon.
2.Cutallthewaythroughwiththecuts.
3.DelivertheattacksasThwartCuts
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FourQuarters—PairedVersion
Theattackerdoesthesameasinthesoloversion.Thedefendingsequenceisasfollows:
StartinrightPlow.
1.Triangle-stepontherightfoot,windingupintoleftOxtocatchthecut.
2.Triangle-stepontheleftfoot,windingdownintorightPlow.
3.Triangle-stepontherightfoot,windingacrossintoleftPlow.
4.Triangle-stepontheleftfoot,windingupintorightOx.
Youcancutawayastheattackercutsaway.
Similarsequencesofdefensescanbeusedagainsteachpatternofattacks.
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9.TheFiveMasterCuts
WrathCut(Zornhaw)
DescribedinSection4.TheWrathCutisthesimplestandmostpowerfulcut,andcanalsobe
usedasadefenseagainstmostcuts.
ScalpCut(Scheitelhaw)
DescribedinSection4.TheScalperisaveryquickandlongcutthatgoesstraightforthehead.It
istheclassicresponsetoanopponentinFool.
ThwartCut(Zwerchhaw)
StartinrightOxandhelicopteryourbladearoundyourheadtoendupinleftOx;repeatinthe
otherdirection.ThisisapairofThwartCuts.TheThwartCutprotectstheheadwhilethreatening
theopponent;itistheclassicresponsetoanopponentinHighGuard.
ThefigureontheRisexecutingaThwartCutagainstaHighCut.
SquintingCut(Schielhaw)
StartinOx;comeupintoHighGuardasforaScalpCut,butasthebladereachesvertical,flipit
aroundtoleadthecutwiththeshortedge.ThefinalpositionofthecutwillbeOxonthe
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oppositeside(dependingonthetacticalsituation,thehandscandropdownintoPlow).The
SquintingCutthreatenstheopponentwhileprotectingonesideofthebody;itistheclassic
responsetoanopponentinPlow.
ThelargefigureontheLisexecutingaSquintingCutagainstaHighCut
CrookedCut(Krumphaw)
StartinCrossedGuard;flipthebladeacrossinfrontofyoupropeller-wisetoCrossedGuardon
theoppositeside,steppingwiththecut.
CrossedGuard;itshouldbedonewiththethumbgrip.
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Thisisthemostdefensivecut,asitclearsthespacebetweenthecombatants,butitdoesnot
defendandattackatthesametime,unlessitisusedagainsttheopponent’sarms.Itistheclassic
responsetoanopponentinOx.
ThefigureontheRisexecutingaCrookedCutagainstaMiddleorLowCut.
9.1TheMasterCutsDrill
DoeachMasterCutforwardandbackasintheStraightCutsdrill(Section8.2).Variants2-5will
alsowork.
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10.SampleEncounter:TheDouble-Thwart[Meyer26r]
AB
StartinFoolStartinrightChange
ComeupintoHighforaScalpCutSweepuptothelefttosetupaThwart
DeliverScalpCut,passingforwardontheR
foot
DeliveraThwartfromtheR,withaRtriangle
step
ToprotectagainsttheThwart,theScalperwill
havetofallonthemiddleofB’sblade.Bnow
hastheinitiative,soAwillactinresponseto
B’sactionsintherestoftheencounter.
Ideally,pulltheThwartbeforecontact.
BlockB’sThwartwithaLtrianglestepDeliveraThwartfromtheLwithalefttriangle
step
WrenchA’sbladetoyourR
BlockB’sThwart,steppingtowardtheLif
possible
DeliveranotherThwartfromtheL
1
.The
steppingforthewrenchandThwartcanbe
eitheragathersteporback-steptowardtheL
CutawayOpenthedistancewithaMiddleCutfromthe
R,passingbackontheLfoot
Cutaway
1
Meyeractuallycallsforashort-edgecutwithcrossedarms.TheLThwarthascrossedarms,butisdonewiththe
longedge.
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11.SelectedSources
Forgeng,JeffreyL.andAlexanderKiermayer.“''TheChivalricArt'':GermanMartialArts
TreatisesoftheMiddleAgesandRenaissance.”InTheCuttingEdge:StudiesinAncientand
MedievalCombat.Ed.E.B.Molloy.Stroud,Glocs.:Tempus,2007.153-67.General
introductiontoGermanmartialartstextsoftheMiddleAges.
Meyer,Joachim.TheArtofCombat:AGermanMartialArtsTreatiseof1570.Transl.JeffreyL.
Forgeng.London:GreenhillBooks,2006.Oneofthemostimportantmartialartstextsinthe
medievalGermantradition;thetranslator’sintroductionsurveysthematerial.
Tobler,ChristianHenry.InSaintGeorge''sName:AnAnthologyofMedievalGermanFighting
Arts.WheatonIL,FreelanceAcademyPress,2010.Atranslationofthe“Starhemberg”
manuscript,oneofthemostimportantmedievalGermansourcesonmartialarts.
Tobler,ChristianHenry.InServiceoftheDuke:The15th-CenturyFightingTreatiseofPaulus
Kal.HighlandCityTX:ChivalryBookshelf,2007.Richlyillustratedmanuscriptoncombat
arts,offeringvisualsthatcorrespondtomuchofthematerialintheStarhembergmanuscript.
TheHigginsArmorySwordGuild[Website]www.higginssword.org.
Heim,HansandAlexanderKiermayer.TheLongswordofJohannesLiechtenauer[DVD].
AgilitasTV/ChivalryBookshelf,2005.TrainingvideoonGermanlongswordtechnique.
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