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Liechtenauer tradition intermediate 11 states

In the bind: hard, soft, or gone?

In the bind: hard, soft, or gone?: Strong on strongYou on the left, Opponent on the right, at zufechten distance. Both cut from Vom Tag. Your weight is neutral; the opponent's weight is neutral.ZufechtenYouOpponent
Both cut from Vom Tag.
1/2

Seen from behind your right shoulder: left and right, off-line steps and blade lines are visible. Drag the scene to orbit.

  • You
  • Opponent
  • Attack line
  • Exposed opening
  • Blade contact
  • Blow landed
  • Weight: you neutral · opponent neutral

Schematic diagram: it shows position, guard, blade angle, hip and shoulder rotation and the line of attack, not exact body mechanics.

Your path

0 decisions
  1. Strong on strong now
Scenario map 1/11 states explored · 10 transitions · 7 complete paths
  • Strong on strong
  • The bind goes light
  • They push
  • They yield
  • Doubled you hit
  • Drawn by the feint disadvantage
  • Followed after you hit
  • Onto their point you're hit
  • Sliced and controlled advantage
  • Thrust home you hit
  • Wound in you hit
Step 1 Tempo:

Strong on strong

Two have met in the middle. Both blades are bound near the , both points are roughly at face height, and neither of you has the clear advantage that a would have given.

Stop and feel. What is their blade doing?

Opponent's intent: Unknown until you feel it.

What do you notice?

0/3 revealed

Look at the diagram first. Decide what you see for each cue, then reveal the note.

  • Which parts of the blades are in contact, and who has the leverage?
  • Where are the two points?
  • What should happen before you choose a technique?

What does the opponent do?

An exchange is not a script. Pick a reaction to see where it leads, then come back and try the others.

Timing chips: , , .

Terminology in this state

Your path

0 decisions
  1. Strong on strong now
Scenario map 1/11 states explored · 10 transitions · 7 complete paths
  • Strong on strong
  • The bind goes light
  • They push
  • They yield
  • Doubled you hit
  • Drawn by the feint disadvantage
  • Followed after you hit
  • Onto their point you're hit
  • Sliced and controlled advantage
  • Thrust home you hit
  • Wound in you hit

About this scenario

This short exchange starts where many others get complicated: in the . Both swords have met at the after a pair of descending cuts and nothing is decided.

The sources insist that the bind is a place to feel, not to shove. Each branch here begins with what the opponent does in the bind, and the choices that follow are the standard answers from the .

Learning goals

  • Distinguish a hard, soft and departing bind by feel.
  • Match each to its standard answer: wind, thrust, follow after.
  • See why changing through against a point-forward opponent fails.
Terms

Click a term to see its definition without leaving the page.

Sources and interpretation