A vertical descending cut aimed at the top of the head with the arms extended, so that it reaches over a low guard.
The Scheitelhau ("scalp" or "parting" cut) is the that breaks . Because the arms stretch high and long, the point threatens the face and crown from above, where a low guard offers no cover. The gloss describes the natural reply, a high displacement with the crossguard (the "crown"), and what to do about it.
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Sources and interpretation
- Johannes Liechtenauer (Wiktenauer article, with the Zettel and its glosses) Article text CC BY-SA 4.0; hosted translations generally CC BY-NC-SA 4.0; the historical text is public domain Zettel, verses on the Scheitelhau.