A descending cut with the short edge, delivered with the hands high and the blade turned, used to break Pflug and to counter strong cuts.
The Schielhau takes its name from the squint: the cut lands with the short edge while you look over your sword's hilt. It is the that breaks and the glosses also recommend it against the "buffalo", the fencer who relies on raw strength, because the short edge can displace a strong cut while the point goes at the face or chest.
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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 Schielhau.