Cuts, guards, windings and tactics
Each technique links to the terms it uses, what it counters, what counters it, and the scenarios where you can try it.
33 techniques
Abnehmen · Taking off
Leaving a hard bind by lifting the blade off and cutting around to the other side of the head.
In 2 scenarios
Abschneiden · Slicing off
Pressing the edge onto the opponent's forearms and slicing to stop a cut or push them out of a bind.
In 3 scenarios
Absetzen · Setting aside
Displacing a cut or thrust with a thrust of your own from Ochs or Pflug, so the parry and the counter are one motion.
In 4 scenarios
Alber · Fool
The low guard, point toward the ground, inviting an attack from above.
In 2 scenarios
Ansetzen · Planting the point
Putting the point onto an opening from Ochs or Pflug as the opponent draws back to strike.
In 2 scenarios
Duplieren · Doubling
From a hard bind, turning the blade behind the opponent's to cut their head on the same side.
In 2 scenarios
Durchwechseln · Changing through
Dropping the point under the opponent's blade as they reach for it, to thrust on the other side.
In 6 scenarios
Fehler · Feint (the failer)
A cut shown to one opening and completed at another, to draw the opponent's parry out of the way.
In 1 scenario
Hengen · Hanging
Holding the hilt high or low with the point toward the opponent, so the blade hangs over or under theirs and covers while it threatens.
In 1 scenario
Kron · Crown
Catching a descending cut on the crossguard with the hands high, so the point and hilt stand above the head.
In 1 scenario
Krumphau · Crooked cut
A cut with crossed hands that falls diagonally across onto the opponent's hands or blade, stepping well out to the side.
In 4 scenarios
Langort · Long point
Arms extended with the point straight at the opponent, the position every cut and thrust passes through.
In 3 scenarios
Mittelhau · Middle cut
A horizontal cut at the middle of the body or the arms, delivered with a step.
In 1 scenario
Mutieren · Mutating
From a bind, winding the hilt up and passing the point over the opponent's blade to thrust to the lower opening.
In 1 scenario
Nachreisen · Following after
Attacking into the opening the opponent exposes as they move, especially as they pull back to cut or leave a bind.
In 7 scenarios
Nebenhut · Side guard
A low guard beside the hip with the point behind, from which rising and crooked cuts are thrown.
In 1 scenario
Oberhau · Descending cut
A straight or diagonal cut from above at the head or shoulders, usually thrown from Vom Tag with a passing step.
In 7 scenarios
Ochs · Ox
The upper hanging: hilt beside the head, point at the opponent's face.
In 2 scenarios
Passschritt · Passing step
Stepping the rear foot past the front foot, usually off the line, so that the cut arrives with the step.
In 1 scenario
Pflug · Plough
The lower hanging: hilt by the hip, point rising at the opponent.
In 2 scenarios
Scheitelhau · Parting cut
A long vertical cut to the top of the head with the arms fully extended, reaching over a low guard.
In 2 scenarios
Schielhau · Squinting cut
A descending short-edge cut with the hands high, which displaces a strong cut or Pflug while the point goes at the face.
In 2 scenarios
Schrankhut · Barrier guard
A low guard with the point toward the ground in front, crossed over the lead leg, from which crooked cuts and thrusts rise.
In 2 scenarios
Überlaufen · Overrunning
Answering a low attack with a long cut or thrust from above, which reaches first and leaves the attacker uncovered.
In 4 scenarios
Unterhau · Rising cut
A cut from below, rising at the hands or lower openings, often finishing in Ochs.
In 3 scenarios
Versetzen · Displacing
Any action that moves an attack off its line; the sources prefer displacements that threaten at the same time.
In 6 scenarios
Vom Tag · From the roof
The high guard, sword above the head or at the right shoulder, ready to cut down.
In 1 scenario
Winden · Winding
Turning the sword in the bind, keeping contact, to bring the point to a new opening, typically into Ochs or Pflug.
In 5 scenarios
Zornhau-Ort · Thrust from the wrath cut
After a Zornhau binds the opponent's cut, thrusting straight along their blade into the face when they are soft in the bind.
In 4 scenarios
Zornhau · Wrath cut
A strong diagonal cut from the right shoulder, thrown into the opponent's Oberhau so that the blades bind and your point threatens their face.
In 4 scenarios
Zornhut · Wrath guard
Meyer's high guard with the sword resting back over the right shoulder, used to launch powerful cuts.
In 1 scenario
Zucken · Pulling
Snatching the blade out of a bind to strike another opening before the opponent can react.
In 1 scenario
Zwerchhau · Thwart cut
A horizontal cut at head height with the hilt held high, which covers against a descending cut while striking.
In 6 scenarios