Zulaufenden ringen

Zulaufenden ringen
Wrestling on the run
Author(s)	Unknown
Date	15th century
Genre	Wrestling manual
Language	Early New High German
State of Existence	Original hypothetical, two copies exist
Manuscript(s)	MS Dresd.C.487 (1504-19) Wassmannsdorff's Fechtbuch (1539)
Concordance by	Michael Chidester
Translations	Finnish translation

Zulaufenden ringen ("Wrestling on the run") is an anonymous 15th century German wrestling manual. The first known version appears in the MS Dresd.C.487, dated to 1504-1519. It was also included in a now-lost manuscript from 1539 which was documented by Karl Wassmannsdorff in 1870. In both cases, these pieces are preceded by a fragment of the second half of the treatise of Ott Jud, though there is no other evidence connecting them to Ott. A third copy from ca. 1470 has not yet been analyzed to see how it compares to the other two.

Treatise

Though the Dresden is older, the order of plays below follows Wassmannsdorff as the more extensive version.

Grappling

Complete Translation by Jay Acutt	Dresden Version (1504-19)  Transcribed by Dierk Hagedorn	Wassmannsdorff Version (1539)  Transcribed by Karl Wassmannsdorff and Jay Acutt	Debrecen Version (1469-74)
Hereafter is described the techniques generally used for charging into wrestle, or in the second, accordingly follows the Zettel.	[84r] Hie hebent sich an die zu°lauffenden ringen	[98a] Die hernach geschriben stuckh ist man gewohnlich prauchen In lauffenden ringen odr In den anderen darumb volgt In dr zetl
The 16 Wrestles; this is the 1st charge. To the charging-in wrestling, is that each one is the first, you should not only use charging-in, rather you are trying and hunting the body-wrestling, and this take thus: When you are charging toward him, then fix your right arm over his left and throw him overhead, as selectively the Zettel says a thing twice in these techniques.	Daß erst zu°lauffend ringen Item So fass dinen rechten arm vnd sÿn lincken vñ lauß den lincken farn Vñ schlach dine~ rechten arm vmb sine~ lincken vñ wirff in über den kopff etc~	Das .16. Ringen Dz Ist dz erst der lauffenden [98b] Zw den lauffenden ringen ist dz Jenig dz erst dz dw nit allein zw lauffen brauchen sollest sonder auch wan dw dich mit einē In dem leibringen pist versuchen vnd ieben, vnd dz vernim also. Wen dn zw Im lauffen bist so faß dein rechte arm vber sein linckhen vnd wirff In vber Haupt. Wie wellen die zetll ein ding zwir sagt In diesem stuckh.
It is a great mistake to make a great effort, when a small effort would suffice.		Quia peccatum est fieri per plura, quae poßunt fieri per pauciora
According to my understanding, nevertheless, you are comparing yourself against yourself, with moderation (at the expense of strangers and their names) whatever the text of this Zettel can allege or allow.		nach meinē verstand doch setz dw bei dir ermessen, mit glimphen (an verserung des außlegers vnd seines namen) wz der text diesen zetll vermeinen oder vermag.
The 17th or 2nd Hit your left arm away from his arm, and take him by the left leg, and press into him on the right side, then his wrestles are disallowed.	Daß dritt anlauffent Ringen Item schlag im den lincken arm vmb sin halß vñ nÿm In bÿ dem lincken bain vff vnd ruck in vff die recht sÿtten ~	Das .17. oder ander Schlag Im dein linckhen arm von seinē arm vnd nim In bei dem linckhen bain aus vnd druckh In auf die rechte seidten so wirdt er dz ringens nit peiten.
The 18th or 3rd The third wrestling in charging, take thus: When he has seized you under both arms, then hit his right, over his left, and position then this hand upon his chest and swing yourself away from him.	Daß ander anlauffend ringen Item wann er dich hatt gefasst vnde~ baid arm So schlach im din rechten arm vnder sin lincken vñ secz im die hand an sin sin [84v] brust vnd dann schweng in von dir ~ ~ ~ ~	Das 18. oder dritt. [99a] Das drit ringen in dem lauffenden vernim also, Wan er dich hat gefast vnther baid arm so schlag Im den rechten vber den [sein] linckhen vnd sez In dan dise Hand an sein prust vnd schwing dich von Ime.
The 19th or 4th The fourth wresting in charging, take thus: Take his right hand with your left hand, and pass-through under his arm, and take him with your right hand by his right leg and throw him over yourself.	Das vierd anlauffent Ringen Item nÿm sin rechte hand mitt diner lincken vñ durch lauff im sin arm vñ m nÿm In mitt der rechten hand bÿ sinem rechten bain vñ wirff in überdich	Das .19 oder vierdt Das vierdt ringen Im zwlauf vernim also, Nim sein rechte Hand mit deiner linckhen Hand vnd durchlauff Im sein arme vnd nim In mit deiner rechten Hand bei seinē rechten bain vnd wirff In vber dich.
The 20th or 5th The fifth wrestling with charging, take thus: Take him by his right with both your hands, and run into his arm and throw him over yourself.	Daß fünfft anlauffent Ringen It~ nÿm In bÿ siner rechte~ hand mitt dine~ baiden henden vnd durchlauff im sin arm vnnd wirff in überdich ~~~	Das .20. odr .5 Das fünfft ringen mit lauf vernim also. Nim In bei seiner rechten mit deinē beiden henden vnd lauff Ime sein arm vnd wirff In vber dich.
The 21st or 6th The sixth wrestle should you thus be taking when you charge toward him, then crouch yourself and take him by one leg and pull him forcefully upwards, and hit him with the other foot with your leg, so he falls.	[85r] Das ·vj· anlauffent Ringen Item wann du z im lauffst so ruck dich / vñ nÿm in bÿ aine~ bain vñ zuck im dz redlich vff vñ schlag im mitt dine~ dencken so fölt er ~ ~~	Das .21. oder 6. Dz sechst ringen soltu also vernemen wē dw zw Ime lauffest so duckh dich vnd nim In bei einē bain vnd zuich den [99b] redlich auf vnd schlag Im den anderen fuß mit deinen bain so felt er.
The 22nd or 7th Should he firmly seize you by the shoulder, then hit his hand out from underneath, and press his arm in the half and drop him upon the wrestling with whichever technique you like.	Das ·viij· zlauffent Ringen It~ v wann er dich herte~clich fast bÿ den achslen So schlach im din hand vnden vff Vnd truck im die arm en zwaÿ Vñ fach mer an zu° ringen mitt wölchem stuck du wilt ~~	Das .22. oder .7 Wen er dich hertigkhlich fast bei dr achsel so schlag Im seine hend vnden auß vnd druckh Im die arm entzwey vnd vall In den an zw Ringen mit welhem stuckh du wilt
The 23rd or 8th When you are running at him, then take him by both arms and with the head in at the chest, you push him so that he falls onto his back.	Das ·vij· anlauffent Ringen Wann du zu° im lauffest So begrÿff im sine baid arm vñ stoß in mitt dem haüpt an die bru~st So fölt er an den rucken ~	Das 23. oder 8 Wen du zw Im bist lauffen so nim Im beid arm vnd an die brust sey Ine, mit dem Haupt sthosß so velt er an ruckhen
The 24th or 9th technique The ninth wrestle running in, take thusly: if someone seizes with both hands up from underneath, and places his elbows upon both his arms, and push him with the head into his chest and grip both his legs.	[85v] Daß ·viiij· zu°lauffent Ringe~ Ist daß du imIn mitt baiden hende~ fassest von vnden vff vñ secz die baid elnbogen in sin baid arm Vnd stoß In mitt dine~ hau~pt an die brust vñ begrÿff in mitt baiden bainen ~~ :· ~~	Das .24 oder .9. stuckh Dz neindt ringen zw lauf vernim also, faß einen mit beiden henden von vnden auf vnd sez Im die elpogen an sein baid arm vnd stoß In mit dem Haupt In die brust vnd begreiff In mit beiden bainen
Das 25th or 10th The tenth wrestle running in, this take thus: the charge makes contact, if you are the one charging, then take his right hand with both arms and run past him and break him in two.	Das ·xj· zu°lauffent ringe~ Item brieffe am lauffen wa du zu° im komst lauffest So nÿm sinen rechten arm mitt dinbaid~ henden vñ durchlauft im den vnd brich im den enzwaÿ etc	Das 25. oder .10. [100a] Dz x ringen zw lanff dz vernim also prirt dz einlauff, wan du einē einlaufesst so nim sein rechten hand mit paiden arm vnd durch lauf Im die vnd briech die entzwei
The 26th or 11th The eleventh is that you take him with both hands and throw him on the back.	Das ·x· zu°lauffent Ringen It~ daß du in bÿ d baide~ henden nÿmst nÿmpst vñ wirffin vff den rucken ~ ~~	Das .26. oder .11. Dz. xi. das du In bei beiden henden nimbst vnd wirfest In auf den ruckhen
The 27th or 12th The 12th is for when you charge in and have grabbed upon the chest and he does so to you also. Then hit his arm away and push him with your left hand underneath his left arm. Seize him by the leg with the right hand and throw him.	[86r] Das ·xij· zu°lauffent Ringen Item wen du in anlauffest Vñ an die bris brust gefa?? gefasst vnd er dich och also / so schlag im den arm ab vñ stos in mitt dine~ lincken hand hinde~ sinen lincken arm Begrÿff in bÿ aine~ bain mitt der rechten hand vñ v~berwürff in etc	Das 27. oder 12 Dz xii Wen dw einlauffest vnd an die brust gefast hadt vnd er dich auch also so schlag Im den arm ab, vnd stoß In mit deiner linckhen handt vndther seine
The 28th or 13th The 13th wrestle to charge, taken thus: when he seizes you by the arm, and you him as well, then allow your right arm to move and seize him by his left arm or hand, and pull him over round the neck and seize him with your left arm between his legs, and lift as you wish.	Daß ·xiij· zu°lauffent Ringen Item wañ er dich fast fasst bÿ dem arm vnd du in och also / so laß den rechten arm gen / vñ begrÿff in bÿ sine~ lincken arm I zwischen siner bain vñ heb in vff die achsel vñ wirff in wie du wilt ~ ~ ~	Das 28 oder 13 Dz XIII ringen zw lauff vernim also wen er dich fasst bei denn arme vnd dw In auch also laß dein rechtē arm gen vnd begreif In be [!] seine linckhen arm odr Hand vnd zuckh In öber den hals vnd greiff In mit deinē linckhen arm zwischen sein bain vnd hebe wie du wilt
The 29th and 14th A piece or break is in these techniques again in the next illustrated wrestle, to perform thus: If he grips you under the arm, then push yourself away from the arm, and drop thereafter into wrestling.	[86v] Ain bruch in dem Ringen Item ain bruch wann er dich vnde~ die achsel begrÿfft So stoß von dir den arm mitt der rechten hand vñ fall in dan mer an zu° zu° ringen ~ ~ ~	[100b] Das 29 vnd 14. Ain stuckh odr pruch ist in disem stuckh widr dz nechst vorgemelt ringen, den treib also, wan er dich vnder dem arm begreifft, so stoß vō dir den arm, vnd fal In darnach an zẘ ringen

Copyright and License Summary

For further information, including transcription and translation notes, see the discussion page.

Work	Author(s)	Source	License
Translation	Jay Acutt	Academia.edu
Dresden Transcription	Dierk Hagedorn	Index:Johan Liechtnawers Fechtbuch geschriebenn (MS Dresd.C.487)
Wassmannsdorff Transcription	Karl Wassmannsdorff and Jay Acutt	Index:Wassmannsdorff's Fechtbuch

Additional Resources

The following is a list of publications containing scans, transcriptions, and translations relevant to this article, as well as published peer-reviewed research.

• Ain ringeck, Sigmund (2006). Sigmund Ringeck's Knightly Arts of Combat. Trans. by David Lindholm. Boulder, CO: Paladin Press. ISBN 978-1-58160-499-3.
• Tobler, Christian Henry (2001). Secrets of German Medieval Swordsmanship. Union City, CA: Chivalry Bookshelf. ISBN 978-1-891448-07-2.
• Wassmannsdorff, Karl (1870). Die Ringkunst des deutschen Mittelalters. Liepzig: Priber.
• Welle, Rainer (1993). '…und wisse das alle höbischeit kompt von deme ringen'. Der Ringkampf als adelige Kunst im 15. und 16. Jahrhundert. Pfaffenweiler: Centaurus-Verlagsgesellschaft. ISBN 3-89085-755-8.
• Wierschin, Martin (1965). Meister Johann Liechtenauers Kunst des Fechtens. München: C. H. Beck.