Sigmund ain Ringeck/Jörg Bellinghausen-David Rawlings LS 2001-2003

This is the beginning of the interpretation

of the Knightly Art of the Langenschwert, written down in rhymes by the grand Fechtmiester of the Medieval German school, Johannes Liechtenauer. He recorded his teachings in secret words, so that the art may not be commonly spread. These secret phrasings were later interpreted and commented on in a book by Sigmund Ringeck, at the time Fechtmiester of Albrecht, Count Palatine of Rhine and Duke of Bavaria.

Note: This is the first tenet of the long sword: learn to strike blows equally well from both sides if you want to learn to fence well.

Note: If you want to strike from the (your) right side, make sure, your left foot is forward (at the beginning); if you want to strike from the left side, the right foot must be forward.

If you strike an Oberhau from the right side then, follow the blow with your right foot.

If you do not the blow is wrong and ineffective, because your right side stays behind. Because of this the blow will fall short and cannot travel in its proper arc towards the left side.

If you strike from the left side and you do not follow the blow, it too is wrong,. That is why no matter from which side you are striking follow the blow with the same foot. So you will succeed in all techniques. This is how you shall strike all blows.

When you are closing to an opponent, do not watch his blows and do not wait for what he might use against you. Because all fencers, who just wait for their opponents blows and do not do anything else than warding them off, do not succeed very often. They are defeated very often.

Note: Always fence using all of your strength! When you're close, strike at his head and at his body, so he may not be able to change through (Durchwechseln) in front of your point. After the blow, from the bind, strike light blows at his next opening, as is described in the section about different blows and other techniques.

Note: This tenet is addressed to left-handers and right-handers. If you are a right-handed fencer and you are closing to an opponent and you think you can hit him, do not strike the first blow from the (your) left side. Because you are weak there and you cannot resist, if he binds strongly against your blade. Because of this, strike from the right side, you can work strongly "Am Schwert" ("on the sword") and you can use all techniques you like.

So, if you are left-handed, do not strike from the right side, since left-handers are usually not used to strike effectively from the right side and vice versa.

Note: Above all other things, you must understand the principles of "before" (Vor) and "after" (Nach), because the entire art of fencing is based upon it. "Before" means, preempting him with a blow or a thrust against an opening before he can hit you, so he must defend/displace (Versetzen). So, be flexible in your defence and aim with your sword at one opening after the other, so he cannot get through with his own techniques. But, if he rushes in, start wrestling.

"After" means:

If you do not succeed with the "before", wait for the "after". These are the defenses against all techniques he uses against you. So, if you have to displace him, make the displacement "simultaneously" (Indes) and from the bind, strike immediately at his nearest opening. So you win the "before" and he remains in the "after". Also, you should – during the "before" and "after" –

notice "simultaneously" (Indes) how you can "work" against the strong or the weak of his sword.

This means: The strong of the sword reaches from the crossguard to the middle of the blade, with it, you can hold opposed, if somebody binds against it. The weak reaches from the middle of the blade to the point. Here you cannot hold opposed. If you firmly understand this, you can "work" and defend yourself very well.

Princes and Lords learn to survive with this art, in earnest and in play. But if you are fearful, then you should not learn to fence. Because a despondent heart will always be defeated, regardless of all skill.

Overview of The Fighting Techniques

Note: these are the names of the main techniques of the art of the long sword, whose names are chosen in such a way that you may understand them better. There are seventeen techniques and they start with the five strikes.

1. The first strike is the strike of wrath (Zornhau)
2. The second one is the "crooked strike" (Krumphau)
3. The third one is the Zwerchhau
4. The fourth one is the squinting strike (Schielhau)
5. And the fifth one is the "parting strike" (Scheitelhau)
6. Sixth there are the four basic guards
7. Seventh there are the four techniques of displacement (Versetzen)
8. Eighth there is the Nachreissen ("Traveling after")
9. Ninth there is the Overrunning (Ueberlaufen)
10. Tenth there is the setting aside (Absetzen)
11. Number eleven is the changing through (Durchwechseln)
12. The twitching (Zucken)
13. The running through (Durchlaufen)
14. The cutting off (Abschneiden)
15. The pressing of the hands
16. The "Hanging"
17. And finally there is the Winding

The Fighting Techniques: The Strike of Wrath and the Winding

Note: When your adversary strikes at you from his right side with a strike from above (Oberhau), then hit with a strike of wrath from your right shoulder against it. Strike with your true edge and in your strong. When he is weak at the sword then, thrust into his face along his blade.

When you thrust against his face from the strike of wrath and he notices this and displaces the thrust with strength, pull your sword upwards, away from his. And then strike to the head from the other side, also along his blade.

When you strike a strike of wrath and he displaces it and remains strong at the sword, hold strongly against it. With the strong of your sword, slide up to the weak (schwech) of his blade, wind the hilt in front of your head while remaining on the sword (am schwert) and thrust into his face from above.

When you thrust from the Winding as described and he displaces the thrust by lifting up his arms and his hilt, stay in the Winding and take the Ort (point or thrust) down between his arms and breast.

Note: When you engage at the sword ("binden") with strength and your adversary pulls his sword upwards and strikes at your head from the other side, then bind strongly with the true edge and strike him on the head.

You must notice immediately, if someone is weak or strong at the sword if he binds at your sword with a strike or a thrust. If you have noticed that, you shall know simultaneously, if it is better to fight him in the "before" (Nach) or the "after" (Vor). But don’t engage rashly in close-combat (Krieg), this is nothing else than Winding (Winden) at the sword.

In close-combat you should do the following: if you strike him with the strike of Wrath and he displaces it, lift up your arms and, at the sword, wind the point to the upper opening. When he displaces (Versetzen) the thrust, stay in the winding and thrust to the lower opening. If he follows your sword in the displacement (Versatzung), lead your point through under his sword (disengage under – "durchführen") and thrust to the other opening on his right side. This is how you can defeat him in close-combat.

These are the four openings you should aim at in combat. The first opening is the right side, the second opening is the left side above the belt. The other openings are the right and left side below the belt. Already pay attention to the openings when you are closing in, aim at the ones he (your adversary) exposes.

Thrust with the "long point" (Langer Ort), use the "traveling after" (Nachreissen) and all other opportunities. Don’t pay attention to what he’s up to, fence securely and you’ll hit so outstandingly, that he’ll not be able to get through with his own techniques.

Mutieren and Duplieren against the four openings:

If you want to break one of the four openings by force, then "Dupliere" at the upper opening, against the Starke (strong) of his sword, and then "Mutiere" to another opening. Against this, he cannot defend himself and he will not be able to either strike or thrust.

Duplieren:

When you strike a strike of wrath (Zornhau) or any other Oberhau and he displaces it with strength, with the left hand, immediately thrust the pommel of your sword under your right arm. With crossed hands, behind his blade and in between the blade and his body, strike him diagonally through the face. Or strike him on the head.

Mutieren:

If you bind against his sword, with an Oberhau or otherwise, wind the short edge at his sword, raise your arms and thrust at the lower opening from the outside along his blade. You can use that from both sides.

The "Krumphau": This is how you should strike the Krumphau at the hands. When he attacks you from his right side with an Oberhau or Unterhau, jump out of the strike with your right foot towards his left side and with crossed hands strike against his hands using the point.

This is how you can Absetzen ("set aside") the cuts from above with the Krumphau: If he attacks you from his right side with an Oberhau, step towards his left side with your right foot and put your point in the Schrankhut. Practice this from both sides. From the setting aside you can strike him on the head.

If you want to weaken a master, then while he strikes an Oberhau from his right side strike a Krumphau with crossed hands against his sword.

When you strike him with the Krumphau against his sword, from the sword immediately strike upwards against his head with the short edge. Or after the Krumphau wind the short edge at his sword and thrust him into the breast.

When he strikes an Oberhau from his right shoulder, pretend as if you are going to bind against his sword with a Krumphau. But let your strike fall short, lead your point trough under his sword and wind your hilt over your head and to your right side. Then thrust him in the face.

This is how you can break the Krumphau: If you attack him from your right side with an Oberhau and he displaces this with a Krumphau with crossed hands from his right side, then strongly hold your sword against his. And "shoot" (thrust) the point at his breast with your arms extended.

Another defense against the Krumphau: If you attack him from your right side with an Oberhau and he displaces (Versatzung) this with a Krumphau with crossed hands from his right side and if he pushes your sword to the ground, then wind towards your right side, raise your arms over your head and thrust at his breast from above. If he displaces that, stand as you are, with the hilt in front of your head and nimbly work with the point from one opening to the other. This is called the "noble war" and with this you’ll confuse him so much, that he will not know how to defend himself against your attacks.

The Zwerchhau

The Zwerchhau counters all downward strikes made from above. Do it like this: If he strikes an Oberhau at your head, "jump" (make a large, explosive step) to his left side with your right foot, while you jump, turn your sword, so that your hilt is high in front of your head and your thumb is down (on the flat of the blade) and strike at his left side with your short edge. So you catch his strike with your hilt and hit him simultaneously on the head.

This is how you can work with the stark (strong) from the Zwerch: If you strike with the Zwerch, pay attention to strike strongly with the strong of your sword against his blade. If he strongly holds against it, strike him - at the sword - on the head behind his blade with your hands crossed. Or cut him trough the face.

When you bind at his sword with the strong of your sword with the Zwerch and he strongly holds against it, push down his sword to your right side with your hilt. And immediately strike again with the Zwerch to the right side of his head.

If you bind against his sword with the Zwerch and he is "soft" at the sword, place the short edge at the right side of his neck, jump behind his left foot with your right foot and tear him over with the sword.

If you bind against his sword with the Zwerch and he is "soft" at the sword, push his sword down with the Zwerch and lay the short edge at his throat.

A defense against the upper Zwerch:

When you bind at his sword with an Oberhau or another strike from your right side and he strikes with the Zwerch at your other (left) side, forestall this with a Zwerch to his neck under his sword.

This is how you can strike to the four openings with the Zwerch: When you close in with your adversary with the "Zufechten", at the right moment, jump towards him and strike with the Zwerch to the lower opening of his left side. This is called "striking towards the plow" ("zum Pflug schlagen").

When you have attacked the lower opening with the Zwerch, immediately strike another Zwerch to the other side, at his head. This is called "striking towards the ox" ("zum Ochsen schlagen"). And then strike swiftly alternating the Zwerch towards the plow and the ox, crosswise from one side to the other. Then you can disengage from him with an Oberhau to the head.

When you strike the Zwerch, you shall always jump to his flank, namely towards the side on which you want to hit him. So you can hit his head. And pay attention that you cover the front of your head with the hilt while jumping.

The "Fault" (Feint):

All fencers who rely on displacing are deceived and defeated with the fault. When you close with him, feint any Oberhau to his left side. From there (when he wants to displace it) you can easily hit another opening.

The "Verkehrer":

If you bind at your adversaries sword with an Oberhau or an Unterhau, turn your sword so that your thumb is down and thrust to his face from above. So you force him to displace the thrust. While he displaces, grab his right elbow with your left hand, place your left leg in front of his right leg and toss him over.

The Double Feint:

Here, you must deceive him twice while closing in. When you come close to him with the Zuefechten, jump towards him with the left foot and feint a Zwerch to the left side of the head. But then turn the blow over and strike to the right side of his head.

If you have attacked him on the right side of the head as described, strike immediately at the same spot. Then go over his sword with the short edge and your hands not crossed, jump to your left side and cut through his face with the long edge.

The "Squinter":

The Squinter is a strike which primarily "breaks" the strikes and thrusts of those fencers, who rely only on their strength. Do it like this: If he attacks you from his right side, strike from your right side with the short edge and extended arms against the weak of his sword and hit him on the right shoulder. If he changes through, thrust him into his breast with your arms extended. You should strike like this, too, if he faces you in the guard of the plough or if wants to thrust you from below.

Note: You should always deceive him with your line of vision. Pay attention, if he fights short (feints). You will know this when he does not extend his arms when striking. You should strike then, too, move your point trough under his sword and thrust him into the face.

Note: The Squinter breaks the "long point" and this is done as follows:

When he faces you and points his point against your breast or face with extended arms, place your left foot forward and look at his point. Feint a strike against his point, strike strongly against his sword with the short edge and "shoot" (thrust) , with a forward step with the right foot, your point against his throat, with your arms extended.

When he strikes an Oberhau, look at his head, as if you intend to strike him there. But then strike against his blow with the short edge and then strike at the hands with your point, along his blade.

The "Parting Strike"

Note: the parting strike is aimed at the face or breast. Do it like this: If he is in the guard Alber, strike vertically downward with the long edge. And while striking, keep your arms up high and move your point to his face.

A technique from the parter.

If you move the point at his face from above with the parting strike and he displaces the point with the (his) hilt up, turn your sword, lift the (your) hilt high above your head and thrust him down into the breast.

How the Crown counters the parter.

When you strike a parting strike and he displaces with the hilt high above his head, then this displacement is called "the crown". From there you can rush in.

How the slice counters the Crown.

If he breaks the parting strike or any other Oberhau with the crown and tries to rush in, cut him in the Arm under his hands and push upward, so that the crown is broken. Then turn your sword from the low cut into a high one and free yourself in this way.

The Four Guards

There are only four basic positions which are useful in combat, this are Ochs, Alber, Pflug, and vom Tag.

The first guard. The Ox. Hold it like this: stand with the left foot forwards, and hold your sword beside and slightly in front of the right side of your head, and let the point hang towards his face.

The second guard. The Plough. Hold it like this: stand with the left foot forward, and hold your sword with crossed hands beside and slightly above your right knee, in such a way that the point is towards his face.

The third guard. The Fool. Hold it like this: stand with your right foot forwards, and hold your sword with outstretched arms in front of you with the point towards the ground.

The fourth guard. From the Roof. Hold it like this: stand with the left foot forwards, and hold your sword at your right shoulder. Or hold it with outstretched arms above your head. And how you shall fence from these guards, you will find described in this book.

These are the four displacements, which obstruct or break the four guards.

70	The displacements are four,  that also greatly trouble the four guards.
71	Beware, for to defend,  it becomes very difficult for you.

Glosa. You have earlier heard that you shall only fight from the four guards. So you shall now also know the four displacements. These are four strikes.

The first strike is the crooked strike. This breaks the Ox guard.

The second strike is the crosswise strike. This breaks the Roof guard.

The third strike is the squinting strike. This breaks the Plough guard.

The fourth strike is the parting strike. This breaks the Fool's guard.

And beware of all displacements, when they are used by poor fencers. When he cuts, strike also, and when he thrusts, you thrust too. And how you shall strike and thrust, that you will find described for the five cuts and in this section.

A technique against the displacements.

72	If you are displaced  and if it comes to this,
73	hear what I advise:  go up, strike quickly and swiftly.

Glosa. If it has happened that you have been displaced, mark this well: if one of your Oberhau attacks becomes displaced, so go into the displacement with the pommel over his forward hand and tear downwards with that; and cut in the tearing in with the sword from above against the head.

A technique against the displacements.

When you strike an Underhau from the right side, if he drops with his sword on top of yours do that you cannot come up with it, so go swiftly with the pommel over his sword and cut with powerful movement with the long edge against the head. Or if he drops onto your sword towards your left side, so cut him with the short edge.

A technique against the displacements.

74	Attack four ends,  therefore stop him, if you want to learn to finish.

Glosa. When you strike in against him from above from your right shoulder and want to end him quickly, mark this: when he displaces, immediately strike round with the Zwerchau. And grip your sword with your left hand in the middle of the blade, and thrust with the point into his face. Or attack him against the four openings, whichever you can come at best.

A technique against the displacements.

When you set the point to his face with the halfswording and he displaces this, so strike him with the pommel to the other side of his head. Or spring with the right foot behind his left, and go with the pommel over his right shoulder in front and round the neck and therefore pull him over your right leg.

About following-after.

75	Learn to follow after  twofold, or cut in the defence.

Glosa. You shall learn well to follow after, and they are two in number. The first you do like this, when he tries to cut you from above. Wait until he draws the sword back and up for the strike, and follow after him with a cut or with a thrust and aim for the upper openings, before he can do his strike. Or fall with the long edge from above onto his arm and press him away from you with this.

Another following-after.

When he cuts against you from above and he continues downwards towards the ground with his sword, follow after him with an Oberhau to the head, before he comes up with the sword. Or if he wants to thrust at you, pay attention for when he positions his sword against you for the thrust, and follow after him and thrust in, before can perform his thrust.

Or if he will thrust you, note the moment he yanks the sword to him for the thrust, so race-after him and thrust him before he completes his thrust.

About the outer takings.

76	Two outer takings.  Thereafter you shall start your work.
77	And test the movements,  if they are weak or strong.

Glosa. The two outer takings are two followings-after with the sword. When he cuts in front of you, travel after him. If he defends himself against this, and you are left with your sword against his, feel to see if he is weak or strong in the bind. If he then strongly lifts your sword up and away with it, reach your sword to the outside over his and thrust in against the lower openings.

The other outer taking.

When you fence against him with Underhau or with other techniques that come against him from below, if he overpowers you and winds from above against your sword before you can come up with, you are left with your sword under his and so hold strongly against it. If he winds and threatens your upper opening, so follow after with the sword and catch the weak of his sword with the long edge and push downwards, and thrust into his face.

About the Feeling and about the word "Instantly".

78	Learn to Feel.  "Instantly" is a word which cuts sharply.

Glosa. You will learn this carefully, and understand, Feeling and the word "Instantly", because these two things go together and are the highest arts in the fencing.

When one binds the other with the sword, so you will, in the same moment that the swords strike together, already feel if he has bound soft or hard. And as soon as you have felt this, think of the word "Instantly": that is to say, that you in the same instant that you feel this, quickly work against the soft and against the hard with the sword towards the nearest opening. Thus he will be cut down before he understands what is happening.

In all bindings with the sword you shall think of the word "Instantly", because

"Instantly" doubles
and "Instantly" mutates,
"Instantly" runs through
and
"Instantly" takes the cut,
"Instantly" wrestles,
"Instantly" takes the sword from him,
"Instantly" does in the art all that your heart desires.

"Instantly" is a sharp word, which cuts all those fencers who do not know something about the word. And the word "Instantly" is also the key, whereby all fencing art is unlocked.

Following after.

79	Follow after twofold,  meet him as he does the old slice.

Glosa. When he cuts against you and his point passes you, so follow after him with a strike against the upper openings. If he goes up and winds against you from below with the sword, pay attention to the sword blades against each other, and fall with the long edge from the bind over his arm, and push him away from you. Or slice him from the bind in over the face. Do this to both sides.