Pseudo-Hans Döbringer/Michael Chidester Su 2022

HEre we explore and elaborate the pieces and rules of the unarmored fencing of Master Liechtenauer, using shorter and simpler speech for more and better learning and comprehension. If the rhymes and explanations written earlier were unclear or hard to understand, here it will be recapped with short and simple advice.

First of all, notice and remember that Liechtenauer's fencing relies on five words: 'Before', 'After', 'Strong', 'Weak', and 'Within'. These are the basis, core, and foundation of all fencing. No matter how much you fence, if you lack this foundation, you will often be put to shame despite your art. These words were often explained earlier, as they only signify this: to always be in motion and not to rest or idle, so that your opponent cannot come to blows.

'Before' and 'After' signify the Leading Strike and the Following Strike (as it was often written earlier), and this concerns what's called principium et finis (beginning and end). If you're a good, serious fencer, you fence with someone because you want to defeat them with your art and not be defeated yourself, and you cannot do this without the beginning and the end. Thus, if you want to begin well then you should be the one who takes and wins the Leading Strike well, not the one who doesn't, since if you strike at someone, you're more secure and better protected from cuts than they are (since they must watch out for and receive your strike).

When you take and win the Leading Strike, no matter if it lands or misses, then immediately and without pause, in a single advance, deliver a Following Strike (that is, a second strike, a third, a fourth, or a fifth), cutting or thrusting, so that you're always in motion and do one after another without pause, so that you never let them come to blows.

This is what Liechtenauer means by "I say to you honestly, no one covers themselves without danger." (without damage) "If you have understood this, they cannot come to blows." Do what was often written earlier and stay in motion.

The word 'Within' is related to the words 'Before' and 'After', since when one of you delivers the Leading Strike and the other defends against it, then during and Within the covering and defense, you can come to the Following Strike well.

The word 'Within' is also related to the words 'Strong' and 'Weak' (meaning feeling), since when you're on the sword with someone and you feel whether they're Strong or Weak, only then can you do according to the oft-written teaching.

Above all things, the foundation should have the principles of audacity, speed, prudence, intelligence, wisdom, etc., and also moderation in all things. If you win the Leading Strike, don't do it so recklessly that they can deliver a good Following Strike. Don't step too widely either, so that you can recover yourself well and take another step backward or forward if necessary.

As Liechtenauer says, "Thus you will see, all things have measure and moderation". Do not be hasty, consider well in advance what you want to do, and then do it boldly and swiftly toward your opponent's head or body, and never toward their sword.

When you cut with certainty toward their head or body (that is, toward the four exposures), then they often come onto your sword without wanting to: when they cover themselves, they cover themselves with their sword, and thus they come onto your sword.

This is what Liechtenauer means when he says,

ⅺ	Do not cut toward their sword,  But rather seek their exposures.
ⅹⅵ	Toward their head, toward their body,  If you wish to remain unharmed.
ⅹⅶ	Whether you hit or you miss,  Always target their exposures.
ⅹⅷ	In every lesson that you learn,  Your point toward the exposure turns.
ⅹⅸ	Whoever swings around widely,  He will often be shamed severely.
ⅹⅹ	Toward the nearest exposure,  Cut and thrust with suddenness.
ⅼⅹ	And don't hold back,  So they can't come before you do.
ⅼⅺ	Thus you can stand your ground  Against a good person.