Absetzen

15th Century

Absetzen (setting aside) is a simultaneous parry with a thrust in what in modern fencing terms might be called a thrust in opposition.

The basic version of the Absetzen is carried out from the guard of Pflug and is used against a cut or thrust. The fencer winds the hilt up before their head so that the incoming blade is displaced with the false edge up into a position of Ochs. The final step is accompanied by a Passing Step forward which ends with a stab to the face or chest.

Fencers should be mindful of their body structure in the movement. The winding is a turning of the body and the guard is best used in a strong structure up and to the side in Ochs so the fencer isn't reaching excessively forward to "chase" the thrust, but rather is moving resolutely forward in the upper hanging.

16th Century

A parry with simultaneous attack canonically carried our from a low guard such as Pflug or Wechsel and ending in an Ochs like position. In effect it is largely the same as the basic 15th century version of the technique.

Meyer's longsword canonical Absetzen begins in a low guard (right Wechsel) and as an opponents cut from above or thrust comes in the fencer displaces with the long edge against the strike, rotating the hips and body as a "wind" upward, immediately on contact the fencer turns the false edge against the blade into an Ochs like final striking position. The movement is accompanied by a Passing Step of the right foot left (and somewhat forward), cutting or slicing to the head in a single motion.

The technique is used with the point in the Rappier section, often from Pflug or Eisenport, and the same movement (not named as absetzen) is also carried out by winding or cutting down into Pflug instead of moving upward.

There are no specific applications for Absetzen as it is adequately demonstrate in the other techniques such as the Zwerch parry, or the Winden movements.