Thrusts
Contents |
Longsword
Thrusts with the longpoint can be performed from an online position, or with the blade starting offline (see Zornhauw and Schielhauw applications).
Thrust can be low or high, with the low being a thrust straight into longpoint. Typically performed from:
The execution of this kind of thrust is a movement with the hips, shoulders and legs rather than a "punching" forward with the hands. The fencer simply brings their arms forward and up while lunging forward.
High thrusts usually take the form of an extended Ochs position and are often accompanied by diagonal movement of the cross guard, for example a thrust from right pflug to left ochs.
These thrust are particular effective as a form of Absetzen, setting off a cut while thrusting at the same time.
The execution of this kind of thrust is a movement with the shoulders and legs rather than a "punching" forward with the hands. The fencer simply brings their arms forward and around to ochs while lunging forward. The the movement shouldn't introduce excessive wrist bending.
It is also good practice with thrusts to consider the angle of the crossguard used in the thrust, angling it to prevent the opponent's blade from sliding your hand in the movement.
Application Examples
Application 1: Low Thrust using Ansetzen
In which the 'student' demonstrates their knowledge to the 'teacher' of a straight thrust
| Meister | Lehrling |
|---|---|
| Pflug, left leg forward | Pflug, left leg forward |
| Drop sword to the side in Nebenhut or Schranckhut | Turning through a crossed stance into Langort, then take a Passing Step forward, thrust into Langort to the face. |
| Withdraw (Abzug) with a defensive high cut or a guard. |
The technique should be performed to both sides.
Application 2: High Thrust using Ansetzen
In which the 'student' demonstrates their knowledge to the 'teacher' of a straight thrust
| Meister | Lehrling |
|---|---|
| Pflug, left leg forward | Pflug, left leg forward |
| Lift sword to Vom tag on the shoulder | Turning through a crossed stance into a high Langort, then take a Passing Step forward, thrust into Ochs to the face, bringing the hilt diagonally from lower right to upper left. |
| Withdraw (Abzug) with a defensive high cut or a guard. |
Application 3: High Thrust Opposed using Absetzen
In which the 'student' demonstrates their knowledge to the 'teacher' of a high thrust against an incoming cut.
| Meister | Lehrling |
|---|---|
| Tag, left leg forward | Pflug, left leg forward |
| Step and cut down with a Zornhauw to the upper left opening. | Turning through a crossed stance into an ochs thrust, catching the blade on your crossguard and striking with the point. |
| Withdraw (Abzug) with a defensive high cut or a guard. |
The technique should be performed to both sides.
Staff
No staff treatise would be complete without thrusting. We only have one thrusting exercise here despite the fact that thrusting is one of the critical attacks with both halberd and staff.
- Left leg forward, Mittelhut with the staff drawn slightly back
- Gathering Step forward and thrust to the head.
- Gathering Step forward and thrust to the torso.
- Gathering Step forward and thrust to the legs.
- Repeat
