Unterhut

Rappier

The low guard has the sword held low with the blade pointed down below the horizontal to the left or right side of the lead leg. In the 1570 text Meyer tells us that this is not a guard in which we will constantly rest awaiting attacks.

From this guard on the right Meyer suggests the following parries:

• Slicing Off
• Suppressing
• Going Through
• Hanging
• Taking Out (with the long edge)

While on the left he suggests the following:

The left low guard is identical to Wechsel in the longsword, this can be sent to the left or right side of the lead leg (rarely is a passing step taken in Meyer's rappier). There are four parryings best performed from here:

• Taking Out (with half or long edges)
• Slicing Off
• Suppressing

Dagger

This is described in the text as being a right leg forward guard with the dagger being held in front of/by the left thigh, point toward the opponent. This might be a reverse grip or orthodox grip, and could be extrapolated to the right side in the same way.

The illustration shows a plate from Mair illustrating a low guard, with the opponent in Oberhut in the left hand.

Polearms

From middle guard lower the point yet further such that it is on the ground in front of you, be it to the left, to the right, or in the middle, and the rear hand is against the side of the body at around lower rib or upper hip height. This is the low guard.