Fechter I

By the time the student is ready for the level of Fechter they should have already demonstrated good form when performing techniques in a slower and more controlled manner. For Fechter 1, however, they should be performing techniques with more intent without sacrificing control.

For the Fechter I grading students should demonstrate the techniques in protective equipment (at least using gloves and a mask), first performing the technique slowly, then at high speed.

Theory

Basic Information

• 4 Openings (high/low)
• Parts of the weapon
• Gripping the Longsword

Progression of Engagement

• Onset (beginning)
• Handworks (middle)
• Withdrawal (end)
• Explain and Demonstrate Example Device 126r.1

Initiative

• Vor (before)
• Nach (after)
• Gleich (simultaneously)
• Indes (instantly)

Longsword

Stances

• Front weighted
• Rear weighted
• Cross stance

Footwork

• Passing step
• Triangle step
• Stolen/Broken
• Side/Glide step
• Gathering (lead/rear)

Principal Guards

• Vom tag (from the day/roof)
• Alber (fool)
• Ochs (ox)
• Pflug (plough)

Secondary Guards

Low Side Guards

• Wechsel (change)
• Nebenhut (near guard)
• Schranckhut (barrier guard)

High Side Guards

• Zornhut (wrath guard)
• Mittelhut (middle guard)

Centreline Guards

• Langort (long point)
• Kron (crown)
• Eisenport (iron gate)
• Schlussel (key)

Hanging Guards

• Hangetort (hanging point)
• Einhorn (unicorn)

Thrusts

• Straight Thrust
• Winding Thrust

Principal Cuts

• Oberhauw
• Unterhauw
• Mittelhauw
• Zornhauw

Secondary Cuts

• Zwerch (thwart)
• Krumphauw (crooked cut)
• Sturtzhauw (plunge cut)
• Wechselhauw (change cut)
• Glutzhauw (clashing cut)
• Kronhauw (crown cut)

• Prellhauw (bounce cut)
• Kurtzhauw(short cut)
• Blendthauw (blind strike)
• Kneichelhauw (elbow strike)
• Schielhauw (squinting strike)
• Windthauw (wind strike)

Cutting to the Openings

• Meyer Square - row 1 to 4
• Cutting through and to the point

Handwork Sets

• Long edge parry set
• Hanging parry set

• Crossguard parry set
• Oberhauw parry set

Deceptions/entries

• Verfliegen (Flying off)
• Fehlen (Failing)
• Zucken (Pulling)
• Durchwechseln (Changing Through)
• Nachreissen (Chasing)

Meyer's Devices/Plays

• Attacking to the Openings Device 127v.1
• Explain and Demonstrate Example Device 126r.1

Polearms

Guards

• Oberhut (High/over guard - including thrusting variation)
• Mittelhut (Middle guard/straight parrying, also field guard variation)
• Unterhut (Low/under guard)
• Steurhut (Rudder guard - both variations)

Staff Strikes

• True edge strike from above
• True edge strike from below
• Polearm Thrusts

Parrying Sets

• Polearm Parrying Set 1 - Cut from Above

Wrestling & Dagger

Dagger Guards

• Oberhut (High guard)
• Mittelhut (Middle guard)
• Unterhut (Low guard)
• Kreutzhut (Cross guard)

Applications

• Parry from High Guard 1
• Parry from High Guard 2
• Parry from High Guard 3
• Parry from Low Guard 1
• Parry from Low Guard 2
• Casting opponent backward against a dagger attack.
• Dagger Technique 9 - Another takedown
• Joint locking techniques - unarmed and armed