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

Body Position

• Front weighted
• Rear weighted
• Cross stance

Footwork

• Passing step
• Gathering (lead/rear)
• Triangle step
• Double Step
• False/Cross Step
• Stolen Step

Guards/Postures

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)

Attacks

Thrusts

• Straight Thrust
• Winding Thrust

Principal Cuts

Cuts should be performed with speed and intent.

• Oberhauw
• Unterhauw
• Mittelhauw
• Zornhauw

Secondary Cuts

Secondary cuts should be performed at higher (not full) speed, while maintaining form and balance. They need not be as fast or agressive as the principal cuts.

Crooked cut variations:

• Krumphauw (crooked strike)
• Kurtzhauw (short strike)

False edge cuts which parry:

• Schielhauw (squinting strike)
• Glutzhauw (clashing strike)

Thwart cut variations:

• Zwerch (thwart)
• Kneichelhauw (wrist strike)

Plunging cut variations:

• Sturtzhauw (plunge strike)
• Kronhauw ( crown strike)

Cuts with winding:

• Windthauw (winding strike)
• Blendthauw (blind strike)

Changing strike variations:

• Wechselhauw (change strike)
• Prellhauw (rebound strike)

Cutting to the Openings

• Meyer Square - row 1 to 4
• Cutting through and to the point
• Using Zwerchs & Flat

Cutting with Sharps

NOTE: This requirement is subject to insurance and legal obligations.

• Attend at least 1 cutting session with sharps
• Demonstrate the ability to execute the principle cuts with good edge alignment

Handworks

Parrying Sets

• Long edge parry set
• Hanging parry set
• Crossguard parry set
• Oberhauw parry set
• Halfsword 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
• Polearm Parrying Set 2 - Straight Thrust

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

Fencing

The students shall demonstrate their ability to fence using the principles from Meyer's system in the following conditions:

• Fight a 2 minute bout at slow speed showing control and flow
• Fight a 2 minute bout at high speed using fechtschule rules
• Fight a 2 minute bout at high speed using tournament rules
• Referee a 2 minute bout between peers