Wechselhauw

Change Strike

Meyer describes this as any strike which changes from above to below, left to right. Mair provides a more specific execution which we will use.

Execution

Mair describes a more specific action as follows:

"When you come to the closing with the opponent and strike in the Wechsel (Changer), set your left foot forward and strike from below at his face such that the short edge stands high. Then step outward with your right foot and strike with the long edge to the right side of his head."

Essentially from wechsel on the right (left foot forward) we slash up with the false edge along the lower-right to upper-left diagonal, then keeping the momentum of the sword going, and with a passing step forward and to the right, we cut back down along the upper-right to lower-left diagonal, which would end in wechsel on the left if we continued the cut through.

The pattern of the sword tip’s motion is show in the image.

Note that the slash can go all the way up to vom tag (creating a larger movement), or simply up to eisenport (a tighter, but less powerful movement).

Application Example

In which the 'student' demonstrates their knowledge to the 'teacher'.

Teacher	Student
Zornhut, left leg forward	Wechsel, right leg forward
Passing step zornhauw	False edge slash up along the left to right diagonal, ending in Vom tag
	Passing step forward, zornhauw to opponent's right upper opening.