Kurtzhauw

Short Cut

A secondary cut which shares much in common with the early german technique which break the guard ochs. The cut is a version of the krumphauw which preemptively cuts underneath an oberhauw with a short cut to the head.

Execution

"This is a secretive attack, and is described thus: when your opponent strikes you from above, stand as if you would respond with a Arc Strike, that is to bind his sword with the half edge, but let it fall and drive through under his sword, strike with the half edge and crossed arms over his right arm to hit his head, thus you have closed off his sword with the long edge, and accomplished the Short Strike, and stand as is shown by the smaller figure (mid background) on the left of illustration B fighting against the right."

The interpretation of the canonical description of this strike is executed as follows:

• Standing in left forward weighted posture
• As the opponent goes up for a strike overhead passing step forward and cut a krumphauw quite tight and short and cut "forward" in the strike so it lands with a short cutting/slicing action to their head.
• If the opponent cuts down ensure the hands are lifted high so the high guard parries their incoming blow.

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

Teacher	Student
Vom tag, left leg forward	Pflug, left leg forward
Passing Step Oberhauw	Krumphauw without a step short under their blade angled sharply toward the opponent (this looks almost likes a sturtzhauw), lifting the hands high to collect theirs on the way down, and slice/cut their head.