Rappier

Revision as of 13:14, 8 July 2016

While it is tempting to translate this weapon as “rapier”, its use bears only a superficial resemblance to the classical rapiers as we now think of them. A more accurate description of this weapon would be sidesword; a cut and thrust sword popular across the continent at the time, and showing the beginnings of the complex hilts which would become a defining characteristic of rapiers.

As such the Meyer rappier syllabus is a broadly cut and thrust method which shares a large amount of common terminology with the longsword and dussack. Meyer also tells us that the rappier is a foreign art lately come to Germany, and in this respect we can make some comparisons between Meyer's system and Italian styles such as those of Marozzo or Viggiani. For such a comparison see [1]

Guards

• Nebenhut (side guard
• Wechsel (change guard)
• Ochs (ox)
• Eisenport (iron gate)
• Langort (long point)
• Pflug (plough)
• Oberhut (high guard)

Parries

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

Strikes

• Thrusts
• Oberhauw (high cut)