Zwerch

Revision as of 02:46, 24 June 2016

Thwart

On of the five meisterhauw, the zwerch breaks vom tag and counters the zornhau/oberhau.

Execution

The zwerch is a strike performed with the hands high ending almost in an ochs position. The easiest way to imagine a zwerch is to stand in ochs rechts (left leg forward), thumb under the blade. Keeping the hands up high and the thumb under bring the sword around overhead like a helicopter blade, stepping forward with the right and ending basically in left ochs. Once mastered this helicopter action can be greatly reduced into tighter cuts.

From here you can step with the left and bring the sword back around overhead, ending up back in right ochs.

Zwerch can also be performed on diagonal lines to all of the openings, and is particularly deceptive in this case.

When used to counter a zornhauw the fencer steps in, catching the zornhau on the crossguard and simultaneously striking to the opponent’s upper left opening.

Application Example

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