Zwerch

Thwart

On of the five meisterhauw, the zwerch breaks vom tag and counters the zornhauw/oberhauw.

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.

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 'teacher'.

Teacher	Student
Zornhut, left leg forward	Zornhut, left leg forward
Passing Step Zornhauw	Passing Step forward and right
	Zwerch, catching blade on crossguard, Triangle Step with rear leg to face toward the teacher.