LongswordCurriculum.pdf

Liechtenhauer’s

Longsword Fighting

A Ten Week Course of Study

by Perry W. Rogers

Revised: August 10, 2007

Table of Contents

1. History & Basics

2. Strikes, Cuts & Thrusts

3. Master Strikes, Pt 1

4. Master Strikes Pt 2

5. Master Strikes, Pt 3

6. Master Strikes, Part 4

7. Four Displacements: Versatzungen

8. Fight Tactics

9. Advanced Techniques 1

10. Advanced Techniques 2

Appendix A: Ringeck’s Commentaries

Appendix B: Class Structure

Appendix C: Class Drills & Games

Appendix D: German Martial Glossary

Appendix E: Assorted Resources

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1. History & Basics

A historical introduction to Liechtenhauer and German longsword ﬁghting traditions. Work through

the Veir Leger.

A. Historical Origins

Source Material

✤ The teachings of Master Johannes Liechtenhauer, mid 14 th century, as

written down by Sigmund Ringeck, a fencing master to the Duke of

Bavaria in the early part of the 15th century

✤ The Goliath Fechtbuch c.1500, whose verse is strikingly similar to Pe-

ter von Danzig’s of 1452.

✤ Hanko Dobringer Fechtbuch from 1389

✤ Hans Talhoffer 1467 Fechtbuch

✤ We have roughly two dozen surviving manuscripts attributed to the

teachings of Liechtenhauer, but none are in his hand that we know of.

✤ It is a complete system that is based on the mechanics introduced in

the longsword teachings including: Dagger ﬁghting, Wrestling, and Ar-

mored Combat on foot and on horseback

✤ References to the Liechtenhauer works continue to show up in manu-

scripts all the way to the 17th century works of Jacob Sutor.

Current Interpretations

✤ The original Ringeck commentaries were in an archaic German lan-

guage (Swaibian), and was presented in mnemonic verses called

merkverse

✤ Christian Tobler: Secrets of Medieval German Swordsmanship & Fighting with the German Longsword

✤ Ochs Video: Liechtenhauer’s Longsword, Part 1

✤ David Lindholm: Sigmund Ringeck’s Knightly art of the Longsword

B. Veir Leger (Four Primary Guards)

Demonstrate the four guards. Explain the origins of their names, and their potential uses.

The Four Guards

There are only four basic positions which are useful in combat, this are Ochs, Alber, Pﬂug,

and vom Tag.

The ﬁrst guard: Ochs (the Ox) / Stand with your left foot forward, hold your sword at the

right side of your head, your point directed at his face.

The second guard: Pﬂug (the Plough) / Stand with the left foot forward and hold your

sword at your right side above your knee,with your hands crossed, your point directed at

his face.

The third guard: Alber (the Fool) / Stand with your right foot forward and hold your sword

in front of you with your arms extended, your point directed at the ground.

The fourth guard: vom Tag ("From the Roof") / Stand with your left foot forward and hold

your sword at the side of your right shoulder or above your head with your arms ex-

tended.

And in this book, you’ll ﬁnd written down how to fence from these guards.

✤ Discuss the traditional use of the term ‘Guards’ as opposed to ‘positions.’

✤ Stances generally refers to foot placement and weight distribution.

✤ Any position in which you can stand, or move with the sword has a corresponding position name.

✤ Lines of attack and defense are opened and closed based on which guard is adopted.

C. Footwork

✤ Basic foot placement in the stances

✤ Center of balance and body stance

Footwork

Note: This is the ﬁrst tenet of the long sword: learn to strike blows equally well from both

sides if you want to learn to fence well. Note: If you want to strike from the (your) right

side, make sure, your left foot is forward (at the beginning); if you want to strike from the

1. SAFETY: number ONE concern.

Everyone should keep the safety of

everyone else in mind at all times. Do

not break your training partners. Do

not take wide-open, or cheap shots.

2. INTENT: move, act and strike with

appropriate, realistic force and motion.

Keep range in mind. Avoid exagger-

ated motions. Partners must be fully

cooperative or resistant when learning

techniques.

3. TARGETING: Use precise targeting

and be mindful of edge placement and

control. Do not lose sight of the

wounds that would be caused to un-

armored opponents by sharp swords.

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Safety & Intent Reminder

left side, the right foot must be forward. If you strike an Oberhau from the right side then,

follow the blow with your right foot. If you do not the blow is wrong and ineffective, be-

cause your right side stays behind. Because of this the blow will fall short and cannot

travel in its proper arc towards the left side. If you strike from the left side

and you do not follow the blow, it too is wrong. That is why no matter from

which side you are striking follow the blow with the same foot. So you will

succeed in all techniques. This is how you shall strike all blows.

Types of Stepping

✤ Gathering or Lunging is generally done on the tightrope (i.e. on line forward or backward), and is used merely

to change the range between you and your opponent. This step does not tend to

alter your defensive proﬁle. Skeletal power is generated by the leading foot.

✤ Passing can be done on or off line. Your defensive proﬁle changes with each step.

Skeletal power is generated with each step.

✤ Exchanging your feet is done in place. Exchanging is used to alter the feet position,

and generate skeletal power with the sword. Generally, the front foot is brought

backward, and placed next to the rear foot, which is then moved forward and/or

outward. Skeletal power is generated when the second foot lands.

✤ Compass Stepping is used to move drastically off line. It is a passing step in which the rear foot ﬁrst passes

forward and outward. The second foot then follows off line, and swings outward before it lands. The swing-

ing motion of the second foot generates a lot of skeletal power as it lands.

Strikes should be timed

so that impact power is

maximized by foot /

hip / shoulder motion

and alignment.

D. Drill

Explain the purpose of Drilling (See Appendix B: Class Structure)

Vier Leger Drill

Right Vom Tag -- Left Phlug -- Right Ochs -- Left Alber -- Right Langort -- pivot -- Left Vom Tag -- Right Phlug --

Left Ochs -- Right Alber -- Left Langort - pivot

E. Play Time

Explain the purpose of Play Time (See Appendix B: Class Structure)

Roman Focus Game

Using good hand protection, partners attempt to slap each other’s hands with the boffer dagger. Only the hands

are valid targets. Both hands must stay in front of your body at all times. Free advice: keep moving!

F. Open Sparring

Explain the purpose of Open Sparring (See Appendix B: Class

Structure)

BE SAFE! Review Safety & Intent Reminder from the Begin-

ning of class

Page 4

Stepping is not just a matter

of improving power, but range,

and edge placement as well.

Recommended Minimum Sparring Gear

✤ Modified shanai longsword

✤ Three Weapons Fencing Mask / Helm

✤ Padded gloves / gauntlets

✤ Neck protection / gorget

✤ Cup

2. Strikes, Cuts & Thrusts

Nebenhut, Targeting, Edge Control & Ansetzen

A. Review Key Concepts from Previous Sessions

✤ Vier Leger Drill

B. Strikes, Thrusts & Cuts

✤ Oberhau & Unterhau

✤ Releasing forward hand for extra thrust distance

✤ Pull & push cutting

Body Mechanics

✤ Footwork for range change and increased power

Footwork

Note: This is the ﬁrst tenet of the long sword: learn to strike blows

equally well from both sides if you want to learn to fence well.

Note: If you want to strike from the (your) right side, make sure,

your left foot is forward (at the beginning); if you want to strike from

the left side, the right foot must be forward. If you strike an Ober-

hau from the right side then, follow the blow with your right foot. If

you do not the blow is wrong and ineffective, because your right

side stays behind. Because of this the blow will fall short and can-

not travel in its proper arc towards the left side. If you strike from

the left side and you do not follow the blow, it too is wrong. That is

why no matter from which side you are striking follow the blow with

the same foot. So you will succeed in all techniques. This is how you shall strike all blows.

✤ Skeletal alignment with arms, hips & shoulders

Ansetzen: The Hanger Point

✤ The dangers of powerful strokes and following through too far

✤ Sword tip is in position for immediate thrust

✤ This is unarmored combat.

Edge Control

✤ Swords do not cut with the ﬂat.

✤ With any thrust, cut or strike, you want the tip or edge to be perpendicular to

the impact target to ease the breaking of the skin, and the entry into the ﬂesh.

C. Striking Pattern Drill

✤ First set starts in Right Vom tag: UpR, LowL, LowR, UpL

✤ Second set starts in Right Nebenhut: LowR, UpL, UpR, LowL

✤ Third set starts in Left Vom tag: UpL, LowR, LowL, Upr

✤ Fourth set starts in Left Nebenhut: LowL, UpR, UpL, LowR

D. Play Time

Baton Striking with Edge Control Game (from Ochs: Longsword DVD)

One partner wears a mask and protective gloves. He grips a baton in both hands so that there is at least 8” of

space between them. As he circles and moves, he will present the baton in front, or beside himself representing

target openings. The other partner strikes the baton with an appropriate strike, cut, or Master Strike. Careful at-

tention should be paid to range, staying in an appropriate guard, striking power, and edge placement.

Thrust Targeting Game (from Ochs: Longsword DVD)

This game is just like the Baton Striking game, but uses thrusting target as the focus.

E. Open Sparring

Explain the purpose of Open Sparring (See Appendix B: Class

Structure)

Review Safety & Intent Reminder from the Beginning of class

Work on hanger point, and edge control

Safety & Intent Reminder

1. SAFETY: number ONE concern.

Everyone should keep the safety of

everyone else in mind at all times. Do

not break your training partners. Do

not take wide-open, or cheap shots.

2. INTENT: move, act and strike with

appropriate, realistic force and motion.

Keep range in mind. Avoid exagger-

ated motions. Partners must be fully

cooperative or resistant when learning

techniques.

3. TARGETING: Use precise targeting

and be mindful of edge placement and

control. Do not lose sight of the

wounds that would be caused to un-

armored opponents by sharp swords.

Keep tip on line and threat-

ening the face of the oppo-

nent.

Move your

feet, control

your edge,

Watch your

tip

Recommended Minimum Sparring Gear

✤ Modified shanai longsword

✤ Three Weapons Fencing Mask / Helm

✤ Padded gloves / gauntlets

✤ Neck protection / gorget

✤ Cup

Page 5

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