The Fire Book—Fighting

“Those who master the bow are called archers, those who master the gun are called marksmen … but those who master the long sword are called strategists”
Miamoto Mushashi—A Book of Five Rings

 

HIERARCHY OF DEFENSE

  1. Attack before your opponent.
  2. Void the attack and counter-attack in time.
  3. Deflect the attack and immediately counter-attack.
  4. Static parry and immediately counter-attack.
  5. Void the attack without counter-attack.
  6. Static parry with flat or edge without counter-attack.

 

VOR, NACH, INDES

Long sword is one of the oldest techniques for which there are texts. In the more modern small sword you must defend first and foremost. In long sword, the person that strikes first may well deliver a disabling blow, so you must endeavor always to strike first. Against an experienced opponent, this may not be possible, so you must learn additional techniques to regain the initiative if you are struck first.

Vor (Before) is the offensive principle of longsword tactics. It demands that you develop a keen sense of when to safely attack. For example, can you attack during your opponent’s preparation? Can you break your opponent’s guard and find an opening? Can you provoke an attack that forces a certain strike that you can defend and counter? Can you launch a feint that will draw a desirable action from your opponent that will allow you to finish in a different line of attack? Can you upset your opponent’s tempo or measure? These are just a few of the dynamics of being in the Vor.

Nach (After) is the defensive principle of longsword tactics. It demands that you develop a keen sense of how to respond if your opponent attacks first, not only in a manner that keeps you from getting hit, but also allows you to regain the Vor. For example, can you defend an attack with an action that simultaneously protects you and strikes your opponent? Can you safely attack your opponent during his attack by out timing him? What opportunities do you have to regain the Vor if you and your opponent cross swords? These are just a few of the dynamics of being in the Nach.

Indes (Immediately) is the principle of being able to judge what is going on at the moment of engagement, or sword contact. In other words, you must development a keen understanding of Fuhlen (feeling) or blade pressure so that you know how to react properly. From this you must instantaneously decide what technique to employ to allow you to regain the Vor. The principles of Indes and Fuhlen are inseparable.

 

THE FIRST STRIKE [VORSCHLAG]

Another way to look at Vor and Nach is the first-strike [Vorschlag] and after-strike [Nachschlag].

When you have closed to correct measure, go at your opponent quickly and with speed to the head and to the body. Whether you hit or miss you win the Vorschlag. Always look for the upper openings rather than the lower, and go over his hilt with strikes or thrusts artfully and quickly. You are safer and have longer reach over the hilt than under it.

The upper touch is much better than the lower. But it may also happen that you are closer to the lower opening and therefore seek it, as often happens. Also know that it is better to close around the right side than to go straight in.

When you strike first, follow up quickly with an after-strike [Nachschlag] to keep your opponent off guard. This strike can vary depending on whether your opponent is soft, hard, or pulls off of your sword. But you must decide in an instant [Indes] what to do.

 

“THIS IS WHAT I INTEND!”

When you attack you should have a plan in mind, a technique or strategy that you want to do that is complete and correct. Hold this plan firmly in your mind as your close your opponent as if to say “This is what I intend!” And then you will have success and not go wrong.

 

LARRY TOM’S TACTICAL COMBAT RULES

Here is some good advice from the head of MASHS.

  1. REMEMBER THE HIERARCHY OF DEFENSE. With this you can see how the Vor and the Nach come into play.
     
  2. THE RULE OF FUHLEN. If your opponent goes hard you go soft—if your opponent goes soft you go hard. This applies to the body as well as the sword as explained in the talking window (Sprechfenster)
     
  3. KEEP YOUR SWORD FREE. This is the corollary to the rule of Fuhlen. Your sword is needed not only for offensive actions but also for defense (your sword is your shield), so endeavor to keep your sword free so that you can quickly move from attack to defense. Use simple blade work (e.g. ochs and pflug) rather than more complex defensive actions to enhance your chances of keeping your sword free.
     
  4. FIGHT IN YOUR OWN MEASURE. Measure is the distance where your own blows land. When fighting a taller opponent, don’t be fooled into fighting at a greater distance than you would otherwise.
     
  5. ACKNOWLEDGE TEMPO. A tempo is the time in which a simple fencing action occurs (e.g. moving from alber to ochs to defend against a cut or a simple passing step). Tempo can be short or long. Why is understanding tempo important from a tactical perspective? More often than not, a successful attack requires more than one tempo. Knowing this, when you attack you must maintain continuity of tempo. In other words, don’t break off your attack if you are fully committed. Conversely, if you are in the Nach, you can thwart your opponent’s attack by interrupting his or her tempo thus regaining the Vor.
     
  6. KEEP YOUR FOOTWORK SIMPLE AND FLUID. Good balance and a strong foundation are essential for effective blade work. A wider stance is often preferred over a narrower one. In moving, if a gathering step is more effective to maintain measure over another passing step, use it. If a lateral or compass step can help you void an on-coming attack rather than a retreating passing step, use it. Remember the “cardinal rules” about footwork. Don’t stay in one position or one guard too long—keep moving!
     
  7. DO NOT CHASE YOUR OPPONENT. If your opponent retreats as you attack you may have to advance to stay in measure while you continue your attack, but there is an inherent danger in pursuing your opponent haphazardly. The more you chase your opponent the more your own tempo and measure become skewed. It is usually better to return to guard and wait for your opponent to come back to measure.
     
  8. DO NOT RETREAT IF AT ALL POSSIBLE. This is the corollary to the previous rule. By giving ground you lose measure, give up the Vor, and are put at a disadvantage. “Void without counter-attack” is low on the hierarchy of defense because although retreating can save you from an attack it puts you in the Nach and forces you to take more tempo to get back into measure. If you do need to back away from an attack, consider moving off-line rather than straight back and you will have a better chance of staying in the Vor.
     
  9. CONTROL THE CENTER LINE. After the initial bind, try to stay centered to your opponent and you will have more options in maintaining the Vor and more options in finding openings for attacking your opponent as both sides of your opponent’s body are available. If instead you move to one side of your opponent’s body to attack, and are thwarted in that attempt, the measure to your opponent’s opposite side is a little longer. This makes attacks to those openings more difficult.
     
  10. KNOW HOW TO BREAK YOUR OPPONENT’S GUARD. Use the four techniques of displacement (Versetzen).
     
  11. REMEMBER THE WINDINGS AND OTHER SPECIAL TECHNIQUES. When the initial engagement results in the bind, in that instant, you and your opponent are in the Indes. You have that tempo to free your sword and regain the Vor. You must decide almost instantaneously the most appropriate technique to use.
     
    • Can you execute a Winden technique? These allow you, in essentially one action, to displace your opponent’s sword, take the Vor and counter attack with a thrust.
    • Against a hard bind, can you free your sword with Zucken and attack on the opposite line of engagement?
    • If your opponent takes the initiative and attacks, can you go soft? This allows your opponent’s momentum to carry their sword away from you; freeing your sword to counter-attack an open line.
    • Can you use an Absetzen technique against someone in pflug or ochs or langenort?
    • Can you attack with one of the Meisterhau, such as krumphau, zwerchhau or schielhau?
    • Can you employ a half sword technique when in close range instead of grappling?
       
  12. AVOID GRAPPLING (“WRESTLING AT THE SWORD”). Because it is unpredictable, grappling is inherently very dangerous. However, sometimes it is unavoidable. When you do grapple, be swift and decisive. Anything less will give your opponent an opportunity to take your tempo and turn the tables on you.

 

CONCLUSION TO THE TACTICAL COMBAT RULES

By understanding these twelve tactical combat rules and incorporating them in your bouting, you will have a better chance to prevail in the fight. By successfully applying these tactical applications in your longsword play you should be able to maintain the Vor as much as possible, or regain the Vor once in the Nach. Keep your actions as simple as possible. Do no more than is necessary to find and attack any opening your opponent makes available to you. And if an opening is not readily available, use the most direct action to create one. If your initial attack fails press the attack, especially if you are still in measure. However, be mindful of Rule 7. Focus on tempo and measure, and make sure your blade work is integrated with your footwork.

 

 

BELGIAN LONG SWORD TOURNAMENT RULES (THANKS MATT GALAS)

One party is designated as the "King"; he has certain advantages (see below). His opponent is called the "Champion." If the Champion defeats the King, he becomes the new King, and has the corresponding handicap. The goal is to remain King until everyone has fenced; the last person remaining as King wins the tournament.

  • Each bout consists of a single round.
  • Both cut & thrust are allowed.
  • Valid target area is above the belt and above the elbows (i.e., no hands or forearms).
  • No corps-a-corps is allowed; no grappling or pommel strikes.
  • Only two-handed technique (no one-handed or half-sword).
  • If you lose your weapon, you lose the bout. If you fall, the bout is played over.
  • If the King hits the Champion a clean hit, he wins the bout, and remains King. (Go on to the next contestant.)
  • If the Champion hits the King with a clean hit, the King still has one last chance to hit him (called an "after-stroke"). The King can take one step with his after-stroke. If he hits, he wins the bout. (This after-stroke must be delivered immediately, without delay, or it is lost.) If the Champion parries or evades the blow, then the Champion wins the bout, and becomes King.
  • If there is a double hit, the highest hit wins (head wins over chest, etc.). If it's the King who has the highest hit, he wins. If it's the Champion, the King still gets his after-stroke (see rule above).

 

FIVE-POINT BOUT—GERMAN LONGSWORD STYLE

Each bout is fought to 5 points. A fighter scores between 0 and 4 points for each hit based on a pyramid of Contact, Quality, Target, and Control. A fighter who scores all four points in one exchange is awarded a perfect hit bonus point to bring the total to five, thus winning the bout.

There are two or three judges (who call “point” when they see a hit and who vote for points) and one referee (who controls the fight). Bouts are limited to 3 minutes if there is a timer/scorekeeper.

After a hit, the referee waits one beat to allow for an afterblow, calls halt and then polls the judges. To earn a point at least two judges must agree and the fighter must have received the previous point. The categories in ascending order are:

  • Contact—did your sword strike, thrust, or slice the opponent (or pommel strike to the mask)?
  • Quality—did you have at least the dominant hand on the sword and strike with firmness using the edge? Were you stable and balanced? Did you use appropriate footwork and good form?
  • Target—did you hit the torso (fencing jacket less sleeves) or head (but not the back of the head)?
  • Control—did you control your opponent’s blade, or close off a line? If neither fighter has reached 5 points, the referee will reset the fighters for another exchange.

SPECIAL SCORING CONSIDERATIONS

Doubles—both fighters strike each other simultaneously or nearly so. Neither fighter is awarded any points. After three “doubles” both fighters are eliminated and no victory is recorded.

Afterblow—a fighter strikes without controlling their opponent’s sword and their opponent takes advantage to easily strike back. The fighter is limited to 1 point, and then only if it was a quality hit.

Out of bounds—1 point if both of your opponent’s feet are completely out of the ring. Both fighters out of the ring is a double hit.

Grappling—Grappling is permitted for up to a verbal count of 3 by the referee. A clean throw after which the fencer remains standing is 4 points. A fighter who goes down as well is only awarded 1 point for Contact. No points are awarded if both fencers fall together. If a fencer simply falls to the ground of his own accord, without a grapple, the opponent will be awarded one point for Contact.

Disarm—a fighter who successfully, intentionally, quickly (3 count) and cleanly disarms their opponent earns all 4 points. Should a fighter accidently drop the sword, the opponent scores 1 point for Contact.

Grabbing the opponent’s blade—is allowed if it is not in motion. The opponent earns a point for Contact by twisting the blade in such a way that a sharp would have cut the fighter.

 

Some Bouting Videos