Zwerchhau, absetzen, nachreissen - longsword techniques training

**Bzuciak** · Posted On: 7/07/2010 5:17pm

Hi everyone, Trnavský šermiarsky cech (Fencing guild of Trnava from Slovakia -http://gesellschaft-lichtenawers.eu/tsc/en.html ) made another video of their training and I would like to hear your opinion on it. Thanks to all of you for any reply. :)

YouTube- Zwerchhau, absetzen, nachreissen - longsword techniques training

**HereBeADragon** · Posted On: 7/07/2010 9:21pm

Pretty nice longsword work. I also liked their training blades. Their drilling was very impressive as well.

**Permalost** · Posted On: 7/10/2010 9:30pm

I don't know much about 2 handed swordplay, but that looked really cool.

**sigiric** · Posted On: 8/06/2010 11:05pm

Wow, I haven't seen any of those techniques yet. (yay beginner) I'll have to practice these things a bit!

**Mordschlag** · Posted On: 8/08/2010 11:33am

Good stuff overall. Question: what's up with your lazy Vom Tag?

**odysseus_dallas** · Posted On: 8/11/2010 11:54am

I have a more practical question: What the heck are you putting on your fencing masks?

Looks dandy.

**Ningirsu** · Posted On: 8/11/2010 10:48pm

Originally Posted by Mordschlag

Good stuff overall. Question: what's up with your lazy Vom Tag?

I second that question. Of all the source literature, most vom tag depictions show a much higher stance (as far as I know, only two show anything remotely like the lazy vom tag), but just about every HEMA organization apart from ARMA uses the low version almost exclusively for some reason.

Seems to me like the execution and overall movement style is influenced by Japanese kendo. The initial closing at 0:09, the helmets, the footwork, and especially the Nachreissen after oberhau bounciness at 1:20 really reminded me of my kendo days.

Apart from that, not bad--good interpretations, and some great energy and speed.

I also like the soundtrack from the Witcher! That was a great game (halfsword thrust + mordschlag in the final Strong Stance combo ftw)

**MGM** · Posted On: 8/12/2010 1:42am

Perfect timing, I just got back from German Longsword training and we were practicing those techniques. I saved this youtube to my bookmarks, watching this over and over will definitely help me. Thank you Bzuciak.

**willaume** · Posted On: 10/10/2010 1:26pm

Hello
Yes I though that was very good.
The only point, I would make is that there is not enough control of he opponent sword when the final blow is delivered.
Now I know that this is a not necessarily easy to show and it is a matter of interpretation.
With that in mind, I think there is case to for the strike to interchangeable, so when the baggy drops his hands you need to be able to turn the zwerch into a shiel seamlessly.

As well sometime you end up with you back arched backward, that robs you strike or your trust of power and makes the Zornh counter to the Zwerch a doodle to execute and generally prevent you to act quickly if you miss and there is nothing you can do if he shints or krump you.
I may be wrong but I think that is because the side step component is not present enough in those cases.

As for the helmet padding, I fully understand and I am with you brothers. The Zwerch is just what is needed to hit you just behind the fencing helmet.

As far as the von tag I would not call it lazy, yes granted when he starts the bady had a tendency to have is a hand forward and sometime a tad low.
From that stand point, yes there could be an argument where it is not really a proper Von Tag and this should be treated like an Ox or an Albert (and in hand s forward and low and hand forward and high).
But really most of the time when the goody is in striking distance, the baddy has lifted his hands and his left shoulder is in front of the sword.
And that is when talking of what guard to break really maters.

Phil