Here a wisdom is now particularly needed, one not yet practiced in fencing, thus I will report on stepping and onward show that nothing is relied on as much as one step and, if one already is upon that reliance, that such a one marks what is said if he would learn well, in that as this is relied on so much, so it will be gained by experience as all artful fencing is to be gained. Where the proper steps are not used, the ancient Fencer commented and covered this as stated in his twelvth rule:
Wer Trit erst nach den H�uwen, Darff sich seiner kunst wenig frewen.
He who steps after striking deserves less joy in his art.
That is that every strike must have its own step which shall occur at the same time as the strike, if you would do otherwise with the elements which you resort to, then step too early or too late, thus it happens around your play, and you thus bring yourself around your strike, thus learn to make the steps right so that your opponent cannot work as he really wants, bringing on a stop, particularly so that you upset his grounding or place as it were. In attacking now let yourself mark this, and position yourself as if you would make large and far steps, but actually stay closer with your feet correct, and attack him. So much is then built on from here. Since all of this must be learned and used in fencing, this must be known.
Many skills are vital to any athletic activity being engaged in, whether you are in the fechtschule, on http://www.casino.com/ or on the racetrack, knowing how things work is vitally important to enjoying the experience.
The steps are done in three different ways, firstly backward and forward, what these are can't be clarified much as one namely steps to or from someone. The other ones are the steps to the sides which are delineated through a triangle, namely thus: Stand in a straight line with your right foot before your opponent, and with the left behind the right step toward his left, this is the first. The second which is done double you do thus: Step as before with the right foot against his left, then follow with the left behind the right somewhat to the side to his left, and then again with the right farther to his left. The third type is the broken or stolen steps, these are accomplished thus, stand yourself as if you would step forward with your right foot, but as and when you go low, then step back with it behind the other foot. Since these are the same as described in Rapier, I will thus leave it for now. Joachim Meyer
As Meyer himself says "what these are can't be clarified much as one namely steps to or from someone" This is simply stepping to or from the opponent using either a full passing step (stepping so that you change lead sides) or simple step (stepping so that the lead side remains the same).
This can be done forwards or backwards.
The Gathering stepStraight Cuts Drill Video
This is a form of simple step, but where the simple step uses the foot closest to your target to move closer, the Gathering step does the opposite. It uses the farthest foot from your direction which you bring underneath yourself. Its not as fast as a simple step but provides a greater distance for cutting. This footwork can be seen in the above video of the straight cuts drill, where it is used with passing steps.
The triangle stepTriangle Step Video
This is a passing step or simple step that traverses at a 45 degree angle to the opponent and the rear leg slides slightly back behind your lead leg in the direction your body is headed headed. This is the best type of footwork for attacking an opponent as this tends to flank the opponent making it more difficult for them to defend your attack. This step can be done with a simple step or a passing step, the simple being of course faster without the range of the full passing step.
Double TriangleDouble Triangle Step Video
This is the same as the Triangle step described above but done twofold to increase the flanking angle. This can be started with a simple or passing step but the second step in the triangle is always a front foot simple step.
False Step or Reverse TriangleReverse Triangle Step Video
This step works on the same 45 degree angle as the triangle but backwards, it takes practice to step lively enough to use it in sparring.
This is a particularly good footwork to use when voiding backwards from a concerted attack, the angle works against the opponents cut direction to both protect by voiding and set you up for a great counter cut opportunity. This reverse triangle can be done backwards with a full passing step or more to the sides by taking the rear foot and stepping behind your other foot and following quickly with a step with the front foot to correct your alignment to the opponent.
LungeLunge Step Video
This is the lunge so well known in fencing and other martial arts, used for
thrusting or extending your effective attacking range. Used in staff and spear work as well as longsword.
LeapLeap Step Video
The leap is not so much a step as a variation on several of the steps. Leaping is used to make space between you and the opponent when he attacks or to cover that same space as you attack him.
Drills to practice footwork
- Straight Cuts DrillStraight Cuts Drill Video
This is a very nice drill Jeff Forgeng pulled out of the Dussack book of the Meyer fechtbuch. In this video I demonstrate the use of the 4 straight cuts of Meyer (Schietelhauw, Zornhauw, Mittelhauw, Unterhauw). This is done using the Tag (high) guard and can be done using any of the Meyer guards. The footwork sequence is (passing step forward to cut, 2 gathering steps with cuts and passing step back to original guard (Tag in this instance). Then Passing step back and cut, 2 gathering steps with cuts backwards and back to your guard but on the other side.
Now you passing step forward from the left side (if you started on the right) , followed by 2 gathering steps and passing step back to guard. Then passing step backwards and cut then 2 backwards gathering steps with corresponding cuts and you will be back where you started.
This was the sequence of straight cuts done using Tag (high) guard and the Schietelhauw (straight cut down center) and performed on both sides.
This is all done with a cutting through motion so that you sword flows through your target into the next strike. But this can also be done in what Forgeng calls and Arrested manner where you stop the cut in the center of the target facing forwards, its not very realistic but can be a good method to learn control. We prefer the cutting through version. For example when you do the Unterhauw strike you can do an arrested version where your unterhauw stops at Hengen or you can do a cut through version where your strike ends up in Einhorn. Like wise when using the Zornhauw strike you can cut through into the Wechsel guard or stop at Langort.
Zornhut-Doppelhau Zornhut Doppelhau video with Gathering step -
Zornhut Doppelhau video with Simple step
Start in Zornhut on the right side and passing step forward with a Zornhauw, gathering step (move rear foot up then front foot) as you strike again with the same angle. Gathering step backwards as you go bring the sword over your head onto your left shoulder. When done properly you in fact execute a hanging guard type of motion in front of you as you bring the sword over into a left Zornhut. then do everything all over from the left side until you end up in the Right side Zornhut again.
Oblique Zornhut-DoppelhauOblique Zornhut Doppelhau Video
This time you start in right side Zornhut and strike across the top of your head from left to right at an angle as you simple step in a traverse forwards with your front (left foot), then gathering step forwards and strike at same angle and target a second time. Now take your front (left foot) and step back as you bring the blade up over your head onto your left shoulder. Now you do the same thing you just did but from the left side, so you strike right to left while sitting in left zornhut.
- Four Openings Drill
coming soon!
"Everyone thinks differently from everyone else, so he behaves differently
in combat" -Joachim Meyer, Kunst des Fechten, 1570
"For as we are not all of a single nature, so we also cannot have a single style in combat, yet all must nonetheless arise and be derived from a single basis." -Joachim Meyer, Kunst des Fechten, 1570
"Who despises me and my praiseworthy craft,
I'll hit on the head that it resounds in his heart."
--Augustin Staidt, Federfechter
"The Truth in Combat is different for each individual.... Truth lies outside of All Fixed Patterns." -Bruce Lee
