Guards: Ochs

[slowmonet]

1:07 Holding a longsword like that isn't as easy as it looks! lol

[slowmonet]

1:07 - 1:10 It's not as easy as it looks lol

[bryngOneOn]

seriously though, how do you know all this, is it authentic to how they may have used a long sword in battle back in centuries when it was the weapon of choice, has the knowledge been passed down or have you just found a book on the subject, i love the idea that the art has been kept alive, passed down generation to generation

[bryngOneOn]

my neighboors keep playing their music too loud, thanks for the lesson, it's been invaluable

[ColonelMarksman]

Did I meet you? In a Fiore class? You study the German's style, don't you?

[fortejeff]

It's entirely possible, though it would have been a while ago probably. Where/when/with whom have you taken Fiore classes? And where are you located?

[hamsapsifu]

Isn't the cross guard supposed to be more or less horizontal instead of vertical as shown here?

[fortejeff]

There are images that suggest both, and I've seen enough tactical examples across the tradition that suggest that horizontal, diagonal, and vertical angles are all potentially important. If you know of a source that says that it should be exclusively horizontal, I'd be interested in hearing about it.

[Nazgrol]

I have found it's easier to thrust from horizontal and block/parry in vertical

[GnPdemon]

Are you sure that you are supposed to be crossing your wrists from Ochs? I have been told many times not to do it from Hanging Guard, but I am not sure if you are not supposed to do it from Ochs either.

[fortejeff]

Yep -- Ochs is pretty clearly defined in the historical treatises (check out existing published translations of both Ringeck and Meyer) as a guard that can be held from both the right and left sides. So, out of pure symmetry, you'll get crossed hands on the right side. See also the large figure on the left on plate B in Meyer's longsword: that's a pretty good illustration of Ochs explicitly with the hands crossed (and is referenced as such by Meyer).

[GnPdemon]

Thanks for clarifying

[fortejeff]

No problem -- thanks for asking! :-)