Guard Transition Drill: German Longsword

Guard Transition Drills taken from Tobler's "Fighting with the German Longsword". Hanwei Practical H&H with scabbard so you can see the sword better.

Someone requested that I put up a video of some basic guard transitions. It might seem like a very simple thing, but changing from guard to guard correctly can be challenging. I've already noticed plenty of mistakes since filming. Feel free to critique.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Christian Tobler
• Ochs
• Pflug
• Vom Tag
• Alber
• German Longsword
• Drill

[masedama]

stances are, sorry to say.. bullshit. they only make you easy to read, you need to unpretictable when you fight

[Djemps]

@masedama There's no need to swear. Especially considering the fact that you have no idea what you are talking about. It just makes you look like a dolt.

[Kunstdesfechtens]

Good vid. I like that you're always moving in true time. Good habit to move into. I do my Pflug differently, like in Ringeck, with the sword right over the back knee. This charges the muscles and causes tension over the left shoulder, making the thrust much more explosive. It also fits the Von Danzig images very well. I've found it's made a big difference in how that guard works. :)

[Djemps]

@Kunstdesfechtens Thanks for the compliment. I made this vid for an online friend to help them visualize one of the drills in Tobler's book. Looking at it now I see all my mistakes and I think it is quite messy, but I'm glad there are some good points to be found. I understand what you mean about Ringeck's Pflug. It seems that Pflug is the guard that changes the most often in description and illustration.

[lorepoetess]

Awesome. Thank you so much for doing this. I already see the mistakes I have made in my transitions when comparing it to yours. I am going to mirror your transitions when practicing and hopefully I will be ready for the group in New Orleans with these basics by January. I appreciate you taking the time to do this!

[Djemps]

You're welcome. I can tell you are practicing hard. I'm sure you'll be a pro by January. Keep it up!

[mesadama]

@masedama What do I know really? Here in Norway our government restricts our freedoms so much that we can't even own long swords. I wish I lived in America so I could enjoy the basic freedoms of life that you guys have. Norway is a communist country, and we Norwegians are to cowardly to speak up for our rights. We have a tradition here in Norway called Jenteloven, which critisizes anyone who takes initiative or does anything different than the majority. I admire America, and want to live there.

[HappyVanillaAngel]

@masedama Sorry but you have no clue what you are talking about.

[Primetarget83]

@masedama every fighting style has stances. And if stances where so inefficient why do every fighting style in different cultures, different times and with or without weapons have stances?

[darkfiete]

@masedama stances and the transitions between them are the basics of attacking and defending, with them you have the most effective movements for your counter-attacks

[OberleutnantFalke]

@masedama Stances are completely necessary in fighting, especially with a sword; they are the foundation of defensive and ofensive movements. Attacks and defenses attempted without proper form are weak and inefficient. If you know well enough how to coordinate guards, attacks, counterattacks, etc., then you can be extremely unpredictable.

[KirkhamsEbooks]

Mirror helped me a lot empty handed as well till my kinesthetic sense developed more

Rick