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Western Swordsmanship Technique & Research |
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The German masters focused on three types of attack: a cut, a slice, and a thrust. These were known as the drei wunder, or three wonders. Here you'll find only a discussion on basic cuts.
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There are three basic cuts: a downward cut (oberhau), done both diagonally and vertically, a horizontal cut (mittelhau), and a rising cut (unterhau). The diagram below shows the cuts in a circle that we use to practice cutting from all directions.
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Cuts begin in a guard and moving the blade toward the target. For simplicity, assume the blade passes through the target. As the cut is completed, the blade ends up in another guard. In the video below, note how Ken begins in the Plow (a middle guard), pulls back into the Roof guard (a high guard) and cuts through Plow again to end in Alber (a low guard).
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Straight Cut Video
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Cuts can also be delivered by whirling the blade around to generate momentum. This is called a moulinet and appears to be an Italian concept. We have seen few references made to it in the German texts, though circular cuts made all the way around the head are common in Meyer's text (1570). One could argue that this kind of cut would endanger the attacker as the blade does not clear a safe path immediately, while another could argue that the cut is deceptive and therefore useful. We need to explore this further.
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Moulinet Cut Video
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For more advanced cutting, review our interpretation of Liechtenauer's Master Cuts.
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