This module examines the application of Versetzen using a häwen to the Läger of Stier. Beginning with the posture of Mittelhut, and expanding to other Läger, students will learn how to defend themselves from a variety of attacks using Stier as well as the appropriate nachschlag work.
You approach your opponent in a seemingly demure posture, offering various tempting targets. Your opponent, believing to have the advantage, breaks their measure and attempts to attack your head.
Unfortunately for them, you have set a trap: Since your opponent has broken their measure with the time of the foot, you strike out (using the time of the hand), warding their attack by cutting to the guard of Stier.
Once you are safely behind a true-cross, counter-strike with other work. The traditional Talhoffer images preview one follow up, but there are several options available that we’ll get to later.
This “other work” can take on various iterations, based on the situation you’re in. To folks who study KdF, this is going to sound really familiar:
- Ideally they are displaced, and are “weak” in this bind — you push in for a thrust.
- This means you have either struck your opponent’s sword away, or you have superior leverage based on measure or position on the sword.
- If they are strong with the cut — you VerHangen or use the Armored Hand, and counter-attack.
- If they are in close measure, or threaten to grab you:
- You can thrust or cut, but must restrain their messer arm using the grips (to be discussed later).
- You can also endanger them with a thrust or cut to the hand or arm as they come in.
- Another option is that you don’t even have to ward! You might end up laming them: hitting their hand or wrist in such a way that stops from them using their sword. We’ll take a look at this in a future module.
Against a variety of strikes:
The cut to stier from mittelhut can be deployed against a variety of strikes. We’ll be creating video examples of these in the near future and will update this post once they are recorded:
Against Oberhau — Cut to Stier, with a side step of the left foot.
Against Underhau — Stepping back and thrust or hewattack.
Against descending Thrust — Counter-thrust with small offline step with the left foot.
Against ascending Thrust — Counter-thrust with triangle footwork.