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The Basic Guards of Medieval Longsword

One of the most important elements of historical fencing study is that of

basic fighting stances and guard positions. Nothing is more fundamental
than these two things. Stances or guards (leger/huten or guardia/posta)
are in many ways the very foundation of Medieval swordsmanship. The
offensive and defensive postures and ready positions from which to
deliver all manner of blows lie at the heart of any fighting method.
Unquestionably, they represent the beginning of study. All principles
and techniques of fighting all are employed in relation to these postures.
But they are not "static" postures, but dynamic "ready positions" from
which to strike or counter-strike.

The basic 4 from the Solothurner Fechtbuch

The primary postures or ready positions for long-swords, those which

date back to master Liechtenauer in the 1380’s (and likely the 1360’s if
not earlier) are: Ochs, Pflug, Alber, and Vom Tag. These are: the Ox, the
Plow, the Fool, the Roof. These of course correspond to in the middle
(“Plow”), outside high/horizontal pointing ("Ox"), low (“Fool”), and
high (“Roof”). Other spellings of Vom Tag are Vom Tach or Vom Dach.
The 14th century German grand Fechtmeister, Johannes Liechtenauer as
did many of his later heirs taught only the first four guards. To this we
can add a fifth, the Nebenhut ("near ward") or “Tail” (a “back” guard),
called Posta di Coda lunga distesa (“Long Lying Tail”) by Fiore Dei
Liberi in 1410 (although not included as primary, it appeared frequently
in subsequent German works). Thus, five basic fundamental stances or
guards are used with nearly all forms of Medieval long-
swords. Virtually all the masters taught these primary positions or
variations of them.

.
The basic 4 conventiently labled from Peter Von Danzig, 1449.

Ochs, Pflug, Alber, and Vom Tach from Palus Kal's Fechtbuch c. 1480.
Note the slight variations in hand and hilt positions from others.

These five guards can each transition one to any other and such should
always be practiced as a fundamental training exercise. Begin these
stances with a left leg leading, sword in right hand. Standard ARMA
long-sword curriculum utilizes all of these in conjunction with other
stances in our exercises and practice routines. The transition between
these stances should be fluid and smooth, and may or may not involve
passing forward the rear foor or passing back the front foot. There is a
substantial amount of information that can be conveyed about each
stance, their variations, how to move into or out of each, and what
actions they provides for. This short article does not cover that material,
only introduce these proper five primary guards. In addition to these 5
"primary" stances, there are others important (such as Iron Door,
Vechsel, etc.) that could be called "secondary" stances. Of these, 6 are
"symmetrical" and can be done as left or right side versions.

Tail guards from Fiore, Codex Wallerstien, and Hector Mair.

From another edition of Mair (c. 1542), clear examples of the Ochs, the Pflug, the
Alber, and Vom Tag.

The Major Longsword Guards of the German School

The first position, Ochs ("ox"),

essentially assumed by drawing the
weapon up and to the "outside". The
point may aim somewhat downward or
upward but typically aimed at the
opponent's face or throat. This was called
Finestra or "window" in Italian schools.

Note the blade alignment by observing

the angle of the cross, the blade is neither
vertical nor horzontal but slightly
diagonal, in fact, the natural position
acheived by cutting upward. In this
position note the short (back) edge aims
not upward or downward but toward the
fighter, while the thumb is under the
blade, not on top of it.
The hilt is held just in front of beside or
the head at temple level, but may be also
held just above it. Also, the Ochs is not a
"hanging point" or hanging guard
position. The Ochs position, although not
as stable as others, protects well, allows a
direct threat with its straight thrust, turn
to cut diagonally downward, or pull back
to cut from underneath.
Lowering the weapon to the middle
acheives the second position or Pflug
("plow"). Either passing or making a
single small step of the foot in transition
is useful here. The point should aim at
the opponent's chest or throat and the hilt
should be held more off to the side in
front of the hip joint rather than dead
center between the legs. Note that
depending on which leg leads in the
Pflug, the hip the pommel is in front
changes.

There are a few variations of this position

such as puling the hilt further back near
or even past the hip. Some masters are
specific that on the right side, the stance
is held with the long edge down but that
on the left side it is held long edge up (in
effect, merely a lowered a left Ochs).
This "long Pflug" (for lack of a term)
permits a quick cut under from behind as
well as allowing better donward thrusts.

Each of these left plow positions, long

edge up and long edge down, appear in
the source texts. To acheive either the left
hand should simply keep a looser grip to
allow it turn while the right maintains
normal grip pressure. The long edge
down position permits quick slices and
upward thrusts. Overall the plow protects
and covers very well while permitting all
attacks.

The third position is Alber ("fool"),

acheived by lowering the point with the
hands (and making a pass of the foot,
forward or back, in transition). Either leg
may lead. The weapon is held point
down, ussualy between the legs rather
than outside of or next to them. This
guard is also the "middle iron door" of
the Italians. The position is deceptively
open and allows for quick counter
strikes.

The fourth is "from the roof", Vom

Dach/Vom Tag (an Oberhut), by raising
the weapon up with the shoulders (held at
roughly 45-degrees, not horizontal).
Passing the foot is useful in transitioning
here. The position is both threatening and
warding. It easily lowers to any other
stance or turns to the ox.

The "roof" guard may also be placed over

the (generally right side) shoulder rather
than over the head. The hilt can be above
or in front of the collar, but not down in
front of the chest. Note the blade is
neither angled behind the head, nor held
horizontal, nor resting on the shoulder.
Some armors prevent holding the weapon
above the head, hence the side version.
More stable than held above the head, the
position still permits a variety of threats
and counters. This position easily turns
around into ox or drops down to plow.

When held over the shoulder strikes are

quicker and more deceptive but have
somewhat less range and strength. Note
that depending upon the angle and prior
action, the stance can appear as if the
weapon is held behind the head or neck,
when in fact, this is just an illusion
created by a turn of the waist.

In addition the four above, a fifth

position is the Nebenhut ("near ward"),
assumed by rotating the weapon down
and to the side from above. Passing the
foot again is useful in transitioning here.
In Italian this is called Posta Coda Longa
("tail" or "long tail"). Note on the right
side here the point slants downward and
behind, not off to the side, with the long
edge aiming forward at the opponent, not
at the ground. This permits a strong
rising cut with the long edge, ending in
an ox position. Otherwise, if held with
the short edge forward (such as in a left
side posture), a full upward cut with the
back of the blade end in the roof position.
While somewhat inviting, the Neben
stance is also meanacing and deceptive.

As with all the stances, except plow, the

sword is held essentially on a 45-degree
angle. The tail easily lifts to the roof or
rises up into an ox on the opposite side.

Excellent detailed descriptions of longsword stances come to us

from the Fechtbuch of Jud Lew (c.1450-1455) which clarifies
several points. In the right side Plow for example, we are told to
hold the sword "with the hands crossed below" and "the pommel
close to the right hip" short edge up. This makes perfect sense given
the turned and pulled back posture the stance inspires. For the left
side Plow, we are told only to hold the sword "close to the left side
below the left hip" long edge up. In the Fool we are told to hold the
sword "with arms stretched in front…the point on the ground." The
arms are thus not kept bent and against the body, but whether this
means literally resting the blade upon the ground is questionable.
For the Roof, we are told to stand holding the "sword with
uncrossed hands high over the head" so that the "point hangs a little
backwards." This implies the weapon is held upward in the middle
and not angling to the left or right, but is unclear whether the point
should actually come down below the head (as in a Zornhut) or
merely directed back behind the swordsman more naturally.

Note: To assist students in learning this weapon, I have found it very effective to rely
on a modern generic names (high, middle, low, outside, etc.) for the most fundamental
postures and positions universal to most all the Medieval and early Renaissance long-
sword source texts. But in moving beyond such a useful holistic approach, toward a
more precise understanding of the fighting styles of each historical text, we start to
note the differences between Masters. Some of these terms and positions we study
correct or supercede ones listed in my 1998, Medieval Swordsmanship, book (itself
researched in '96). The tentative nature of historical research means that some terms
and names as well as postures have been amended and corrected from those in the
book. However, this clarification does not invalidate the generalized fighting postures
presented in the book’s overview of stances, or the tactical understanding provided
therein.
- John C., ARMA Director, May 2001.
Updated Nov. 2003 / Oct 2004.

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