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Sigmund Rjngeck’s Knightly Akt of tiie Longsword

Vom Dach/vom Tag-From the roof/from above. The basie posi-tion is with the sword by the right shoulder and right foot lead-ing. It can also be done with the sword high over your head.

Vom Schwert-From the sword. An action done from the bind of the swords, when you do a technique in the krieg.

Vor-Before. The principle of being the first to act, thus forcing the opponent to react and robbing him of the initiative in the exchange of blows. Vor does not always mean being the first to act; sometimes it means not being the last to finish. It is the opposite of nach, or acting after the opponent does. A good swordsman can tum riach into vor.

Winden-Winding/turning. Windcn is the action of turning the blade from side to side and from high to Iow and Iow to high while changing the angle of attack in the same movement. A central piece in Liechtenauers system it can be done both im band as well as out of the bind. Mutieren is a special case of winden, sińce you cross over your opponent’s blade, something you never do in winden.

Zomhaw-Rage strike/strike of wrath. A diagonal strike done from the shoulder or pulled back behind the back and executed with a step forward or back. It can be aimed from the head to the ankle. Also any diagonal strike, and of the meisterhaw.

Zucken-Jerk/twitch/draw. Striking in a side-to-side motion, a wind-milling/moulinet-type action.

Zufechten-The approach. The initial phase of combat. One of the two phases of combat where the combatants are closing dis-tance to engage and an attack is madę or their weapons make contact

Zwerchaw-Transverse strike/cross strike. A horizontal or slightly slanting strike madę right-to-left. The zwerchaw is one of the meisterhaw and is used to deflect incoming strikes from above.

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