Die Schlachtschule

Official Secondary Curriculum

I. Longsword (Number in parentheses is the page from my longsword book)
A. ZORNHAU (176)
1.) The Stechen Unter
When you thrust from the Winden as described and he displaces the thrust by lifting up
his arms and his hilt, stay in the Winden and take the point down between his arms and
breast. (Ringeck 20r-v)

2.) Duplieren to Mutieren (138)

If you want to break one of the four openings by force, then Duplieren at the upper
opening, against the strong of his sword, and then Mutieren to another opening.
Against this he cannot defend himself and he will not be able to either strike or thrust.
(Ringeck 23v-24r)

B. KRUMPHAU
1.) The Ansetzen (No)
This is how you can Absetzen the cuts from above with the Krumphau: If he attacks you
from his right side with an Oberhau, step towards his left side with your right foot and
put your point in the Schrankhut. Practice this from both sides. From the Absetzen you
can strike him on the head. (Ringeck 24r-25v)*

2.) The Kurtzhau (No)

[28r] When he strikes an Oberhau from his right shoulder, pretend as if you are going to
bind against his sword with a Krumphau. But let your strike fall short, lead your point
through under his sword and wind your hilt over your head and to your right side.
Then thrust him in the face. (Ringeck 26r)*

C. ZWERCHHAU
1.) The Hintertretten (No)
If you bind against his sword with the Zwerch and he is soft at the sword, place the
short edge at the right side of his neck, jump behind his left foot with your right foot
and tear him over with the sword. (Ringeck 28r)*

2.) A defense against the upper Zwerch (212)

When you bind at his sword with an Oberhau or another strike from your right side
and he strikes with the Zwerch at your other side, forestall this with a Zwerch to his
neck under his sword. (Ringeck 28v)

3.) The Verkehrer (250)

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If you bind at your adversary’s sword with an Oberhau or an Unterhau, turn your
sword so that your thumb is down and thrust to his face from above so you force him to
displace the thrust. While he displaces, grab his right elbow with your left hand, place
your left leg in front of his right leg and toss him over. (Ringeck 30r)*

4.) The Double Veler (252)

Here, you must deceive him twice while closing in. When you come close to him with
the Zufechten, jump towards him with the left foot and feint a Zwerch to the left side of
the head but then turn the blow over and strike to the right side of his head. If you have
attacked him on the right side of the head as described, strike immediately at the same
spot. Then go over his sword with the short edge and your hands not crossed, jump to
your left side and cut through his face with the long edge. (Ringeck 30v-31r)*

5.) Unterhengen bricht Zwerch to the Neck (214)

If you strike a Zwerchhau and he wants to forestall you with a Zwerch under your
sword to the neck, fall down strongly with the long edge onto his sword, thus the
technique is broken. And find the next opening with becomes available. (Ringeck 53r)

6.) Schnappen bricht Halsschnitt (204)

This can be broken as follows: if someone drives their sword to your neck, go on the
inside of his sword with the pommel upward and let the blade hang down. Strike at the
same time his sword away from your neck and strike him with a Schnappen above to
the head. (VD 20v.)*

7.) Duplieren in a Hard Bind of the Zwerchhau (206)

If you strike a Zwerchhau from your right to your opponent, and he displaces by
binding strongly against your sword, use Duplieren. (VD 20r.)*

8.) Break the Lower Zwerchhau (216)

If your opponent strikes from his right side with a Zwerchhau to the left side of your
head, displace with the long edge at his sword and remain at him with the point before
his chest. If he then passes from the sword with a Zwerchhau to your lower right
opening, likewise strike with a Zwerchhau down between you, also to his right side.
Bind thus with his sword and remain there, while you Indes thrust to the lower
opening. (VD 21v.)*

D. SCHIELHAU
1.) Bricht Durchwechseln (228)
If he does a Durchwechseln [when you strike with the Schielhau], thrust him into his
breast with your arms extended. (Ringeck 31v)

2.) Schielhau to the Hands (235)

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When he strikes an Oberhau look at his head as if you intend to strike him there. But
then strike against his blow with the short edge and then strike at the hands with your
point, along his blade. (Ringeck 32v)*

E. SCHEITELHAU (NONE)

F. TECHNIQUES AGAINST DISPLACEMENT

1.) Halbschwert bricht Versetzen (104)
If you strike an Oberhau from the right and if you want to end the fight, then note:
when he displaces, immediately strike around to the other side with the Zwerchhau.
Grab the blade of your sword with the left hand and thrust into his face or attack one of
the other openings you can reach best. (Ringeck 36r.)

2.) If your Halbschwert is Displaced (105)

If you thrust at his face at the Halbschwert and he displaces this, immediately strike
him on the other side of the head with the pommel. (Ringeck 36r.)*

3.) Abschneiden bricht Halbschwert Ort (107)

If you bind with him and he changes through and changes to Halbschwert, counter it
with a slice from above. And as you slice you can switch to Halbschwert and thrust.
(Ringeck 53v-54r)

4.) Hintertretten bricht Versetzen (106)

Next, if someone binds you by the sword, then wind your short edge into his face and
go simultaneously at him. Step forward with your left foot, hit him with your pommel
on his hand, grasp your blade in your left hand and put it on his neck, as depicted here,
so that you can throw him on his back. (Codex Wallerstein 10r.)*

F. NACHREISEN (145)
1.) First Ausser Abnehmen (Mutieren bricht Hinterbinden)
If his strike falls short, travel after him. If he displaces that, stay am Schwert and check
whether he's hard or soft in the bind. When he pushes up your sword with strength,
place your blade on the outside of his blade and thrust at his lower opening. (Ringeck
37v)

2.) The Second Ausser Abnehmen (146)

Also, if you fight against him with low strikes or other techniques and he forestalls this
and winds against your sword from above so that you cannot move it up, maintain
strong contact with his sword from below. If he then attacks your high opening follow
with your sword, take the weak of his blade with your long edge, push it down and
thrust into his face. (Ringeck 37v-38r)

G. OTHER TECHNIQUES

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1.) The Zucken with a Step (109)
When you move in from the Zufechten to strike him from your right with an Oberhau
to the head and he binds your sword, take a single step towards him, maintaining
pressure against his sword. Then jerk your sword above and away from his to
disengage. Then strike his head from the other side. If he displaces this, then hit him on
the other side and work skillfully to his upper openings with Duplieren and other
plays. (Ringeck 41v)*

H. RINGEN AM SCHWERT
1.) The forward Trip (273)
When he holds his sword aloft to strike you a powerful blow then will you hold your
sword with the left hand on the pommel above your head and the blade over your back.
Duck under his right arm, leave your right leg in front of his and grip him with your
right arm around his back, then throw him behind you. (Ringeck 42v)*

2.) The Hip Throw (275)

[43r] If he rushes in at you, let your sword out in your left hand and hold it in with your
right. Knock his sword away with the hilt out of your right side. Spring your left foot in
front of his right, grip him with your left arm about his body take him on the left hip
and throw him to the ground.*

3.) The Sword Taking (283)

If he binds your sword with a displacement or by other means, then seize both swords
in the center of the blades with the left wrong hand. Hold them together firmly, and
drive through with your right hand to your left side with the pommel down, over both
of his hands and then pull upward to your right side. Thus you take both swords.
(Ringeck 44v)*

I. WINDEN
1.) Unterhau bricht Winden (125)
Next, if you bind someone by the sword and he winds you in your face with his short
edge, then wind high and when he defends and wants to displace, strike him with a
shortened stroke on his elbow, as depicted here. (Codex Wallerstein 7r.)

2.) SCHNAPPEN IF YOUR UNTERHAU BRICHT WINDEN IS DISPLACED (126)

Next, if you hit someone on his elbow as depicted before but he defends himself, push
his sword downward with your hilt and hit him with the pommel. And, using both
arms, put the short edge on his neck and pull, as depicted here. (Codex Wallerstein 7v)

3.) Winden if your Unterhau is Displaced (127)

Next, one more trick: If you strike at his elbow and he defends against the blow, remain
standing with your sword on his and step forward with the right foot, as if you want to

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hit him on his other side, and cut from the outside at his left ear, as shown here. This is
called “Outer taking.” (Codex Wallerstein 8r.)*

4.) Halbschwert bricht Winden (129)

Next, if someone winds you in your face, then quickly grasp your blade with your left
hand and thrust over his sword into his testicles, as depicted here. That is really a good
trick. (Codex Wallerstein 11r.)

J. ABSCHNEIDEN
1.) Abschneiden bricht Schnappen (see new Longsword Training Guide)
If you bind strongly against his sword and he then snaps his sword over yours to strike
at your head, wind your sword with the hilt in front of your head and slice under his
arm. As you slice, set the point down into his chest. (Ringeck 45r-v)

2.) Unterhengen bricht Abschneiden (159)

If you strike an Oberhau and he binds and lifts up his hilt, and you do the same and
rush in, try the cut from below. If, however, he wants to slice you with a cut under your
hands into the arm, follow his sword downward and press strongly down with the long
edge so the cut is broken. Find an opening immediately. (Ringeck 53r-v)

K. NEBENHUT
1.) Schnappen against a hard bind (262)
Or, if he falls strongly on your sword, move the pommel over his sword, remain
thereupon with your hands and direct your point to the rear of your left side, and snap
to his head with the short edge. (Ringeck 50r.)

2.) If he Winds Against Your Hinterbinden (263)

If you strike like before against his sword and he moves up and winds, strike him with
a step backwards with outstretched arms to his right side. (Ringeck 50r.)*

3.) Durchwechseln (264)

If his hands are low and he wants to fall on your sword, strike through to the other side
and thrust to his chest. This is a Durchwechseln. (Ringeck 50v.)

4.) If You Miss Your Hinterbinden (265)

If your strike passes by his, fall on his sword with the long edge and wind up to your
left side so that your thumb is down. Lay the strong of your long edge on the right side
of his neck, jump with the right foot behind his left, and with a step tear him over. [NB:
Modify this to Winden.] (Ringeck 50v.)*

*An asterisk represents a longsword technique which is not in any of the Formal
Exercises, and thus must be demonstrated as part of the Longsword Journeyman test.
Stricken-through techniques are being considered for removal from this list.

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II. Ringen und Dolchfechten (Numbers in parentheses are from my Ringbuch)
A. STANDING RINGEN
1.) Shoulder Armbar from the Side (47)

(Talhoffer 1459 55r)

2.) Back-lever Throw counter to the Straight Armbar (53)

(Talhoffer 1467 91r)

3.) Leg-lift counter to the Straight Armbar (55)

(Talhoffer 1467 105v)

4.) Straight Armbar to the Figure 4 From the change: Not listed. (58)

5.) Figure 4 to Straight Armbar From the Change: Not Listed. (59)

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6.) Leg Lift Counter to Hip Throw (71)

(Talhoffer 1467 103r)

7.) The Shoulder Wheel (76)

(Talhoffer 1459 51r)

8. ) Chest-press Counter to Shoulder Wheel (77)

(Talhoffer 1459 51v)

9.) Backward-trip Counter to Backward Trip: Not Listed. (83)

B. UNTERHALTEN WHEN HE IS ON HIS BACK

1.) The Kneeling Pin
The Second Unterhalten: If you throw someone onto his back, then attack him with the
left knee on his right arm, exactly on the joint. And attack him with the left arm on his

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neck, and press hard. Seize his left hand with your right, and hold him then with your
left hand then you can do whatever you please with the right hand. This works also for
the left side. (Ringeck 71v)

2.) The Double Knee Lift

The Third Unterhalten: If you wish to throw someone onto his back, then seize his legs
(in falling) under the knee with both hands. And lift, as high as you can, and attack him
between his legs with both knees into the testicles. And bend down, so that you can
hold both of his legs with one hand, then you can use your other hand as you please.
(Ringeck 72r)

3.) The Cross-face Hold

A further play: If you grapple with your opponent and throw him on his back, lay with
your body across his face, then grab him by the neck under one arm so that he is
blinded and cannot easily rise. Then, stab to the palm of whichever hand he reaches to
you, or under the shoulder, or down to his testicles and all other joints with your
dagger; whichever you think will defeat him best. (VD 72r.)

4.) The Arm Hold Behind the Head

Note the seventh technique of holding: When you have brought him down onto his
back with wrestling then fall between his legs with your right knee and place your right
foot over his left instep; thus, you hold his foot so that he cannot pull his leg. And take
his left hand into your left hand and pull it behind his head and hold tight and work
towards his face as seen in the picture above. (Gladiatoria 59r.)

5.) The Foot Stab

Or, alternatively, if he falls and you can reach his foot, stab at his sole. (VD 72r.)

C. UNTERHALTEN WHEN HE IS ON HIS BELLY

1.) The Sitting Arm Hold
A further play: If you throw him onto his belly with Ringen, sit upon him right away
and seize his right hand with your right, then pull it up behind his back and hold it

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there with your left hand. Stab him with your right hand into the palm of his hand or
under his shoulder. (VD 72r.)

2.) The Foot Stab

Or, alternatively, if he falls and you can reach his foot, stab at his sole. (VD 72r.)

3.) The Kneeling Elbow Break

An arm break: Note: if he falls on his stomach then follow with one knee on his arm in
the joint and break upward. (Hundfeldt 92r.)

4.) The Sitting Elbow Break

Note: when he lies on his belly then sit on him and step over his arm and break it.
(Hundfeldt 92r.)

5.) The Sitting Head Lift

Note: sit down straddling his shoulders and pull his head upward. (Hundfeldt 92r.)

6.) When He Tries to Rise

Note the sixth technique of holding: When you have brought him down onto his back
[should be belly] with wrestling then fall with your right knee next to his right leg and
with your left knee onto his ass. When tries to get up with both arms then strike his
right arm underneath his chest with your right hand and grab his left wrist with your
left hand and turn it around behind his back and hold it tight and pull your dagger and
work as you see in the picture above. (Gladiatoria 58v.)

D. DOLCHFECHTEN
Mark when you stab down to one from above, and you hold your dagger so that the
disc lies behind your hand if he displaces with an inverted hand, whichever hand it is
and will wrench around your right arm or wrench out the dagger, then wind your
dagger over his hand and cut it off. (Hundfeldt 95r.)

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III. Spießfechten
1.) AUSSCHLAGEN
Note the first technique of the spear: When you first step into the lists and become
aware of your opponent, then take your shield in your left hand and ready the spear for
a strong thrust from above. And look where best you can hit him with your thrust.
So take your spear into both hands and strongly strike out the thrust he wanted
to do to you, and after you have struck out his thrust set your left foot forward and
thrust powerfully at him with both hands. (Gladiatoria 1v)

2.) LONG SPEAR DEFLECTION WITH SWORD

Note the fifth technique: Now if you have thrown your spear and he wants to over-rush
you with his spear, then take your sword in both your hands and strike out his thrust
up from below. And when you have struck out his thrust, take your sword at the
armor-hand and work with him for the spear. (Gladiatoria 3v)

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IV. Halbschwert (Number in parenthesis is the page in new halfsword book)
A. FROM DISPLACEMENT
1.) Pommel Wind Breaks Pommel Wrench Counter to BLT (106)
If he has seized your pommel, wind with your pommel from below high outside
around his left hand. Go with your right leg forward and push him with your blade to
his left arm. (Lignitzer 73v)

2.) Straight Armbar if you are displaced (111)

If you stand in the lower guard, thrust at him from below to his face. If he thrusts at the
same time to you, seize his left hand with your left and with your right grasp his elbow
and use an arm break. (VD 64r)

3.) Winden breaks Straight Armbar (112)

If someone seizes your left hand with his left, drive with the forward part of your
sword over his left hand. Then, press downwards and set upon him. (VD 64r)

B. FIRST GUARD (None)

C. SECOND GUARD
1.) Winden from Brentschirn (131)
If you stand in the lower guard, thrust strongly to him from beneath to his face. If he
thrusts at the same time as you and remains with his point before your face and makes
to set upon you, drive your sword into the upper guard and thrust at his face. If he then
displaces you by lifting his left arm, Zucken beneath him and set your point in his left
armpit and push him before you. (VD 84v)

2.) The outward Point Lever Breaks Oberstich (142)

(Talhoffer 1459 92v)

3.) Outside Pommel Armryssen breaks Unterstich (146)

Note the fifth technique of the sword: If you both try to thrust inside each other’s
swords at each other’s faces then push the point of his sword down with your sword
and catch with your pommel from above in between his left hand and the sword and

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jerk towards you so that you take his sword from his hand as you see it in the picture
above. (Gladiatoria 8v)

4.) Knee kick from Brentschirn (152)

Note the technique: If one has thrust vigorously to the chest and the swords have
connected to the outside then lift his point up strongly with your sword and lift your
left foot and kick against his knee like in the picture above. (Gladiatoria 27r)

5.) Hintertretten breaks Knee Kick (153)

This is the counter to the forty-second technique of the sword and is the forty-third in
number: If he tries to kick your left leg with his foot then pull that foot back and place
your right foot outside of his left foot and catch him with your pommel at the right side
of his neck. So you throw him away as seen in the picture above. (Gladiatoria 27v)

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D. THIRD GUARD
1.) Outside Pommel Armryssen breaks Oberstich (171)
Note the eleventh technique of the sword which is the second part of the straß der
glider: When one thrusts at the other and wants to drive the technique then thrust him
at the outside of his sword and drive through between his hands with your pommel
and hook him with the pommel at the outside of his upper left arm and pull quickly
towards you so that you break his arm or throw him as you see in the picture above.
(Gladiatoria 11v)

E. FOURTH GUARD (None)

F. SCHLACHENDEN ORT
1.) Outside Pommel Schwertryssen breaks Oberschlag (195)
If you have your sword over your left knee in guard and he is not strong, then when he
strikes from above with his pommel at you, catch his blow with skill between your
hands in the center of your sword. … Or you can drive at him with the pommel over his
forward hand, tear it down and then set upon him. (VD 70v)

2.) Hintertretten breaks Oberschlag (199)

Note the sixth technique of the sword: If he has set his right foot and has struck the
Mordschlag to your head, then catch the strike with your sword in between your hands
and step with your left foot outside of his right foot and catch with your point at the left
side of his neck so you can throw him onto his back as you see it in the picture above.
(Gladiatoria 9r)

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G. UNARMED DEFENSES
1.) Shoulder Wheel breaks Oberstich (202)
Note the forty-eighth technique of the sword: If he has gotten his sword back then
before he notices quickly rush into both his hands. If he throws his left hand forward,
hits your chest and doesn’t want you to advance then grab quickly for his left hand with
your right hand and step forward and move through his left shoulder with your head
and grab around below his body with your left hand so you throw him onto his head as
seen in the picture above. (Gladiatoria 30r)

2.) Straight Armbar breaks Unterstich (205)

If you stand in the lower guard, thrust at him from below to his face. If he thrusts at the
same time to you, seize his left hand with your left and with your right grasp his elbow
and use an arm break. (VD 64r)

3.) First Wrestling breaks Oberschlag (206)

This is the counter to the forty-fourth technique of the sword and is the forty-fifth in
number: If you have lost all your defenses then place your left foot forward and your
left arm onto his right arm and catch his strike with both your arms and run into him
and grab the back of his knee from the outside with your right hand and grab from
outside under his left shoulder with your reversed left hand so you can throw him as
seen in the picture above. (Gladiatoria 28v)

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V. Streitaxt (Numbers in parenthesis are page numbers from my pollaxe book)
A. MAIL
1.) Forward Trip breaks Halsryßen (109)

(Talhoffer 1467 48r)

B. DAGUE
1.) Croix Counter to BLT (122)
He could counter this opening by turning the croix of his axe under the queue of yours,
and with the said croix push your queue away from him. And while carrying out this
counter, he could follow you, one foot after the other, to get between you and your
queue in order to jab you in the face. (Le Jeu 14)

C. QUEUE (None)

D. LEFT HANDER
1.) Queue displacement (172)
If the left-hander comes at you swinging. You must step forward on your left foot,
hitting hard with the queue of your axe to intercept his stroke so that the blow does not
fall on you. And the counter having been made, you must quickly withdraw your
queue, bringing down the mail of your said axe against the back of his axe to help him
go with the swing with which he thought to strike you. Or to make the big end escape
from his hand. (Le Jeu 52)

2.) BLT breaks queue displacement (174)

If you hit out at your left-hander with a swing, and it is met with his queue in the
above-said fashion. Immediately his stroke has been delivered, give him a great blow
with your queue against the back of his, to try to make him lose his grip with one hand.
But whether or not he loses his grip, you can, with the said blow, immediately advance
your left foot behind his heel, putting your queue under his chin to knock him
backwards, if you can. And if you can do nothing, return quickly on your guard. As
you retire following your steps thus remain on the guard of your queue. (Le Jeu 55)

3.) The elbow lift counter from the bind of the Croix (188)

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 (Talhoffer 1467 49r)

4.) Queue Versetzen br. Oberstich (184)

If your queues are crossed together. You can hold them fast together, so that he holds
his tight. And then you must step back with your left foot; and as you step back,
smoothly give him a blow with the mail on his hands. And this is a good stroke, but
only when your queue is behind his. And to protect yourself from this blow, make sure
that he never has his queue behind yours: because, if he has it in front, he cannot do it to
you on account of your queue which prevents it.
When you have your queue behind his, thrusting it forward a little, you can
always give him a jab in the face. (Le Jeu 66-67)

5.) BLT br. Double Unterstich (191)

Set aside and wind up and take the wrenching by the neck. (Kal 40r)

E. UNARMED AGAINST AN AXE

1.) Forward Lift Throw (195)

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(Talhoffer 1459 134r)

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