Parts of the Longsword

Ort/Point - The point is the very tip of the blade and is used for thrusts.

Schneide/Edge - The longsword has a two-edged blade, with both edges sharpened for slices
and strikes.

Lange Schneide/Long Edge - The long edge is the edge facing the same direction as the
swordsman's knuckles; when holding the sword with the arms straight out in front of the body,
the long edge of the sword is the edge that is pointing away from the swordsman.

Kurze Schneide/Short Edge - The short edge is the edge facing the other direction from the
swordsman's knuckles; when holding the sword with the arms straight out in front of the body,
the short edge of the sword is the edge that is pointing back towards the swordsman

Schilt/Shield - The schilt is a protruding section at the base of the blade, just above the
crossguard. This can perform various functions, including improving the balance and handling of
the sword and protecting the fingers.

Gehilze/Crossguard - The crossguard is the horizontal guard between the grip and the blade.
Its purpose is to help protect a swordsman's fingers from an opponent's sword sliding down the
blade.

Klos/Pommel - The pommel is the solid counterweight at the bottom of the hilt that brings the
balance point of the weapon closer to the grip. Without the effect of the pommel the weapon
would be much less balanced and more difficult to wield

Heft/Grip - The grip is where the swordsman should hold the weapon with both hands.
Starke/Strong - The strong of the blade is the lower half of the blade, the half that is closer to
the hilt.

Schwech/Weak - The weak of the blade is the upper half of the blade, the half that is further
from the hilt

Core Guards of the Liechtenauer Tradition

The guards are the positions one may take with a longsword in the Liechtenauer tradition.

1) Vom Tag
This is a high guard that will most often be used at a longer distance. There are two
standard variants of Vom Tag - “shoulder” and “overhead”;

1.1) Shoulder Vom Tag

To assume this guard on the right side of the body, stand with the left foot forward and
rest the short edge of your blade on your right shoulder. The hilt of your weapon should
be just in front of your chest, or slightly higher. The blade should always incline back
over your shoulder at an angle of between 30º and 60º. The hilt should also not be
allowed to drop too low, since dropping the hilt lower than the chest will slow down
attacks, as the sword would need to be pushed upwards instead of straight forward
when attacking.

1.2) Overhead Vom Tag

 To assume this variant, hold the sword directly above your head, with the blade pointing
backwards with roughly a 30º to 45º angle. The pommel should just be in your field of
view; the left hand on the pommel should be directly in front of your forehead and the
right hand should be directly above the crown of your head.

2) Ochs

To assume this guard on the right, put your left foot forward, and hold the back of your
right hand above and slightly in front of your right temple, with the point at your
opponent’s face. The cross-section of the blade can either be perpendicular to the
ground, parallel, or any angle in between, but the direction of the blade should be either
parallel to the ground or dipped very slightly if the hands are higher than the head.
 3) Pflug
This is a middle guard that can be effectively used in any phase of the fight. Pflug is
excellent defensively, as it protects most of the torso while keeping the hands low and
safe.
To assume this guard on the right, put your left foot forward and hold your sword by your
right hip with the point facing the opponent. The short edge should be on top.

4) Alber

This is a low guard that is often used defensively, to goad an opponent into attacking
one’s head by presenting an opening. When the opponent does attack, the fencer in
Alber can then counter.
To assume Alber, point your sword at the ground with the short edge on top, keeping the
sword in between you and your opponent. This is the same if either foot is forward.

Strikes of the Liechtenauer Tradition

Oberhaw (“over-strike”) - any strike that comes from a higher position and strikes down onto the
opponent. An example of such an Oberhaw is the Zornhaw.

Underhaw (“under-strike”) - an attack striking up into the opponent’s body, describing an

upward arc