Meyer Notes 1 - Some Basics

2038-01-19T03:14:07Z

So, I started re-reading Joachim Meyer's The Art of Combat the other day, and as per the suggestion of one of my teachers, I thought I might take a few notes. I am interested currently in Meyer's description of the longsword and of the rapier.

I'm reading Jeffrey Forgeng's translation (Greenhill Books, 2006). A facsimile of Meyer's text is available here and the illustrations here, both courtesy of the Higgins Armory Sword Guild. A German transcription and images are available here, courtesy of Die Freifechter.

Division of Combat: Any combat can be divided into three parts: the Beginning, the Middle, and the End. The Beginning or Onset (Zufechten) is when one lays against the opponent, using cuts delivered from the various stances. The Middle or Handwork (Handtarbeit) is when one uses binds, winds, snaps, chnages, deceptions, etc. to strike at the opponent. [Note the assumption that the beginning cut is not expected to strike your opponent but that you will have to work after the onset to defeat him.] The End or Withdrawal (Abzug) is when one withdraws from the combat unharmed.

Division of Combatant - Longsword: The division of the combatant is important in that it defines the possible openings on your opponent and the appropriate stance to defend a particular area of your own defense. In longsword, the division of the combatant is rather simple: he is divided into four quarters: upper, lower, right, and left. This easily imagined by drawing a vertical line through the body from head to foot and then a horizontal line through the chest. Meyer further divides the combatant by drawing a second horizontal line through the eyes, thus dividing the combatant's head into four quarters as well.

(Image courtesy of Higgins Armory Sword Guild)

Division of Combatant - Rapier: In rapier, the division of the combatant is a little more involved. As before, the combatant is divided into left and right by a vertical line. However, two more vertical lines are drawn, one through each shoulder (as per the left-most figure in the first image below). Furthermore, three diagonal lines may drawn from left to right through the combatant, though the chest, the hips, and thighs (as per the center figure in the first image below). These three lines may also be drawn from right to left, creating a series of Xs through the combatant (as per the second image). Finally, three horizontal lines may be drawn through the combatant (as per the right-most figure in the first image below).

(Images courtesy of Higgins Armory Sword Guild)

The purpose of these lines is inprincipally to guide cuts against your opponent.

Division of the sword: The sword is first divided into two principal parts at its mid-point: the forte (Stercke) and the foible (Schweche). But, it may be further divided into four parts: the Grip (Hilt - Gefess), the forte, the middle - taken equally from the forte and the foible - and the foible. The blade also has a "front" and a "back". The "front" of the blade or Long Edge is the edge from your fingers extending toward your opponent (marked LAN.S. (Lange Schneide) in the image below). The "back" or Short Edge is the edge facing your thumb (marked KV.S. (Kurtze Schneide) in the image below).

(Image courtesy of Higgins Armory Sword Guild)

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Meyer Notes 1 - Some Basics