Stewart Sackett wrote:In the early wrestling plates of the Codex Wallerstein the descriptions make reference to the 1st, 5th, 6th & 7th horizontal stances & also to a balanced stance. I’m fairly confident in my understanding of the specific techniques show but have never come to any satisfying conclusion as to why these stances hold their specific names or what element of each stance defines it’s name.
Does anyone have a definition of what makes a “Horizontal Stance”?
The untranslated terminollogy is actually "twirch". "Horizontal stance" is simply the best tranlation of that word. However, The numbered techniques are clearly throws and not stances as we use the term in a modern context. On the other hand there is one plate in the codex which advises a certain action if someone " comes at you in the Horizontal stance". This implies that the word "stance" as we would use it does apply. Now, my personal opinion is this: in RenMA, if you ignore everything above the waist, we essentially have two correct ways to arrange our feet. Der Waage (sp?) /the balanced stance, and our standard swordsman's stance (weight slightly foreward, feet at approx. 45 degrees, etc.). I think that our "standard swordsman's stance" = horizontal stance, and the numbered techniques are throws using that stance, as opposed to, for instance, the "fireman's carry" throw which requires you to assume der waage before lifting your opponent.
And, actually, the Codex W has plates depicting "horizontal stances" numbered 3 through 7. The 3rd is plates 36 and 38, the 4th is plate 40. If you have identified the 1st please tell me where.
Disclaimer: My copy of the Codex W is loaned out at the moment, so I'm working from memory and notes.
.jpg)
