Regarding the Zwerchau

[Jonathan Newhall]

Recently I've been trying some "moves" in a bit more realistic manner than simple drills and I've been noticing that my Zwerchau always comes up fairly short of cutting into my opponent's head if he Zornhaus at me. I'm a bit foggy on the follow-up concept, however.


The problems:

1) The Zwerch is always stopped nowhere near my opponent's head (so no mutieren or such is really possible...)
2) The Zwerch has a very inferior position for opposing a Zornhau with strength (the Zornhau is a much stronger strike as far as I can tell).

What should I do from there? Even striking in the Vor against a Zornhau it tends to get intercepted a bit short of its intended target and I'm not sure of a follow-up to a strong bind from the Zornhau user.

[Sal Bertucci]

Are you stepping offline as you do the cut? Doing so will change where his zorn intercepts the bladeand should allow yuo freeier movment of the sword. Also, how high is your zwerch? I have found that having my arms as extended as possible while I make the cut gives me much better protection overall.

[Andy Spalding]

Also, where on your blade are you encountering his?

[Randall Pleasant]

The Zwerch has a very inferior position for opposing a Zornhau with strength

A very horizontal Zwerch works best when 90 degrees to the flat of the othe blade. Thus, it works best against a vericle Oberhau or a high angle Zorn. As the angle of a Zorn decreases the less effect a horizontal Zwech is. Counter a lower angle Zorn with Zorn.

[Jonathan Newhall]

@ Sal - Generally it's a fairly 45 degree off vertical Zornhau opposing my overhead and maybe 30 degree below the horizontal Zwerchau. I do attempt to step offline as I am making the cut.

@ Andy - The blades generally cross somewhere near the middle of both, often slightly nearer the Zornhau's strong and the Zwerchau's weak.

@ Randall - That makes sense, thanks for the advice on when to use which of the techniques. It could explain what's been happening. But, what if you strike in the Vor with a Zwerchau and run into a lower-angled Zornhau by coincidence? What then?

[Sal Bertucci]

" blades generally cross somewhere near the middle of both, often slightly nearer the Zornhau's strong and the Zwerchau's weak."

In this case I would suggest extending the arms up and forward as well as making your step more into the forward direction. Since you are connecting his strong on your weak two things are happening. 1. Mechanically he owns you and will push your sword around. 2. your range is off.if you're connecting with his sword near your weak then you don't have any blade left to hit him while you make the cut.

Just some thoughts.

[Jonathan Newhall]

So you're thinking that I'm stepping offline perhaps a bit too far while making the cut robbing me of reach?

[Corey Roberts]

It sounds like you need to adjust your range and arm extension better so that your strong encounters his weapon, rather than your weak, if your weak encounters his strong then it will be exactly that "weak" and therefore it will get owned by his Zorn. Instead extend your arms, and step into his cut so that you bind strong, placing your weak in his face. As they say "the pointy end goes into the other man."

[Sal Bertucci]

So you're thinking that I'm stepping offline perhaps a bit too far while making the cut robbing me of reach?

Without actually seeing you do it that's what I think is happening.

[Jonathan Newhall]

Alright, well, I'll have another practice tonight or tomorrow and let you guys know how it goes after I adjust my technique according to your advice. Thanks for the help!