Joachim Meyer Guards and Stances - German Longsword

[@TITANia69420]

Oh my God the way you just spawn in when Demo-ing the Guards 😆

[@guysome3263]

Beautiful format. Also having the stances in motion rather than presenting them static is a welcome addition.

[@ncalvert2442]

I honestly wish someone would go through all of Meyer’s book in this format. Wonderful

[@alexp6869]

I get real PS1 character select vibes from this video, love it

[@tom13stone59]

I love how you just spawned at 1:20 Thank you for the video, great help to learning the basics!!

[@derekkrumel1407]

very cool. just started studying german longsword again so this is very timely for me.

[@dangerousflyer4485]

I got a training sword yesterday and I'm so excited, I keep tryna con my friends into getting one too so we can spar

[@ProcyonDei]

When Meyer wrote that the guards are not supposed to be static, he meant that one should be switching between the guards to make the movements less predictable, the constant shuffling is just unnecessary and sacrifices your footing. With the Roof guard, you're not trying to stand with the sword over your head, but rather you're moving like you're about to hit your opponent's head and then switch to another guard like Iron Door... edit: The he illustrations are meant to represent the peak of the motion being executed...

[@lyonmandan]

I loved the movement, Meyers specifically says these are not static positions. You demonstrated this well.

[@StuffGong]

That's not what's meant by "not static stances". Means you should not just stay in the same stance until something happens. Guards are key points in movements/actions

[@GuySwords]

@@StuffGong exactly.

[@mathieudorion138]

This is so good!

[@sigataros]

The only stances that someone would use are the Ox, Plow, and Long point

[@gabrielgordon2017]

Good video. Subscribed!

[@Leelilou]

This may be a stupid question, but nonetheless here it is. I am practicing with a short sword which is wide at the cross guard and tapers to a point with no obvious distinctions in edge. When a guard stance references the long and short edges, how do I determine which edge is which? Edit to add that I didn't see this video was geared towards longsword until after I asked my question. In my search bar, I specifically typed short sword. My bad, guys.

[@kylemckague8472]

If you hold your sword a normal way your long edge will be facing your opponent and your short edge will be closest to you. Maintain this orientation in your head

[@Leelilou]

@kylemckague8472 Ok, thank you so much!

[@ksc888]

I wonder if "von Tag" from day is a translation error? I know it is "older" German, but "von Dach" or from the roof(top) seems more correct to me. Tag and Dach sound very similar to a non German speaker.

[@GuySwords]

I get where you are coming from. But even in the old German language it´s written as Tag. I have looked up my 44A8 Kodex Danzig for this and where he describes the Leger/Huten and for vom Tag it´s written as follows: "Merck die hutt haist vom Tag | Do schick dich also mit | Stee mit dem lincken Fueß vor | vnd halt dein swert an deiner rechten achsel oder mit auff gerackten armen hoch über dem haubt | vnd stee also in der hut. I mean technically i could imagine that the word Tag was often spoken as Tach which kind of sounds similar to Dach. And even looking at the original scans of the book it´s clearly written Tag. You can look up the scans of the book on wiktenauer under starhemberg Fechtbuch.

[@saltyfruits3961]

This is so handy x

[@fraternitas5117]

great content

[@l3lixx]

What strike from Ox can be intercepted by Zornhut

[@coreyyanofsky]

the video entitled "Joachim Meyer - Zornhut: 6. Stück" on Björn Rüther's channel shows a counter against an unterhau from ox i suppose the other thing ox is good for is driving into a thrust and you can parry that with a downward cut (if you get there in time anyway)

[@arproductions8537]

so crazy twitchy mate

[@fencersguild-guildamgladia2485]

Hi. It is really interesting intepretations. Since our traditional aproach based on for instance Meyer´s 1570 treatise differs a lot in many aspects. Why do you stand in a line with your feet? Why do you tend to jump in and out, when it is cleary stated in the text, longsword operates the main strikes in hand and leg synchronization. So stand with left foot forward and right leg goes with the right side strike... Your way seems like a mutation adapted for modern sport tournaments, but it is contradicting the text it self. I suggest to disconnect such intepretation form the original concept. It is apaprently ment for different use. I dont dare to say its bad or wrong. It isnt. But at the same time it has nothing to do with what Meyer writes about and how fencing works as martial art. I hope you understand our perspective. This is not an offensive word or insult, on the contrary. We wish you many victorious events and great fun! If you d like to discover more about traditional aproach without mask and gear, come and join some of our international events in Europe. God speed!

[@clonegreivou]

My man is twitchy

[@Tyyin.]

I think its to video-game spin on the stances. Going by how he drops into the stance like a character

[@Lftarded]

I mean, by the manuals, they're not static guards... So, his "idle animation" seems like a good indicator lol.

[@renzotkac1236]

@@Lftarded bro really invented his own "idle animation" in real life 💀💀💀

[@rustcohle3803]

Good lord people be bitching about his movements

[@GonzoTehGreat]

I appreciate that you need to keep moving when sparring, but for the purposes of making a video about the guards, small movements are distracting. Instead, it would be helpful to hold position, at least for a few seconds, ideally while the camera rotates around you to show different angles. A useful follow up video would show how to transition into or out of these guards when using them to attack/defend. Blood and Iron HEMA channel have made some of these.

[@GonzoTehGreat]

Also, what's the difference between Plow an Iron Door as they seem similar? Is it just the height at which you hold the sword?

[@fraternitas5117]

you can practice guards still if you want to but his micro movements are actually invaluable because you do not stay still in a sword fight

[@wayner396]

I love the video but my constructive criticism would be that all the movement is a bit much and too over exaggerated. Got very distracting and difficult to watch. Imo of course.

[@hurricanev6]

This is correct enough form. In very few situations do you want to stand still and rigid. Staying moving allows you to better react to your opponents actions, as it is easier to move off center or intercept if your weight is already in motion.

[@BedBugss3x]

Meyer are considered exaggerated on the past itself. Even them decided it is too much lol.

[@rustcohle3803]

Not that big of a deal. I find it amusing like a video game idle stance

[@Barbarosich]

Good reference for fighting game)

[@elshebactm6769]

🗿👍

[@opguidler]

I want to learn hema so bad. I feel like it would be my favorite hobby. But its so hard to get started. i feel like , id love to learn longsword, Messer, rapier, saber and spear. Im already a pretty good archer. But im evan more faszinated with cqc. Its art in my eyes . And every man should have a favorite sport in my opinion .but its so expensive... Thats such a let down since i dont have any spare mony most of the time .. That makes me sad.

[@mindsliver2245]

There are cheap ways to get started. Host HEMA schools are a bit pricey (like any martial art) but there are organizations like the SCA that don't charge people to come and practice Rapier for example. Most even have loaner gear to get you started. If you're lucky you can find HEMA clubs that are similiar, or only just getting started with low prices for entry and loaner gear while you save up for your own.

[@opguidler]

@@mindsliver2245 thats some good news, and great advice . I think im gonna take it . Thank you.

[@robertstuckey6407]

Google HEMA Alliance club finder. It might help you find things

[@frankdahtank354]

Ants in your pants?! 💀

[@thM9658]

God, what a bounce. It makes me dizzy to watch.

[@leichtmeister]

Can you just stop the horrendous shuffling? 🤮

[@ServantOfOdin]

Nice. Next time do the toilet run before you do the videos, this jittering about is unbecoming of a seasoned fighter.

[@Sfourtytwo]

Stance too high!

[@Barbat0s-y3r]

why?

[@Sfourtytwo]

@@Barbat0s-y3r Because Meyers stance is lower as seen in the illustrations from each of his manuals.

[@I_Willenbrock_I]

Most of the stances are unstable and executed poorly. It's not the fault of Mr. McSweeney but the fact that he took how k ow ledge from the Internet. Example is the hangetort. Here, the l crossguard needs to be behind the wrist for additional stability. This could also come from a faulty translation. Let's take the zornhau as an example. Meyer describes the Zornhau as follows (transcribed) . "Der zornhau ist ein schlimmer hau.". without taking old German and different meanings of words into account, it would translate to, " the wrath strike is a nasty strike." however, "schlimm" in Meyer vocabulary means "crooked"/"awry" etc. It means that the strike comes at an angle (ideally 45°) and not that is especially powerful or nasty. Things like this make Meyer very, very tricky.