Meyer Rappier help

[Richard Marsden]

Need to figure something out. Remember the last time one of our opponent's had a knee problem? Wouldn't want to taste my own medicine.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kr24G8jQpM

[Kevin Murakoshi]

Hi Richard,

I'd get your knees looked at by a Doctor, if you have the opportunity. You don't want to keep stressing them if they're already damaged. It's entirely possible that you could have hurt yourself at some other point and these forward weighted stances are bringing it out. You can also try and keep your feet at closer to a 90 degree angle when you're in Meyer's guard. With your toe in, it's easy to put extra torque on the knee.

--Kevin

[Richard Marsden]

We had to alter some of the positioning of people due to trees and other items, but the intent is there! (Note the shoes we left on the ground) Jim and Ryan are in the background and we had them swung the other way, but the tree was causing problems. However, looking at it now, bet we could have done it and gotten a better pic. The love is there though. We'll make more and better ones.

Videos of today pending. We did two Meyer Drills on cutting and then more sparring as we work things in.

[Richard Marsden]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ca1vTTrssQk
Cutting Drill One (Short explanation. Feint a cut to the head on one side of the sword, but actually cut on the other using a triangle step to void and get a better angle.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJOPAe6tm4w
Cutting Drill Two (Short explanation. When the opponent cuts, slip the leg and raise the sword high, voiding both blade, and any target. As the opponent's sword misses, return the right foot and lean in to land a scalp cut to the opponent's head.)

Tony Sparring
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wB9dEK_F4sE

Richard Sparring
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUy4RPIVdls

John Sparring (Lots of it!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtEgyFAuXgY

[Keith P. Myers]

Hey guys!

Love the "Meyer-esque" photo! And the vids show some strong work!

[quote="Richard Marsden"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ca1vTTrssQk
Cutting Drill One (Short explanation. Feint a cut to the head on one side of the sword, but actually cut on the other using a triangle step to void and get a better angle.)

---Tell John...no passing steps! And the cut would likely be a "weihrstreich" or "defensive strike" that carries all the way through so that he would not have the opportunity to cut back towards you again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJOPAe6tm4w
Cutting Drill Two (Short explanation. When the opponent cuts, slip the leg and raise the sword high, voiding both blade, and any target. As the opponent's sword misses, return the right foot and lean in to land a scalp cut to the opponent's head.)

---I can't prove this, but I see the Schaitelhaw or "scalp cut" as more of a thrusting "push cut." Meyer mentions the Alber position, but says that it is seldom used. This is likely because his vertical downward cut would not be expected to carry through to the Alber position, as the diagonal downward cuts carry through to the lower guards on the side. I think his vertical cut drives forward. The Schaitelhaw with the Longsword when done as a Meisterhaw is considered an "Uberlauffen" or "running over" that is delivered at the same time as his attack. That's what makes me think it is a forward thrusting "push cut." Oh, one more thing....lower stances!

---The sparring vids look good! Just tell John to keep the sword off his shoulder. There is no "lazy man's vom Tag" in Meyer's method...longsword, dussack, or sidesword! And again...lower stances!

[Richard Marsden]

Hello Keith.

Is there a point backwards High Guard.

In my reading I seemed to find the following variations

1 = A hanging gaurd in the middle.
2 = Two forward pointed guards with the arm bent, called Ox.
3 = Two backward pointed guards similar to wrath guards.

Incorrect?

Thanks for the rest. For the scalp cut I took it as a tip cut to the top of the head. We'll try to thrust and draw along the head instead.

[JohnPatterson]

Thanks for the advice Keith. I have a hard time stopping my italian rapier footwork. Not sure if it is on video or not but I reflexively did an inquartata

I thought the high guard was like the dussack Zornhut but I think that I need to look at the plates again.

[Richard Marsden]

The plates don't show any backward pointing guard from on high, but I think I came across something that said it did exist. So any error is my fault for instructing it as legit.

Ah, or maybe mean Keith means don't rest the sword on the shoulder, not that there isn't a point-backward guard! I think I see now. He'll clarify though.

[Bill Carew]

---The sparring vids look good! Just tell John to keep the sword off his shoulder. There is no "lazy man's vom Tag" in Meyer's method...longsword, dussack, or sidesword!

I believe zornhut is held with the sword on the shoulder. The text makes this clear - of the zornhut, Meyer writes: "Stehe mit deinem Lincken fuß vor / halt dein Schwerdt auff der rechten Achsel" which I translate as "Stand with the left foot forward / hold the sword upon the right shoulder" (auff/auf causes confusion for English speakers who think it means "off" but it is actually a preposition which implies "on" or "upon" something (i.e. with contact) rather than off and not touching. Anyway, zornhut (or the earlier vom tag) with the sword upon the shoulder is not lazy - it's very powerful.

I agree about the lower stances though. Not by increasing the distance between the feet, but rather, by bending the knees more.

[Keith P. Myers]

Hey Guys!

Is there a point backwards High Guard.

---Yes there is! Two of them actually! Meyer says that if you assume the Oberhut for thrusting...the Ochs, and then turn the sword so that the point aims back, you have the Oberhut for cutting. So this is a backwards high guard that can be above either shoulder....just not resting on the shoulder, because after all...the Ochs doesn't rest on the shoulder. Another Oberhut for cutting is held directly above the head on the mid-line. But this one has the point aimed upwards and forwards at about a 45 degree angle. Picture doing the Eisenport and then lifting the arm straight up while keeping the point angled forward.