Vomtag and the Simple Onset
A common question I receive on my live TikTok training live streams is "what is the best position to start in?". I'm certain that if you asked any fighter this question the answers and reasonings will vary. My expertise is with the medieval sword with both the one-handed and two-handed shapes they take. For this discussion I will mainly be referring to the longsword as the basis for answering this question as that is the weapon most favored with my audience.
I wish to start by giving the disclaimer that I am a simple minded individual. I am aware that there are over a dozen longsword guards and have studied most of them thoroughly in both drilling, research, and sparring. I am a believer in the phrase "simplicity is the highest form of sophistication", and my fighting style reflects that with both sword and open hand.
The onset is the phase of a sword fight where both opponents stand outside each other's striking range. The onset is mostly a game of positioning- fighters maneuver around the battleground seeking to threaten a target unprotected by the opponent's guard whilst using their guard to stay out of harm's way. The onset can make or break a bout for you; therefore, I find that this step requires great care and strategy.
A common answer would be the long point guard. It is a guard that wherein you extend your sword far in front of you. I wouldn't say this is a bad guard to start in, but it is mostly a defensive position.
Vom Tag offers a mix of defensive and offensive power. It is known as the Guard of the Day in modern English. It is often the first guard people learn because it is the most versatile and simple to understand. Just because the guard is simple does not mean its ineffective. The truth is actually the contrary.
The vom tag position, when employed correctly, is powered by several muscle groups in the body including the arms, chest and back. Cuts made from this guard can counter just about any attack your opponent could make by the shear force it generates alone. Many of the master cuts (cuts that are both offensive and defensive) are worked from this guard because of its stopping power.
All five of the cuts (wrath, thwart, under, squint & parting) can be made from this guard. Due to the variety of cuts, it is very difficult to predict which action and opponent who stands in this guard will take. Other guards have less attack options which make them easier to predict and dominate.
The cuts from vom tag manifest quicker than cuts from other guards as well. A winding guard like ox requires the sword travel behind your body as it traverses its arc. Any time that the blade is behind you is an opportunity for your opponent to strike when you are not protected. The outcomes of sword fights could come down to the literal second within the action economy. There are faster cuts from guards like long point, but they lack in sufficient force and may not get through the protection of a gambeson. Vom tag cuts are an equal balance of quick and powerful which opens the user's second intention options even further within the bind.
I am a simple-minded man and a simple-minded fighter. The art of sword play relies more on instinct over computing a master strategy. Often playing it safe can become a major handicap in the long run against a variety of opponents. I am not so worried about a fighter who has baseline knowledge of over a dozen different guards as I am the fighter who has mastered two or three guards and can employ them effortlessly. Vom tag may not be the sexiest of the guards, but it is by far the most reliable in practice and competition.
