Wide and Narrow Guards: Tactical Context
Grand-Master Liechentauer constructed his Kundst des Fechtens fighting system around four stances, or guards. The Zettel describes the movements made between them, marking a guard as either a starting/ending point to an attack. What is subtlety written in his poems are the guards' tactical advantages. This article was written to help uncover this mystery so that we may use the right tool for the situation in our sparring. Kundst des Fechtens centers around combat with the longsword, but when this knowledge is obtained you will find it useful with any sort of weapon-fighting system.
Vom Tag and Alber are guards created with a wider stance with the point of sword pointing away from your opponent. These guards are criticized by fencers for this reason, as on a surface level, they provide no direct protection against the opponent. The defensive capabilities of these guards are subtle. These guards place the body at an angle where you can easily maintain a distance outside of the opponent's measure. The two guards also create fast and powerful arcs as you cut between the two positions. The ability to make a powerful cut while also covering a wide amount of distance as you step through makes these guards ideal for Zufechten (the onset of the duel). You will strongly establish a bind as your opponent moves to meet your sword, thus setting the stage for the limitless options of close-range play.
Ochs and Pflug establish the blade down the opponent's center-line, thus presenting a direct threat that they must address if they seek to tap you. Notice how both of these guards showcased the sword to be chambered closer to the body in order to absorb close-range blows. It takes longer to make an effective cut, as you must unwind the stable structure of the guard within the movement of cutting. These guards are best used for thrusts or quick cuts. These guards are also the guards used for winding (changing guard positions while maintaining a bind with the opponent's blade). Ochs in particular makes an excellent defense for guarding against overhead blows and thrusts while traversing around the opponent. These are indeed the two in-fighting guards for which a strong bind can be maintained.
The tactical analysis is to use the wider guards for positioning outside of the opponent's measure. Once an advantageous position is made you make take the Vor and strike first with a strong cut that will establish a bind. From the bind you will transition to your in-fighting guards to continue the fight as the distance between you and opponent closes. If they flee their close-range guards you have full control of the center-line and can tap them at will. Should you or the opponent pull away from the Kreig (bind) then transition back into a wide guard and repeat the search for a new angle of attack.
