Beginner Alert - Counter to the Zornhau

[VikingPsycho]

Is there a specific counter to the Zornhau and other mid-cuts in which you parry with the strong and cut the head with the tip? It's rather similar to the Zornort but that's a thrust. It was a technique I learnt quite a while ago but completely forgot if it has a name and what it is.

[KeithFarrell]

There are quite a few counters that fit this description. The Zornhaw can counter the Zornhaw, as can the Schilhaw and the Zwerhaw. Each of these techniques works by catching the incoming attack with your strong and smacking him on the head or shoulder with your weak.

[VikingPsycho]

I apologise about the late reply.
What exactly is the difference between the Zwerchhau and Schielhau? At first glance they appear to be pretty much the same.

[Andreas Engström]

I apologise about the late reply.
What exactly is the difference between the Zwerchhau and Schielhau? At first glance they appear to be pretty much the same.

Mechanically they are fairly similar, but the zwer is horizontal and counters cuts that come in vertically, the schiel is (almost) vertical and counters cuts that come in more horizontally.

I like to think of the right schielhaw as a right zwerch rotated 90 degrees to the left ("turned on its side"). If that makes sense. Where your hands should be high in the zwer to protect the head, in the schiel the hands are far to the left to protect the body.. more or less the same concerns but everything is rotated.

The similarity is of course mostly limited to the initial cut/counter - the set of followups from there on isn't always analogous. For example you will often strike around with a left zwer if the right fails, you will not often strike around with a left unterhaw with the long edge (which would be the analogous followup if everything was just rotated to the left) if your shiel fails, etc.

-Andreas

[KeithFarrell]

Mechanically they are fairly similar, but the zwer is horizontal and counters cuts that come in vertically, the schiel is (almost) vertical and counters cuts that come in more horizontally.

I like to think of the right schielhaw as a right zwerch rotated 90 degrees to the left ("turned on its side"). If that makes sense. Where your hands should be high in the zwer to protect the head, in the schiel the hands are far to the left to protect the body.. more or less the same concerns but everything is rotated.

The similarity is of course mostly limited to the initial cut/counter - the set of followups from there on isn't always analogous. For example you will often strike around with a left zwer if the right fails, you will not often strike around with a left unterhaw with the long edge (which would be the analogous followup if everything was just rotated to the left) if your shiel fails, etc.

-Andreas

That very similar to how I view the two techniques - very similar mechanics and purpose, just one is rotated 90º from the other!

[KeithFarrell]

I apologise about the late reply.
What exactly is the difference between the Zwerchhau and Schielhau? At first glance they appear to be pretty much the same.

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http://www.historical-academy.co.uk/publishing/german-longsword-study-guide.php