Meyer's longsword 101 - Chapter 11 - Fencing from the stances: Hanging point, Iron gate and Side guard

HEMA 101 admin
Aug 14
2 min read

Hanging point

In the onset, make three upward strikes with the short edge from the left, and on the third, from longpoint turn into a hanging point:

Play 1: If they cut at you from below or middle towards your left

#	You	Opponent
1	Hanging point
2		Cut horizontally or from below from the right, at head or fingers
3	Step right with left foot behind right foot. Pull hanging sword up towards right shoulder. Cut simultaneously with them at their head (or perhaps on top of their sword, as seen in the video).
4		Parry right
5	Cut a Zwerch from your right side to their left ear

Play 2: If they cut at you from above right

#	You	Opponent
1	Hanging point
2		Cut Zorn from right
3	Catch cut on your flat with step left
4	Wind short edge inward at their head
5	Turn into longpoint to get on top of and in control of their sword

Play 3: If they fence under your blade at your right ear, however that happens

#	You	Opponent
	Hanging point
		Cut at them under the blade from left to their right ear (in the video, they use a rising short edge cut)
	Turn into longpoint and get on top of their sword, set it aside.
	At same time step with left foot towards the left and cut a schielhau at their ear, with crossed hands
		Parry right
	Withdraw while cutting a mittelhau

Iron gate (Eisenport)

"The Iron Gate is actually (as mentioned above) the Crossed Guard". This is where Meyer is inconsistent. In earlier chapters, Iron Gate was a point forwards guard, but in Chapter 11 Iron Gate is Schrankut (barrier).

Play 1

#	You	Opponent
1	In Schrankut
2		Cut at them from above
3	Lift crossed hands and catch cut on strong of blade
4	Cut at arms with unterhau as they pull back following their cut
5		Parry
6	Cut at their head

Play 2

#	You	Opponent
1	In Schrankut
2		Cut at them from above
3	Lift crossed hands and catch cut on strong of blade
4	Wind short edge in at right ear (winding cut)
5	Retreat by cutting around at their head from the right

Play 3

#	You	Opponent
1	In Schrankut
2		Cut from below
3	Parry on top of their sword in longpoint

"This Iron Gate or Crossed guard is broken by the Key, namely: thrust toward their face, so that you force them upward, and then fence at them from below (in that moment in which they rise)."

Side guard (Nebenhut)

"You should principally fence using the Crooked cut (Krumphau) from the Side guard."

#	You	Opponent
1	Right Side Guard
2		Cuts at your opening
3	Leap right and cut a krumphau at their head, avoiding their blade (or krumphau onto their blade as a parry)
4	Cut an unterhau at their left ear

"If they don’t want to cut, then fence in the way you will subsequently be taught relating to the Middle guard."