Meyer's longsword 101 - Chapter 11 - Fencing from the stances: Ochs (Ox), Einhorn (Unicorn) and Schlussel (Key)

Ochs

From the previous taught sequences, you should now understand how to build your attacks and sequences against the opponent’s four openings, using techniques like winding, slicing, dropping, circling, or disengaging. These moves aren’t limited to specific guards—they apply to most stances. Since the Ox guard is especially strong for attacking, here’s a short guide on how to strike first (the Before) and pressure your opponent into reacting.

You have four main attack lines from each side—these guide all your cuts. When you use a Plunge cut and keep the point aimed at your opponent, it becomes the Ox guard because it threatens a thrust. From Ox, you can attack from above or below, diagonally or horizontally. After attacking along one line, you should also cut back along the opposite line using either edge or even the flat. If you strike quickly and strongly in the Before, you’ll overwhelm your opponent, forcing them to react while you stay in control with follow-ups like chasing, slicing, and pressing. That’s why the earlier sequences are useful—not just for the initial attack, but for maintaining dominance throughout the fight.

An example:

Play 1

#	You	Opponent
1	In the onset, move through the Plunge cut into Ochs, then cut a wrath cut from the right
2		Parry left
3	Cut from left to their right arm with long edge (not clear if this is unterhau or oberhau)
4		Parry right, prepare a cut
5	Cut a Round anti-clockwise, and beat away their blade from your right side
6	Swing around and cut a Zwerch from right to their left ear
7		Parry left
8	Cut Zwerch with flat (Prelhau) from left to right ear
9		Parry right
10	Bounce an unterhau from left to right arm
11		Attempt parry
12	Don't let the parry touch. Cut a Zwerch from the right to their left ear as you withdraw

If this sequence has already been used against you, then you still have (as taught above) the Slice in your repertoire, with which you can create space again, to either completely fence the sequence, or to undertake another sequence.

Play 2

#	You	Opponent
1	Ochs	?
2	Cut a prelhau with the flat from the left to their right ear
3		Parry right
4	Cut a prelhau with flat from left to right ear
5		Parry left
6	Do another cut, whatever seems good to you

You can always attack by crossing lines—diagonally, horizontally, and from different sides using the long edge, short edge, or flat. If your opponent overwhelms you while you are in Ochs before you can act, thrust your point into their face while stepping forward into Longpoint. As you advance, turn your long edge to catch their incoming cut. Once you’ve made contact, wind onto their sword and target the nearest opening.

Einhorn (Unicorn)

To get into Unicorn:

• Start by stepping forward with your left foot and strike upward with the short edge from your right—twice through their face, then extend into Longpoint.

• Turn your long edge upward to the right, letting your pommel pass under your right arm and your hands cross—this puts you in the Unicorn guard.

Using Unicorn to provoke:

• From Unicorn, make two low cuts close to your body: first upward from the right, then from the left, ending with crossed hands again. Quickly lift back into Unicorn, slightly raising your left foot and setting it down again. These deliberate, deceptive movements provoke your opponent to strike at your left opening.

Play 1

#	You	Opponent
1	Unicorn (on right)
2		Cut right Zorn
3	Cut a mittehau from right, and parry their cut
4	Lift blade a little and cut a duplieren with a step left
5		Parry right
6	Thrust your strong out towards the right and cut around to the closest opening

Play 2

#	You	Opponent
1	Unicorn (on right)
2		Cut right Zorn
3	Shoot your blade out over theirs, close to their schilt
4	Wrench their blade towards your left and cut a Round, cutting a Zwerch from your right to their left ear
5	Move back onto their sword with long edge
6	Withdraw

The title says play 3, but this is my play 2

Play 3

#	You	Opponent
1	Unicorn (on right)
2		Cut right Zorn
3	Krumphau to left on their sword, while stepping right
4	Run off and snap a cut to their head with short edge (Schielhau)
5		Parry left
6	Cut around to another opening etc.

Schlussel (key)

This stance is called the Key because it can unlock or break other guards and sequences with ease. While other stances can do this too, they require more force. Like a small key opening a strong lock effortlessly, the Key stance lets you disrupt your opponent’s actions skillfully and safely, even though it may seem weak at first.

Play 1: Using key to break a guard

#	You	Opponent
1	Key
2		High or low guard, on left or right
3	Thrust straight at their face into longpoint
4		Cut at sword
5	Allow blade to go weak in direction they are cutting, then cut around to whatever opening they have just cut from
6		Attempt parry
7	Run off, fly away, etc. and cut to another opening

Play 2: If you are crowded with cuts

#	You	Opponent
1	Key
2		Cut from above or below
3	Thrust towards face ,and turn long edge towards their cut, push forwards
4	Wind inwards and outwards at their head
5		Lift up to cut around to other side
6	Flick cuts at arm or head
7	Chase their sword, slice, wrench etc.

Play 3: Breaking the Guard of the Day using Schlussel (key)

This is the same as play 6 in the High Guard section.

#	You	Opponent
1		Standing Tag
2	Move to Key guard, on your right
3	Cut two unterhaus, one from each side
4		Moves out of Tag
5	Cut a Zwerch from your right to their left ear
6		Parry left
7	Cut two unterhaus, one from each side
8		Attempts a parry
9	Cut a Zwerch from your left to their right ear
10		Parry right
11	Exit with more cuts