by Lord Marshal Argonon and Sir Johan Hector
Men have known the blade for a long time, but they do not appreciate the art that it represents. In order for one to master the blade, he must be ready to work and train until he reaches the required level to use certain techniques.
In order for a swordsman to know his craft, he must be of sound body and mind. His heart must be with Christ and his body healthy and built. If one is doubtful and does not trust in the Lord, then both his body and mind are forsaken. Meanwhile, those whose days are nothing but endless drunkenness and frivolous pursuits, abandon the temple that is their body.
Know your blade, know the weapon that you carry! When the time comes, it will save you. Repay it with equal kindness. Clean and sharpen it as much as possible! Make it so that “pristine” is its default condition.
By knowing your blade, you also have the opportunity to know your opponent’s blade. Better an enemy known, that one which is not!
Know when to strike and when to fall back, when to feign and when to guard! Training is where this is learned. So come out in the morning and train. Then rest. And again, when the Sun weakens and night gathers, train before you rest. May your sword be your first and last thoughts!
Once your heart and mind are in balance, you can begin your journey towards the higher techniques. Only those of the highest level of swordsmanship and combat prowess can undertake these moves successfully.
Pirouette – A spinning strike performed by the most agile and nimble of swordmasters. One must use his Longsword in such a way that he moves freely and spins through the air, performing a series of spinning slashes. Although mostly for show, when a person has enough strength and cunning, it can become a deadly move.
Undercut – Also known as the Unterhew, is a move in which the swordsman aims to strike his opponent from below, in a vital area. The wrists, the groin, the armpits, and the neck are excellent targets for this attack. The Undercut can be done with a variety of different weapons. Longswords, shortswords, and daggers. In addition to being an attack reserved for the highest level, it requires a natural cunning, which is not present in many. The Unterhew trades potential attack power for a higher chance to maim or disfigure the opponent. It is a ruthless move reserved for the most serious of conflicts. It should never be used in sparing situations.
Disarm – Don’t allow its simple name to fool you. The Disarm is a most powerful technique and can be attempted by virtually any weapon. Its gist is that it either requires complex footwork and positioning with a blade or extreme blunt force with a crushing weapon in order to remove your opponent’s weapon from his hand. Some weapons are easily disarmed, while others can’t be. The same goes for the weapons that are doing the disarming, different weapons have different disarming capabilities, with polearms being the best. When disarming an enemy, it will essentially pit your cunning against your opponent’s strength. A risky, although rewarding move.
