Author Archives: Grauenwolf

What’s with the crazy rapier pose in Meyer?

Posted on March 18, 2024 by Grauenwolf

What’s with this crazy posture found in both Meyer’s manuscript and printed manual? Currently we think it’s a teaching exercise associated the the Oberstich (High Thrust) device (Meyer Forgeng 2.61r.1 Garber page 203). Here is the commentary from our Meyer … Continue reading →

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On revisiting plays and taking notes

Posted on March 11, 2024 by Grauenwolf

One of the most fascinating and frustrating things about reading the manuals is when a play tells you how it is different from a previous play. I ran into that recently in dusack, where I misunderstood a couple of parry … Continue reading →

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When to step during a cut? A lesson from Suiō-ryū.

Posted on October 21, 2023 by Grauenwolf

For the past couple of decades, I’ve been taught and teach that you should time your cuts so that your foot lands at the same time your sword hits the target. And I continue to think that this is a … Continue reading →

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Rethinking Meyer Chapter 10

Posted on October 15, 2023 by Grauenwolf

Here’s how we currently see the 12 patterns from Meyer Chapter 10. The first pattern is the well known Meyer’s Cross, which opens with three slashes, then one of the four 4-cuts sequences, and finally a Zwerch to withdraw. The … Continue reading →

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School of the Renaissance Soldier Day 2 Class Notes

Posted on September 16, 2023 by Grauenwolf

Morning Drill – Wrestling Wrestling game: One person with foot in “hole”, the other on one foot. First person loses if foot leaves hole, second person loses if other foot touches the ground. Wrestling game: Stand right feet touching on … Continue reading →

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 School of the Renaissance Soldier Day 1 Class Notes

Posted on September 15, 2023 by Grauenwolf

Event info: https://www.chicagoswordplayguild.com/csg-presents-school-of-the-renaissance-soldier-sept-14-17-2023 Morning Drill – Wrestling We focused on jumping, one of the primary exercises of a knight. It is really important to learn how to land softly. If you land on your heels, it hurts. Even on soft … Continue reading →

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Schedelhauw (Scalp Cut) 1

Posted on July 11, 2023 by Grauenwolf

Meyer 2.55v.1 Also referred to as a Oberhauw (High Cut). This play feints a beat to create an opening on the other side. Agent Eisenport (Irongate) or Gerade Versatzung (Straight Parrying) Patient Eisenport (Irongate) or Gerade Versatzung (Straight Parrying) 1 Raise … Continue reading →

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Meyer Longsword Foundations: Pattern 1 [Script Draft]

Posted on April 29, 2023 by Grauenwolf

Meyer’s longsword manual is divided into an introduction, 12 chapters, and part 3. While it is important to read it in this order, for actual exercise it is more useful to start with chapter 10. This is where he starts … Continue reading →

Posted in Longsword, Meyer's Longsword | 2 Comments

Suiō-ryū Notes March 3

Posted on March 2, 2023 by Grauenwolf

Katana The second row of knuckles on the left (lower) hand must in alignment with the blade. The right (upper) hand rotates around the handle as necessary through the cut, turning the wrist outwards. In Tag, the arms must be … Continue reading →

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Capoferro: Retiring in Quarta

Posted on October 16, 2022 by Grauenwolf

An often overlooked aspect of the first play (plate 7, paragraph 35) is the final passage, and in such a conclusion would retire into a low quarta Far too often people just end the play when the opponent is struck. … Continue reading →

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