Lines 35-36 of Meyer's Zettel

Send your cuts powerfully from your body, carry out your work to the four openings.

Master Meyer explains:

"In this rhyme two things are realized; firstly to the cutting, secondly to the four openings of the Man, to which the cuts will be struck and note that you cut all cuts with outstretched arms, and with this reach far to the man, also as soon as a cut from one side fails, thus you should quickly cut to the opposite side." - Meyer (1560) MS A.4o.2, 1.12v

"These verses teach how you shall send your cuts powerfully and long, flying fluidly to all four targets, that is to all four openings, along with the body, which shall fully follow the cuts as I have said." - Meyer (1570) “Grundtliche Beschreibung der Kunst des Fechtens”,1.46r

Here is a brief video I made overseas on Training the Four Openings for my friend Payson Muller with The York Free Fencers:

IL MFFG Four Opening Training Video

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Der Scharfrichter

Just because I had these on file:

De carnifice (Vom Scharfrichter) - Damhouder, Praxis rerum criminalium, Cap. CLII, 1562Bayerische Staatsbibliothek. Siehe: Damhouder, Joost de: Praxis rerum criminalium iconibus illustrata. Antwerpen - Beller - 1562, BSB 4 crim. 43

A woodcut by Hans Döring from the year 1545 shows a Militärscharfrichter with his servants

Cropped selection from Execution of the defenders of Greifensee during the Old Zürich War 1444, from Schodeler's chronicle, ca. 1515.

From a flyer describing the public execution of 16th-century pirate Klein Henszlein and his crew in Hamburg, 1573

 

Beheading from the Cosmographie Universelle of Munster: in folio, Basle, 1552

Lines 33-34 of Meyer's Zettel

No posture will come to you that is so good; in the Nach you will hit him with free mettle.

Master Meyer explains:

"Concerning this you shall note, although there are many good postures...you learn from these verses that it is always better not to entirely settle into a posture, since from the postures your opponent can easily deduce what kind of stück you have in mind to execute, something that cannot be deduced from the cuts." - Meyer (1570) “Grundtliche Beschreibung der Kunst des Fechtens”, 1.46r

This is why we move about; transitioning in the Zufechten through many guards. This is the chess match of fencing and why we do not linger overlong in any particular guard. It is also why it looks silly to view a fencing match where one or both fencers stabilize in a guard, Tag for example, and inch forward, tipy-toeing into Kreig distance to engage in a sad shootfighting, strike fest version of HEMA.

Master Meyer explains further:

"Also you learn from these verses how, when an opponent stands in front of you in a posture, you shall hit him or come to the opening, which may be accomplished through the Nach. Understand this thus: if your opponent stands in a posture, then cut opposite it to the other opening..." - Meyer (1570) “Grundtliche Beschreibung der Kunst des Fechtens”, 1.46r

"...it is always better to not settle into a guard. It guards you not at all, to show someone with your guard, what you will do amid the fight, that may your cutting through not be brought so far. In this, learn from the rhyme, when you should do it. Namely in the Nach that is when you should take him, when he keeps his guard, or stays in a guard, then cut him to the opposite opening, as soon as he goes towards your strike with his displacing, and is out of his Guard, and whether it connects or doesn’t connect, then pull around your head and strike, especially to the part or quarter Line from where he has struck from." - Meyer (1560) MS A.4o.2, 1.11v

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Lines 31-32 of Meyer's Zettel

From The Third Book: Lines 31-32 of Meyer's Zettel:

Pay heed to Indes, understand me rightly, hit him before he adopts his posture.

Master Meyer explains further:

“...when you are in the Zufechten, and he acts as if he will adopt a posture, then do no let him be in peace or come to it, but always attack first; and as he is choosing a posture, lay on at once to the nearest opening, and act as if you intended to cut strongly; but let it fehlen, or Verfliegen, and attack to another opening; then as soon as you have come halfway in or onto his sword with your blade, then do not be idle, but deliver a Zwirchhau, or Umbschlagen, or Ausreißen, or Schnitt, or Winden, or do whatever work may most properly come to hand for you.” - Meyer (1570) “Grundtliche Beschreibung der Kunst des Fechtens”, 1.45v – 1.46r

“Many have believed that the word Indes has its origin from the Latin word intus, and indicates the inside combat, which arises from the windings and similar work; but you will hear now that this is not true. I leave the meaning of the word intus to the Latinists, but the word Indes is a good German word, and embodies a serious exhortation to quick judgment, so that one should be constantly swift of mind.” - Meyer (1570) “Grundtliche Beschreibung der Kunst des Fechtens”, 1.25r

“Thus you should respond Indes quickly with convenient work, with this, you are strongest on his Stücken, when you lay on with your work in the Vor, and in this you are crowded so that you must displace him after, thus is a constant changing with the Vor and Nach, now you have it, then he does, But he who does not pay attention to it, he will nonetheless never learn to fence.” - Meyer (1560) MS A.4o.2, 1.6r

The Simultaneously is when both you and your opponent execute your cuts at the same time, which is also signified by the word Indes.” - Meyer (1570) “Grundtliche Beschreibung der Kunst des Fechtens”, 1.24v

More on Indes from the German tradition of with Ringeck:

“You shall learn and understand both the word "Fühlen" and the word "Indes", because these two belong together and together they account for the greatest art and skill in fencing.”

"Indes" is a sharp word, which cuts all fencers, that don't know anything about it. Moreover, "Indes is the key, which unlocks the Art of fencing”

“This is a difficult time to describe and from what I understand even the translation does not do it justice, because its meaning is quite a bit deeper than the simple English translation of Just As. Indes describes the time of the moment of decision. It is often used to gain back the initiative from an opponent who has gained the Vor.

A bit from Mike:

“It is done in the moment as you move or strike or even sometimes defend. It can be likened to the concept of double time where Vor, Nach and Abzug represent single time. “ - Cartier (2005) “The Art and Practice of Longsword Combat according to Joachim Meyer, Free Fencer” pg 20

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Meditations: 5:16

Bed time story from Marcus Aurelius;

"Whatever kind of impressions you receive most often, so to will be your mind; for the soul is dyed with the colour of one's impressions. Therefore, colour your soul with continuous thoughts like these:  Wherever there is life, there too, the good life is possible"  Meditations 5:16

My main take aways here;

First, and it is certainly true, that our outlook on life, our views positive or negative greatly affect us. Our quality of life is directly linked to our worldview. If you believe everyone is out to get you, or everyone is stupid, trust no one and so forth...that is your world, true or not. Your perception is your reality. If you fill your mind with crap that is all you will get out of it. Garbage in, Garbage out.

The second thing that grabbed me was the outstanding example he gave us.   

Wherever there is life, there too, the good life is possible.

Lines 29-30 of Meyer's Zettel

From The Third Book: Lines 29-30 of Meyer's Zettel:

See that you are the first on the field; before your opponent adopts a posture, lay on against him.

Master Meyer explains further:

“... so that you can act in a timely manner in your intended stücken; then you shall be so persistent against him with cuts and steps that he can have neither time nor space to choose a posture or stück, and you shall thus rush upon him with sudden steps before he realizes it.” - Meyer (1570) “Grundtliche Beschreibung der Kunst des Fechtens”, 1.45v

Meyer is talking about seizing and maintaining the Vor.

Meyer speaks further of the Vor, that is the act of having the initiative.

“The Vor is when you drive with your stücken so that he cannot come to his senses, especially by positioning yourself close, and how he defends before your stücken and these same would like to break and bar, with this, he runs off the Vor to you.” - Meyer (1560) MS A.4o.2, 1.6r

“It is called Vor when you attack your opponent with your cutting first in the Zufechten , and further drive on, so that he cannot come to his undertaking or stücken, but must restrict himself to parrying so that he may defend himself from you.” - Meyer (1570) “Grundtliche Beschreibung der Kunst des Fechtens”, 1.24r

More on Vor from those predating Meyer in the Kunst des Fechten:

“With the word Vor as has been told before, he [Liechtenauer] means that you, with a good Vorschlag, shall close in without fear or hesitation and strike at the Blossen; to the head and to the body, regardless whether you hit or miss you will confuse the opponent and put fear into him, so that the he does not know what to do against you. Then before the opponent can gather himself and come back, you shall do the Nachschlag so that he will have to defend yet again and not be able to strike himself.” - Anonymous (1389)

“"Vor" means, preempting him with a blow or a thrust against an Blossen before he can hit you, so he must defend/displace. So, be flexible in your defense and aim with your sword at one opening after the other, so he cannot get through with his own techniques.” - Ringeck (MS Dresd.C.487; 15v

“What the Vor is that is that you shall always come before, be it with the strike or with the stab, as when you come to him with a strike or otherwise so that he must displace you, Indes, work ahead nimbly with the sword in the displacement or else with other parts, that he can come to no work.” - Anonymous "Pseudo-Peter von Danzig" (pre 1452)

A bit from Mike: 

“He who maintains the initiative forces the opponent to react to defend themselves giving up the control of the fight to the man in the Vor. The German school often advocates a flurry of strikes (Meyer mentions four strikes as his preferred combination number) to gain and deftly exploit the Vor, keeping up a relentless pressure of attacks to limit the opponents ability to counter.” - Cartier (2005) “The Art and Practice of Longsword Combat according to Joachim Meyer, Free Fencer” pg 20

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4AUG14_ #HTGS

It is a challenge to hunt the good stuff about yesterday. I did not like having to leave my kids with their mother. I miss them and being a part of their daily lives. Spending a week with my two youngest was incredible, outstanding, phenomenal.

The good stuff:

Yesterday, I had breakfast with my family. It was very good that my children got to spend quality time with my extended family.

The drive from Michigan to Illinois was safe and easy, and filled with excellent conversation with my kiddos.

Meditations 2:8

Late night story time with Marcus Aurelius

"Not easily will you find a person who is unhappy due to ignorance of what goes on in another person's soul; but those who do not follow the movements of their own soul will surely be unhappy." Meditations 2:8

Worrying about someone else's thoughts, beliefs, and faith is counterproductive. What is more important is understanding your own thoughts, beliefs, and faith and being true to them.

02AUG14_#HTGS

Hunt The Good Stuff:

1) Took the kids to their first family reunion where they met more family than they could even hope to put names to. My son said, "Double thumbs up, I loved it"

2) Took the kids to their first concert, enjoying rocking and rolling with them...seeing them run around in a pack of kids was great.

3) More plans were made for the upcoming Joachim Meyer (1570) Longsword Plate Kickstarter campaign

Wrathful Movement Drill

Here is a short movement drill for gross motor mechanics and muscle memory.

Wrathful Movement Drill

Meditations 12:25

Today's random morning coffee reading of Marcus Aurelius is:

Cast out your judgments and you will be saved. Who, then, prevents you from doing this? - 12:25 Meditations

Yeah, being negative in your outlook in life towards anyone or anything hampers happiness, squashes quality of life, and such is totally within our power to control.

Starting Off

Hello Blogger world, This process will likely be rough, I am not as they say "savvy" to HTML nor to the internets. I have attempted to blog before with mixed if not poor results. So this time I will combine all my interests, namely; Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA), writing music, Alchemy, philosophy while combining that with an overarching effort of Hunting the Good Stuff (#HTGS) in life. So I will post on my on search for "Good Stuff" (MRT style), share my daily readings of Marcus Aurelius, HEMA stuff...mostly on Joachim Meyer, thoughts on Alchemy and share music as I write and produce new material.