I just started HEMA longsword yesterday and was desperately trying to understand this diagram and you made it easy. Thanks for the exceptional quality of your walkthroughs!
I've practiced kendo for 5 years and just recently got into HEMA, training with longsword and Sabre. Absolutely loved this video. Keep up the great work man! The quality of this is too good and it's super that I can learn accurate German pronunciation along the way🤣
I love that throughout Europe there were seperate teachings and traditions but they all cover the same key points. I would consider this to be like Ledall's flourishes in the English texts. An albeit quite different approach but with the same purpose of teaching transitions between strikes.
Now only i truly understand the Meyer Square. Thanks alot. Your explaination and demonstration is very clear. And I also appreciate the suggestion for variation if exercise using the Meyer Square. It makes the exercise more exciting and challenging.
Maurice, I've been practicing Hema in a school that teaches Meyers longsword now for about 4 months. Im using your videos to practice drills, which have been excellent, by the way. However, im curious why you're no longer making videos? The quality is supurb and very helpful/informative.
This is bloody brilliant! Thank you! Im looking forward to more videos coming out. Your techniques are beautifully fluid, and explanations exceedingly clear! Thanks again!
THKS A LOT FOR THIS,!!!!WELL EXPLAINED WITH MOVEMENTS AND WHAT IS IMPORTANT SLOWERED SO WE CAN SEE THE MOVEMENTS CLEARLY!!! PLZ MORE ABOUT THIS,HELP PLZ!!!
This is awesome...an overlay of a human silhouette would probably help more. Also, be able to widen the scale/figure, and raise/ lower for height, would make it a wonderful training aid.
I love this, thank you! It's a wonderfully clear explanation of the pattern and variations. Here's a silly question, though: If you're left-handed (like me), would it be best to flip the numbers of the Meyer Square to begin on the left, etc.? Cheers!
You totally could! Then again; the second half of the pattern is basically from the 'left handed' perspective, so you'll be practising that anyways. (Personally I love training patterns like this with both hands, anyways, not just to get good with both hands, but to learn and see a fight in terms of lines, angles and principles...)
Do you have a video that explains the double cuts you show in the variations? I think I understood what "short edge cut" means, but Stewerd's Hau and Streichen is still unclear to me 😅
Yes! The Stürzhau (Plunging Cut) and Streichen are also part of the Flow Drill video's (part 1 and 2) on my channel. They're not narrated, but the on-screen information should provide some good examples.
Question: short edge vs long edge. At first I was thinking it meant the shape part vs the flat of the blade, but that doesn't make sense. Explanation please?
Yeah, the flat of the blade is actually called the flat of the blade xD The long edge is the 'normal edge' on the side of your knuckles; the side that would also be sharp on most single-edged swords, like sabres. The short edge is the 'back edge', which would be facing yourself, if you're holding your sword upright between your opponent and yourself. Through the required twisting of the arm/wrist, this 'short edge' has slightly less reach, and it would ofcourse actually be shorter physically on a curved blade, being the inside curve. These termes are derived from the medieval German Langen Schneid and Kurzen Schneid. In English, the Long and Short edge are also referred to as the True and False edge.
@2:59 when going through each sequence, why not use both sides of the blade? As the time it takes to flip over the sword your opponent will be able to able a have a short moment to strike back. But if you strike top right down from 1, then strike bottom left straight away without turning the sword over you attack straight away?
That's a different thing, so it gets a different drill. Though: the aim of the cuts in this cutting drill, as designed by Meyer in the 16th century, is to close off the opposing line of attack with your secondary strike. So as long as you do make sure that the line of attack gets closed properly with your own offensive actions, you can definitely incorporate thrusts. In fact; any time you find yourself slightly out of range; using the cutting motion to close off the line does perfectly set up a thrust with opposition.
Its basic moulinette pattern. If I may give a suggestion, you should really use your body to generate cutting power rather than your arms and shoulders. Upper body seems very stiff.
It is mostly because of the angle that it creates, creating a more useful line of attack, and with the blade covering the centre line; protecting the body that stays outside. In actual fights, this sideward footwork can become rather small, but since it's something we don't do on a daily basis (we walk in straight lines, usually), it pays to train it in exaggerated forms.
Indeed! But Joachim Meyer has his own personal definitions of those strikes, that are not necessarily the same as in other, earlier manuals. Hence the choice in this video to use the generic terms, as used in manuscripts for roughly 100 years before Meyer started doing his own thing; to keep it simple for a broad audience :)
This is a good explanation of the Meyersquare. However, I noticed something and have a small objection. When doing this exercise, keep the point of the sword pointed at your opponent whenever possible. After every stroke you always end up in the plow or ox (Pflug oder Ochs) For example, if you cut a right Oberhau, then you can of course pull the blow through to the boar's tooth, but that does not threaten the opponent with the point and you are also not protected by your own sword. It makes more sense to cut into the left plow. Shortly after you have passed the long point position with the blow, you simply pull your left arm up against your bodys. In principle, the blow is absorbed by the right arm, which is pulled towards the body. The right forearm hits the lower body lightly, which stops the blow. Now all you have to do is move your arms forward a little and you are already standing in the left plow and you can stab straight to the long point. Wile standing in plowguard you have two options. You can cut an undercut to the right ox position. Or you first wind from the left plow into the left ox and then cut the undercut in the right ox. Try to stab either from plow or ox after each stroke to make this exercise a little more challenging and you will see what I mean. That is actually the idea of this exercise. One is supposed to learn the basic strokes while constantly building a threat with the tip of the sword. Greetings from Germany to all HEMA friends out there.
So similar. Only in our school we had to make sure, that we didn't move our right wrist down too far when we strike an Oberhau into the plowguard. We called this mistake the "broken wrist position.“ In the final position after the Oberhau, the angle of the wrist in relation to the forearm should not be more than max. 45 degrees. Pay attention to the position of the right wrist in the plow or long point. The wrist is never stretched too far forward. (It's only a minor thing, but your wrist will thank you in a long run)
@@rackety7797 Exactly! The original medieval German sources tend to refer to the edges as the long edge and the short edge, but in modern English also the phrases 'true' and 'false' edge are used. The Long/True edge is the edge on the side of your fingers, if you were to stretch out your hand. The Short/False edge is the edge near your thumb/wrist. So any simple descending cut, for instance, will be done with a long edge strike. A useful mnemonic: In curved blades, such as sabres, this inside curve is indeed shorter than the outside curve.
You…didn’t need to read the ENTIRE German title and subtitle of the book 😂 but you did that for US!
Bro, when he read the title of the book in the original German (?), that straight f'd me up....
I mean, that's the first test, so 🤷🏻♂
I just started HEMA longsword yesterday and was desperately trying to understand this diagram and you made it easy. Thanks for the exceptional quality of your walkthroughs!
Thanks! I'm glad it helps!!
How is the HEMA going today a year later?
Two years later you still training?
Two years later you still training?
Did this for 15 mins and it buurrrnnns.
Thank you
As a Fiorist, I've wanted a clear video these drills. You certainly delivered!
I'm glad it helps!
I've practiced kendo for 5 years and just recently got into HEMA, training with longsword and Sabre. Absolutely loved this video. Keep up the great work man! The quality of this is too good and it's super that I can learn accurate German pronunciation along the way🤣
Thanks a lot , I'm glad it helps!!
About the pronouncation..... Nicht mal deutsche können so sprechen.😂
I love that throughout Europe there were seperate teachings and traditions but they all cover the same key points.
I would consider this to be like Ledall's flourishes in the English texts.
An albeit quite different approach but with the same purpose of teaching transitions between strikes.
Hi, I am from China where HEMA is blossoming and I am start learning Meyer sword, thank you for your guides, very well made video, subed
Thanks! I'm glad it helps!
I can't believe I've finally found a good channel that teaches properly how to longswrod. Thank you kind sir
Now only i truly understand the Meyer Square. Thanks alot. Your explaination and demonstration is very clear.
And I also appreciate the suggestion for variation if exercise using the Meyer Square. It makes the exercise more exciting and challenging.
I'm glad it helps!
And this is now my daily training exercise. Thank you!
Maurice, I've been practicing Hema in a school that teaches Meyers longsword now for about 4 months. Im using your videos to practice drills, which have been excellent, by the way. However, im curious why you're no longer making videos? The quality is supurb and very helpful/informative.
I'm happy you find them helpful! It's taking me a bit of time, but more vids are being planned. Expect a bunch later this year!
Love it: very clearly narrated!
Thanks!!
I like how you demonstrated. Easy to understand. Thank you ❤❤❤❤
I just found this video and it finally clicked! I will definitely be taping some numbers up on a mirror! Thank you for this video!
Sir... you're a #Legend👑for this!✨👍It makes so much sense!🤔
Thanks! I'm glad it helps!
This is bloody brilliant! Thank you! Im looking forward to more videos coming out. Your techniques are beautifully fluid, and explanations exceedingly clear! Thanks again!
Brilliant. This looked like Greek to me before watching this video. Thanks!
Das ist eine der einfachsten Erklärungen, super. Great explanation and easy to understand. Thanks... Dankeschön ;)
Thank you so much for making these videos! I'm just starting in buhurt and look forward to longsword training now!
Nice to hear your voice to guide everyone through!
Amazing video!!!!! A great training!!!
Thanks!! ⚔️
thank you
THKS A LOT FOR THIS,!!!!WELL EXPLAINED WITH MOVEMENTS AND WHAT IS IMPORTANT SLOWERED SO WE CAN SEE THE MOVEMENTS CLEARLY!!! PLZ MORE ABOUT THIS,HELP PLZ!!!
Goed bezig!! Heldere uitleg, mooie opbouw, prettige en humorvolle voice-over! 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽
Dank!
Yeah, we do that routine quite often, you can also include strikes with inner and the outer flat if you want more of a challenge 🙂
great channel, smooth execution, I hope you post more video soon.
Thanks! I will!
I love this video for its clarity, specificity and a really nice voice. Sub and like! I wait for more, good work! :)
Thanks a lot!
Thank you!
Thank you for you explanation. It was informative.
I'm glad it helps!
This is awesome...an overlay of a human silhouette would probably help more. Also, be able to widen the scale/figure, and raise/ lower for height, would make it a wonderful training aid.
keep up the good work
Real good stuff, thanks!
Thanks!!
you don't make anymore video? i really like your workout
ruclips.net/channel/UCCivD4LBQYXiUmeKRVbh7Rwcommunity?lb=UgkxaH8ujOq3MBK6a5BHBnAE5NUHeLgkABtE
Very good! Thanks! 😁😈
Amazing video
I love this, thank you! It's a wonderfully clear explanation of the pattern and variations. Here's a silly question, though: If you're left-handed (like me), would it be best to flip the numbers of the Meyer Square to begin on the left, etc.? Cheers!
You totally could! Then again; the second half of the pattern is basically from the 'left handed' perspective, so you'll be practising that anyways.
(Personally I love training patterns like this with both hands, anyways, not just to get good with both hands, but to learn and see a fight in terms of lines, angles and principles...)
@@MauriceBooij Ah, of course, that's a great point, thank you!
nice
Thanks!
Do you have a video that explains the double cuts you show in the variations? I think I understood what "short edge cut" means, but Stewerd's Hau and Streichen is still unclear to me 😅
Yes! The Stürzhau (Plunging Cut) and Streichen are also part of the Flow Drill video's (part 1 and 2) on my channel. They're not narrated, but the on-screen information should provide some good examples.
@@MauriceBooij Lovely! Thank you!
Why are the numbers all switched around ? 😮
🤯
Either he read the title of the book so fast that I didn’t understand OR it was in an other language cuz that’s the longest damm title I heard
Welcome to the very verbose world of 16th century 'Early New High German' 😄
@@MauriceBooij 😅
Question: short edge vs long edge. At first I was thinking it meant the shape part vs the flat of the blade, but that doesn't make sense. Explanation please?
Yeah, the flat of the blade is actually called the flat of the blade xD The long edge is the 'normal edge' on the side of your knuckles; the side that would also be sharp on most single-edged swords, like sabres. The short edge is the 'back edge', which would be facing yourself, if you're holding your sword upright between your opponent and yourself. Through the required twisting of the arm/wrist, this 'short edge' has slightly less reach, and it would ofcourse actually be shorter physically on a curved blade, being the inside curve. These termes are derived from the medieval German Langen Schneid and Kurzen Schneid. In English, the Long and Short edge are also referred to as the True and False edge.
@2:59 when going through each sequence, why not use both sides of the blade? As the time it takes to flip over the sword your opponent will be able to able a have a short moment to strike back. But if you strike top right down from 1, then strike bottom left straight away without turning the sword over you attack straight away?
no worries... Watched the variations section :D
Wonderful stuff, thanks. I wonder can this be used with other swords as well
Certainly! The principle of cutting around a defense remains the same, whenever it is a good idea to do so :)
Can you use this system for for sabre?
Presumably! It works for Dussack...
what about stabs?
That's a different thing, so it gets a different drill. Though: the aim of the cuts in this cutting drill, as designed by Meyer in the 16th century, is to close off the opposing line of attack with your secondary strike. So as long as you do make sure that the line of attack gets closed properly with your own offensive actions, you can definitely incorporate thrusts. In fact; any time you find yourself slightly out of range; using the cutting motion to close off the line does perfectly set up a thrust with opposition.
Its basic moulinette pattern.
If I may give a suggestion, you should really use your body to generate cutting power rather than your arms and shoulders.
Upper body seems very stiff.
I noticed the steps and footwork are away from the direction of the cut, this reduces power, but this best to maintain balance?
It is mostly because of the angle that it creates, creating a more useful line of attack, and with the blade covering the centre line; protecting the body that stays outside. In actual fights, this sideward footwork can become rather small, but since it's something we don't do on a daily basis (we walk in straight lines, usually), it pays to train it in exaggerated forms.
A lot wider cuts than Fiore
zornhau and oberhau are diferent things
Indeed! But Joachim Meyer has his own personal definitions of those strikes, that are not necessarily the same as in other, earlier manuals. Hence the choice in this video to use the generic terms, as used in manuscripts for roughly 100 years before Meyer started doing his own thing; to keep it simple for a broad audience :)
@@MauriceBooij thank you for the explanation im mostly familiar with meyers book so it hit my eye
0:40 impressive german i must say
Thanks! Living next door to Germany helps 😁
Sword fighting, many great men killed by lucky idiots.
This is a good explanation of the Meyersquare. However, I noticed something and have a small objection. When doing this exercise, keep the point of the sword pointed at your opponent whenever possible.
After every stroke you always end up in the plow or ox (Pflug oder Ochs) For example, if you cut a right Oberhau, then you can of course pull the blow through to the boar's tooth, but that does not threaten the opponent with the point and you are also not protected by your own sword.
It makes more sense to cut into the left plow. Shortly after you have passed the long point position with the blow, you simply pull your left arm up against your bodys. In principle, the blow is absorbed by the right arm, which is pulled towards the body. The right forearm hits the lower body lightly, which stops the blow.
Now all you have to do is move your arms forward a little and you are already standing in the left plow and you can stab straight to the long point.
Wile standing in plowguard you have two options. You can cut an undercut to the right ox position. Or you first wind from the left plow into the left ox and then cut the undercut in the right ox.
Try to stab either from plow or ox after each stroke to make this exercise a little more challenging and you will see what I mean. That is actually the idea of this exercise. One is supposed to learn the basic strokes while constantly building a threat with the tip of the sword.
Greetings from Germany to all HEMA friends out there.
You mean like explained at 4:08?
So similar. Only in our school we had to make sure, that we didn't move our right wrist down too far when we strike an Oberhau into the plowguard. We called this mistake the "broken wrist position.“ In the final position after the Oberhau, the angle of the wrist in relation to the forearm should not be more than max. 45 degrees. Pay attention to the position of the right wrist in the plow or long point. The wrist is never stretched too far forward.
(It's only a minor thing, but your wrist will thank you in a long run)
can someone explain the short edge and long edge strikes?
What would you like to know?
@@MauriceBooij what’s the difference? Does it refer to which edge you’re striking with?
@@rackety7797 Exactly! The original medieval German sources tend to refer to the edges as the long edge and the short edge, but in modern English also the phrases 'true' and 'false' edge are used. The Long/True edge is the edge on the side of your fingers, if you were to stretch out your hand. The Short/False edge is the edge near your thumb/wrist. So any simple descending cut, for instance, will be done with a long edge strike.
A useful mnemonic: In curved blades, such as sabres, this inside curve is indeed shorter than the outside curve.
@@MauriceBooij thank you! That’s what I was thinking I just wanted confirmation
If you have trouble remembering which is which, pretend your longsword is a pirate scimitar, a saber, a katana, or some other curved blade.