This time we will be speaking of the five positions that Musashi mentions in more detail. As I pointed out last time, those familiar with Liechtenauer might find many similarities.
Is it surprizing that a 16th century Samurai and a 16th century european sword master teach similar styles for fighting with a two handed sword? It better not be, if they are to be believed and as you might suspect, there are great similarities.
This is, in essence, why the consideration of books such as Musashi’s Book of Five Rings or Sun Tzu’s Art of War is not only important to learning sword work and strategie, but also for learning about life, oneself and those we have to face on a day to day to basis.
Even if you are a non-fighter, have you never felt somebody slash at you with something sharp from high above, at work, at school, at home? Would it not be helpful to have remembered then, that it would have been better to not remain in the path of impending disaster, rather than simply turning a bit and letting whatever it was pass you by?
This may sound a bit contrived, but it does hold true, for we are speaking of threats to ourselves and how to deal with them.
As we speak of the five positions, think if you will, not just of sword work, but how this type of analysis of a threat, preparation to meet it and dealing with it also applies to everyday life.
For the sword work afficionados I will also include the Liechtenauer terminology.
For a brief recap of last month’s section, let’s think of the lightness with which you are supposed to wield the weapon, the suppleness in motion and control. Fluid, round, smooth motions. Keep this mind as consider the positions, because it help you “get the feel” of what he is trying to say. Keep in mind we are speaking of two handed swords or at least definitely hand and a halfs. Because a lot of this will not work with a Zwei Händer, the huge six foot cleavers of the front line Landsknechts. They were also called Doppel Söldner. because the received double pay for this line of work. With a broad sword, facing another broad sword, similar moves may work, but I haven’t tried that.
Musashi’s five positions are guards, just as in Liechtenauer, which can be converted into an attack in an instance.
The first postion is the middle position (Liechtenauer: Langen Ort). In this position you simply point the tip of your sword at your opponents face. It is a very threatening position, because the point is hovering very close to your opponents face. As an aside, for all those who prefer not to use thrusting tips on two handed swords, you are cutting off half of your sword. Two handed swords are made for thrusting, despite all the Conan movies you might see.
As your opponent strikes a blow, you can strike at the weak point of his sword, the last third towards the point, and strike it down towards the ground. Keep your sword there. As he recovers to start another blow, follow with your blade and strike at his hands.
Within the regulations of SCA combat, strike at his forearms.
It seems so simplistic and it is, which is why it works. It simply uses the normal progression of moves. What else is your opponent going to, other than lifting his sword? He may step out of range or be faster than you, at which point he is safe, but beyond that he must lift the sword or be exposed to your counter attack.
Musashi’s second position is to hold the sword straight over your head (L: vom Tag), pointing up. This is position from which to launch a very fast, very powerful strike against just about anything that comes your way. As your opponent strikes, cut him down or strike his blade down. Having finished the blow, your blade will be low. Keep it there, as in the first position, as your opponent recovers his weapon, strike him from below.
Here it is time to digress a bit. Some of you may think how gruesome this seems. It is very simple. If you don’t cut your opponent, he will cut you.
We have to remember that these techniques were developed by men who faced others with real weapons, in real combat, with real death waiting at the end. The techniques have to be effected or nobody would study them for long.
But, considering this reality, what is there to be learned? Economy of motion. You body wants to move in certain ways. The weapon is made to allow for the range of motion of the human body and to maximize the effect of the power you have. However, timing is of the essence and as you saw in these examples, there is no clean return to then launch another attack. In these two motions, you use every move to your advantage.
The third position is the lower position (L: Alber or possibly Pflug). The point of the sword, I would assume, is supposed to point down, such that you strike at your opponents hand from below. Musashi points out that your opponent will then strike again at your blade and you should let him do so, only to strike again from below.
The fourth position is with the long sword held low at your left side (L: Schrankhut left). Again you cut at the opponents hand from below, but you crossover to a high guard on your right, ready for another blow.
The fifth position is with the sword held low at the right side (L: Schrankhut right). Here Musashi describes how you are supposed to cut up diagonally, end up in a high guard (second position) and then cut straight down.
That’s it. Musashi even says that he will not discuss the postions in more detail, but that it is left up to the student to study them in detail and learn them.
Despite the fact that this is pretty practical advice, there are things that we can learn from it beyond mere postioning, especially when combining this with the Liechtenauer’s work.
Liechtenauer basically divides the opponent into four zones, like an even legged cross painted on the opponent.
Musashi basically starts all this moves from a lower guard, cutting up and then coming down again, but also really working in the four zones.
Liechtenauer has less focus on low guards, but uses them to good advantage.
The main point is, that all attacks must arrive at only one of four quarters and this makes reaction that much easier.
Thus, try to focus on your opponent in the sense of knowing when he is committed to a certain path and then react to it.
The next sections will deal with more practical advice from Musashi on positions and attacks and we will try to view them in the light of SCA combat.
Maximilian Ritter von Brandenberg
Back to part 7
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