Dusack, Chapter 8: The Watchtower (Wacht)

[1] About the Watchtower and the sequences assigned to the same

Chapter 8

This High Guard is the beginning of the High Cut and is therefore named the Watchtower, because you observe with the prepared strike up high and watch out for where they expose themselves in front of you with cuts so that you can reach past them with cuts from above. This is because your counterpart [can] cut at you as they want; you can reach past them from this guard or at least suppress their cuts or convert them into nothing.

[2] Position yourself in this guard like this: stand with your right foot forward, hold your dusack over your head and let the blade hang down behind you (as the portrait toward the right hand indicates in the Figure [B] printed previously). I will explain using some subsequently set examples so that you can also know what is to be fenced from this. Namely, for the first:

[3] How and in what way you should reach past an opponent with simultaneous cuts

In the Onset, position yourself into the High Guard. If your counterfencer cuts at your body from outside, whether at the arm, high, or low, take note: in that moment in which their arm extends for the cut, step toward their right and away from their strike, and cut strongly through in front of yourself and outwardly over their right arm and at their head, so that your dusack arrives in the Middle Guard on your left after the completed cut. From there, cut across toward their right arm through their face (this applies regardless of whether this is carried out with the flat or with the long edge), so that you arrive with your dusack at your right shoulder at the end of the cut. From there, quickly and immediately cut two Wrath Cuts from both sides (cross-wise opposite one another) and through their face.

[4] If they cut in front of you at your face and toward your left: in that moment in which they cut in, step with your left foot behind your right around toward their left side out of their cut and follow with the right foot somewhat toward them. In that moment in which you step, cut two long straight cuts (with arm extended) slantwise through from above at their face and toward their hand, both hastily one after the other. You then arrive at the end of the second cut in Middle Guard on your left. You thus expose your right side with these cuts. Therefore, take note during this: if they were to cut at the openings you have provided, cut their in-flying cut away, from your left toward your right with a powerful cut upward, one that is so strong that your dusack shoots around above your head back into right Bull. Simultaneously with this cut outward, step with your left foot toward their right and threaten to thrust with the front end from outside over their right arm. However, pull your thrust quickly back to yourself and cut in front through their face with a retreating step. If they don’t cut at the opening you provided, cut anyway with the long edge from your left upward through their right and complete the sequence as has now been taught. Then cut away from them through the cross.

[5] Rule

In summary, when you stand in the High Guard and they cut at your body (from outside or inside, at the left or right), always step out of their strike and cut in equally long and above their strike at their head. As often as you complete this High Cut from one side, also cut a Middle Cut from the other side and through their face (just as often as a counter). Subsequently, follow this with other additional sequences, or cut away from them using the Cross.

[6] How you should fence from the Watchtower if your counterfencer doesn’t want to cut first; the first sequence from a Misser

Take note: if your counterpart does not want to cut, but instead positions themselves in a counterposture in front of you, step with your right foot around toward their right and cut the first from above and outside at their right arm so that they must defend against [this]. As soon as you then perceive that they are moving with their dusack to counteract opposite your cut: don’t let your cut hit or touch. Instead, in that moment in which they lift upwards, let [your cut] miss and drop down past them. Step quickly back around toward their left during this and cut again through their face from in front.

[7] A sequence and example of how you should provoke your counterpart such that they lift upward so that you can damage their right arm

Another: cut the first from above straight toward the center part in their hairline. In that moment in which your cut flies in from above, turn the short edge outwards in the air towards them, as if you wanted to hit with the same. Take note: in that moment in which they rise to receive your cut, immediately pull back up, without contact, around your head and cut strongly through with the flat, outwardly from your left and across toward their right arm. This should occur in that moment in which they drop down with their cut. Then, follow with Cross Cuts.

This Misser sequence is quick, because by turning the short edge toward them, you recover yourself so that you can complete the Middle strike more quickly and strongly. Then, in that moment in which they raise their arms, your blow flies in across and hits.

[8] Another, in which it is taught how you should provoke your counterpart to a cut, catch the same, and when they want to rise farther upward, how you should cut through their face or arm during that

When you observe that they quickly cut in response, you should carry out these sequences with which you provoke them and encourage them to cut.

Thus, position yourself with body language as if you wanted to cut powerfully. However, don’t let it hit. Instead, withdraw that cut back to a counterposture so that you catch their cut (with which they intended to overtake you) and thus chase away their advantage.

To take one example of this: guide a High Strike at them with a step forward. In that moment in which it should now hit, turn the short edge toward their left and thus recover yourself for a Low Cut toward their right. However, you should not complete this Low Cut. Instead, as soon as they subsequently lift up and cut in: cut the Low Cut (for which you have now recovered yourself) and catch their in-flying cut still in the air with this Low Cut from your left. Take note: as soon as they move away from the counterposture and lift up, during their movement, cut a powerful Middle Cut from your right quickly through their face. Follow with a Wrath Cut long from your left.

[9] How you should drive an opponent up and down with strength so that they must cede [you] space to cut with Middle Cuts to both sides, at their arms and through their face

Turn your right side well toward them and cut two high, straight, and strong cuts through their face in one driving move forward (with two steps forward of your right foot). As soon as you have driven their dusack up high, cut two Middle Cuts quickly from both sides opposite one another. The first through from your right under their dusack toward their inside arm; the second from your left toward their right, above their dusack through their face (in that moment in which they lift up). The third cut is again a High Strike from your right from above through their face.

[10] Two techniques are specifically assigned to the Watchtower and should be carried out through the High Cut, namely: the first is reaching past, as taught in part previously; the second is to suppress any cuts, as will follow after this in the Simple Brace.