Dusack, Part One

[1] Fencing in Dussack and the use of all types of single hand weapons

First of all, there are the guards, of which there are six, which are not made to be waited in, as mentioned above in part, but rather for the sake of division, so that one knows how to distinguish one from the other, when one fights from Steer, he should or must use the usual cut and Stuck that are assigned to the Steer, if one wants to fence with someone, he shall take care of which or by which part he fights against him, so that he may know with which cut or Stuck he should attack him most effectively, so that he may deprive him of the Before, because the fencers who carelessly strike their blows and Stucke are soon hit and usually have to go away with damage.

[2] Next there are the cuts, which, although I will tell you there are sixteen, you will not have more than 4 Main Cuts, from which the others have their origins, namely the first, the High Cut, the second the Wrath Cut, the third is the Middle Cut, and fourth is a Low Cut. Yet none will ever cut or deliver any so rare or crooked, but that he must bring from above or diagonally, athwart or from below. And the many names and variations of the cuts come from the diverse intentions of the one who delivers them. Of this I'll give an example, when I stand before someone in the same work, and cannot at all come to his openings, then I strike in strongly to him from above with a Knocking Cut, not so that I would hit, but so that I would attack him and provoke him to cut so that he would then open up for me, and give me room for the opening, and although it is a High Cut, the cut is still called the Knocking Cut, because my intent is only to knock onto him to see whether he will open up for me.

[3] From the Openings

Thirdly, you should take note of the openings and learn to recognize them by the man's arms with which he leads the weapon. So you should note if he stands too high with the arm, then he is open below.

[4] If he falls in too deep, then he is just open above, likewise, if he goes too far to the sides.

Further as to the four parts of the man, the Before and After, the Weak and the Strong, item: the Rounding and the Circle Cut, slicing and the like and all kinds of hand works have been explained at length previously in the Sword, which one should also use here.

[5] Follow the guards

First of all there are the guards, namely, the Watch, Boar, Steer, Wrath, Side Guard, Slice, Changer and Bow.

[6] After that are the cuts

High Cut, Wrath Cut, Middle Cut, Low Cut, Crooked Cut, Whacker Cut, Roarer Cut, Winding Cut, Blind Cut, Knock Cut, Short Cut, Striking Over, Danger Cut, Constrainer Cut, Rose Cut, Failer Cut.

[7] The Two Displacements

The first is available in the Slice which comes from the High Cuts, the other is the Bow and comes from Low Cuts.

[8] These are the four routes through the opponent, to which or through which one cuts, the first line has three parts namely to the head, to the arm so that the opponent sweeps around with the cuts. Then also the Wrath Cut will be displaced mainly three ways, firstly through the face the next through the middle of the opponent, thereafter through the legs and it is still only one cut from he who cuts it, whether it is through the face, or through the middle of the opponent, or through the legs.

[9] In summation, whatever goes from above, that is cut to the head or arms or feet, so it is called a High Cut. Then those from the shoulder that are cut diagonally to the opponent, be it to the face or body, high or low so it is called a Wrath Cut. You may also do the cut using the crooked or straight edge, for which reason the names of the cuts are diverse, as well as the limbs to which they are cut, they take their names, how it follows hereafter in Rapier, and still the cut remains basically a Wrath Cut or Middle Cut. And so it is created with all.

[10] Further you shall note that when you cut one of the four cuts through the relevant line, whether above or middle, then you shall always strike back up the next line to displace.

[11] Thus in the Zufechten if I come in the Steer and strongly strike a Middle Cut in through his face, I at once cut from my left up through the lower line to parry against his hand.

[12] Boar
 Watch

Take note when you stand in the Watch Guard, and he cuts through at your face, then step with your left foot behind your right and cut him diagonally through his face and against his hand. Also, Indes step around to his left with your right foot, and cut the next also through his face from your right, quickly drive out to the displacement, or take away his cut from below and cut afterwards with a Middle Cut, also when he cuts at you from under or through the middle, from his right to your left.

[13] If he cuts at you from outside to your right, whether the flicker or with the flat, then step with your left foot in to his right side and cut him two High Strikes from outside over his right arm, if he winds this however, then cut him forward to the face.

[14] Rule

Take note that the Watch is a good one, from it you should extend over him with long cuts, so that if someone cuts at you from outside or inside, then step out from his strike and cut him with the long edge to his head and his hand. Inside with a straight Scalp Cut, outside with a Winding Cut.

[15] Counter to the Watch

Boar

Take note when you find him in the Watch Guard, then position yourself in the Guard of the Boar, as soon as he brings his Dussack into the air, then step with your right foot between you and him through to his right side, cut Indes outside and over his right arm to his head with a Winding Cut, then quickly step back and cut a High Cut to his head or through the face.

[16] Another Counter

If you stand in the Guard of the Boar, then step and cut from your right through his face but fall with your Dussack down into the left Changer Guard, Indes cut strongly from your lower left, upwards diagonally to his wrist, if he cuts simultaneously then all the more he hurts himself, then third from your right through his face.

[17] A good Stuck to the After Cuts from the Watch

Item: If you stand in the Guard of the Boar, step and cut him through like it is reported above, as soon as he cuts after, then quickly drive above and capture the strike on the Strong of your Dussack, Indes grasp simultaneously with your open left hand under your Dussack onto his hilt with it you hold him off and then cut him to his forward set leg.

[18] Item: If someone cuts you from above, then displace like before and drive underneath your displacement with your open left hand onto his hilt as described above, cut Crooked over to his left ear, instantly drive down through the nose and flick from the outside over his right arm to the head, allowing it to run off by his right, then with an over hand, wrench his arm to your right side and cut long after.

[19] Or when you have hung over or flicked over his right like before, then grasp with your left hand over your right around his Dussack again onto your blade and [...] wrench to your right, instantly release your left, thrust and cut him long to the head.

[20] The Boar counter with the Whacker.

[21] Steer
 Wrath Guard

Note: When you find someone in left Wrath Guard, then come into Steer and thrust him to the face, so that he must defend himself with parrying, then cut him quickly through the face, the other is a High Strike to the head.

[22] A good attack from the Steer

Take note in the Zufechten when you come in the Steer against the left Wrath or some other guard, then cut the first from your right from below Crooked through his left side with a step forward, the second also from your right from above, so that your Dussack shoots around before your left above your head into the Plunge, instantly cut strongly with your long edge from your left from below through the Scalp Line and a Middle Cut after, or step to him with parrying.

[23] Item: When you stand in the Steer, then step in at him with your right foot, turn the steer from your left to your right, take out those from below from your left, how it is taught above.

[24] If you encounter him low in parrying, then rush in from the steer from your right with a Crooked Cut over his displacement strongly through his face, the next cut in from your right through his left to the face, be quick again to the parrying.

[25] A good Stuck from the Steer

If someone approaches you in the Slice, then step and cut through from your right Crooked and from below to his right arm, so that you can reach his knuckles with the tip of the short edge (crooked tip), the next strongly take him away with the flat above his right arm from your left, so that your weapon again flies over your head, with this, thrust over his right arm to the face, if he wards this, then hit him in the face with a swift blow.

[26] Another

In the approach cut him with long edge strongly through his face, so that your Dussack shoots across over your head to the displacement by your right, step Indes quickly with your left around to his right and cut Crooked over his right arm to his head, if he wards this then cut forward to his face, or cut over to his head with crooked from the left.

[27] Note: When he cuts Crooked over to your head, then set him off with the slice from your right, Indes grab with your left hand over your right to his right hand by the wrist, drive up with the hilt from under and break above you as depicted hereafter.

[28] Or when you have caught him by the hand how it is shown above, heave upwards and go through under his right, bend yourself over and grasp with your right hand together with your Dussack behind his leg, and as quick as you can grab him, heave upwards, thus he falls on his head how it is depicted hereafter.

[29] Follow left Wrath Guard

Note when you are positioned in the left Wrath Guard, then drive up through the strike line from your lower left, and then cut from your right through his middle line, with one to three strikes strongly in at the opponent, see that you have your Dussack somewhat crooked, spring Indes with the right foot well to him, and cut Crooked overhand, and over his displacement to the head, quickly snap Indes back around Crooked below to his arm or face, cut away with a strong Middle Cut, or cut from outside to the right.

[30] Item: Drive strongly over your right thigh through to the opponent's face, Indes step with the left foot to him, and take him away from your left so that your weapon shoots around your head, stab him to the right and then cut at once to his left.

[31] Item: If he cuts to your opening, then cut with a Winding Cut over his right arm simultaneously with him, follow then to the next opening.

[32] Follow the Correct Wrath Cuts

A good Stuck with 6 cuts.

Note: If you are positioned in the right Wrath Guard, then step and cut your first from below through his left, the second also from below through his right, with both of these use the crooked edge. The third from above through his left, the fourth from above through his right, so that your Dussack shoots back again above your head into the Plunge, the fifth is a Middle Cut through his left and the sixth is a High Cut (Scalp).

[33] The Wrath together with the Steer are two primarily Earnest Guards to attack from, and have no differences other than the Wrath threatens the cut and the Steer threatens the thrust.

[34] Note firstly when you are positioned in Wrath or Steer on your right, that you ward off what he attacks or cuts, if he cuts at your left side, whether from below or above, then step and cut away his incoming strike close by his hand and cut quickly to his opening or come again thereafter into displacement outside of his right.

[35] Next, if he cuts at your right from outside to your body, whether it is from below or above, then step with your left foot to his right and cut from outside over his right arm to his head or with a Suppressing Cut from above hard to his hand, as soon as it clashes then shove the point in at his face, if he wards this thrust, then cut him to the face or pay attention to when he pulls his arm back into the air, then cut a Roarer to his arm.

[36] However, when he will not cut, then drive over his forward set leg with a fast Driving Cut through his face and with it, you compel him to cut or move, so that you can see your advantage.

[37] Item: If you are positioned in right Wrath, then shift (your Dussack) over your head to displace, Indes step in at him with your right and hurl two forceful cuts with the half edge from below and then quickly thereafter a Middle Cut, catch his right arm then with your Dussack.

[38] Note In the Zufechten, when he is positioned before you in straight parrying or in Slice, then come in the Side Guard on the left, then first throw the half edge* over his right arm to the face. Then next pull through to his face from below with the long edge, the third is a Middle Cut after from your right, if he wards then throw the cut quickly to the face.

[39] If he cuts at you when you are in the Side Guard, then take away his strike with your flat from your left, Indes step with your left foot to his right side and thrust over his right arm to his face, then cut quickly after through his face or to the next opening.

[40] Slicing

Note when you are positioned in the straight parrying and he fights to you, then set him off, once he recovers, then follow after him with the Slice onto his arm, and cut him Indes through the face, then let fly to the next opening.

[41] Item: When you displace him from your right to his left, as soon as the parry happens or when he has set off, then cut with the short edge from the lower left to his arm, conversely, when you parry from your left to his right then cut with the short edge from your lower right through to his left and then fight to the next opening.

[42] Follow several good rules in fighting from the Bow

The first rule: when someone cuts onto your Bow, then step with your left foot behind your right and follow with your right to his left and instantly lift your hilt upwards, so let his stroke shoot off of your weapon and pull the weapon through his face, so that your Dussack flies over your head; step and cut from your left outside and over his right arm. From this rule many agile tricks are increased with deception.

[43] The second rule is as follows, when someone cuts at you from above, drive up with the Bow against his strike, then turn his blow away to your left side, thus lift your body well after with your Dussack to your left side, Indes step quickly back to him and cut outside over his right arm, pull the hilt quickly back upwards to you and cut him through his face.

[44] The third rule is this, if someone cuts at you, then see that he is not too close to you, so that you trust you can avoid his strikes, then pull your weapon upwards to you and yield your forward foot to the rear out from his cut, and thus take his stroke without any parrying, as soon as his stroke has failed toward the ground, then follow after to his opening with a long step toward him, thus many can be reached.

[45] The fourth rule, note whenever someone strikes on the Weak of your Dussack, then drive up and cut a Roar Cut from your right to his arm.

[46] Item: If he cuts at you on your Strong, then turn the point upwards against his Dussack and thus turn away his Weak to your right side and cut a Roarer from your left from outside to his arm, or do the flicking. These are four especially good rules that are well to note when fighting in the Bow.

[47] Counter to the Bow

Firstly note when someone approaches you in the Bow, then position yourself in the Change on your left, with your right foot forward step and thrust up from below under his parrying to his face or chest, as soon as you find that your point is set towards him, then instantly drive your hilt up before your head and keep your point towards his body, so that he will ward off or strike this, so take heed as soon as he goes up to strike, then step to his left and strike in beside his parry to his face. This technique often works how it has been shown previously in the Bow.

[48] Item: If you are a strong man, then come into the Change as before, wrench away his forward Bow up from below with the half edge, cut quickly after to his face.

[49] Note when someone wants to wrench your Bow upwards as previously taught, then turn the wrenching away down to your left side with your hilt, instantly cut quickly at the same time as him in to his face with a back-step out from his stroke.

[50] Note however, when he thrusts in to your face under your parrying as has been taught above, then turn away the thrust, thus you open your face, as soon as he cuts to the opening, then drive under his stroke close by his hand between both your hands and thrust your hilt in his face, how it is depicted hereafter.

[51] Or when you have captured him from below and between both your hands, then drive or wind with the point outside and over his right arm, wrench downwards to your right side, instantly release with your left hand, pull the long edge over hand through his face, or thrust him with the point away from you and cut long after.

[52] A counter to the Bow with a High Strike

If you find someone in the Bow, then first cut in with a deep High Strike from your right with the half edge over his blade and hands, so that you drive him up high, as soon as he pulls up into watch then cut a Middle Cut through to the face also from your right.

[53] Breaking in over the Bow

Note: In the Onset come with your left foot forward, hold your Dussack beside your right, reverse your grip so that you have your Dussack crooked, Indes step, then break in Crooked over his Bow, wrench out downwards to your left, step with your right foot around his right thigh, cut from outside over his right arm high up to the head, the next; cut Crooked under his right arm to his face so that your parrying remains high, the third; forward to the face, or to his left with a step out.

[54] Item: When you strike someone outside over his right arm as has been said above, and he goes high upwards, then step out quickly and cut in Crooked to his face.

[55] A Swift Stuck

Item: Reverse your grip so that you have your Dussack crooked how it is reported above, cut then in a springing manner from your right with a High Cut overhand in over his Bow so that in this strike, your right side comes well to his left side, then cut in a flick back around below in to his face so that your haft remains high, quickly cut away short.

[56] Item: When someone stands in the Bow and allows the point to sink downwards, then step and cut from your right on the Weak of his Dussack from under his arm, so that your Dussack comes out to your left side, instantly take (his Dussack) away with the flat over his arm from your left and cut long after to the opening near by his hand.

[57] Note: When he approaches you in Bow then bind forward on his Weak with your point, Indes pull back to you and thrust him high to the face over his Bow, as soon as he goes to parry your thrust, then cut a Roar Cut down to his arm, how you see depicted here.

[58] Item: If you have bound on to the first part of his Dussack, then pull the long edge through his face overhand, then cut in after with another [Thwart] horizontal from below to his face.

[59] However, if he is high, then draw through his face from below, if he cuts quickly to your opening, then cut the Thwart overhand simultaneously with him to his face, how it is taught above.

[60] However, if you have bound with someone on the Strong, near by his hilt, then drive in over his Dussack, with your hilt to his face, and Indes draw the blade over his right arm through the face with a Turkish Cut drive quickly out again to the parrying.

[61] In Zufechten pay attention and when you note that one desires to cut in high over at you, so then drive under it with the Bow and capture his arm then grab with your left hand quickly to the crook of his knee on his forward most leg, and heave upwards then push up away from you, thus he falls.