Unlocking the Secrets of Steel: A Comprehensive Guide to Longsword Guards

Longsword fencing, a cornerstone of Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA), is built upon a sophisticated system of guards or stances. These are not merely static poses but dynamic positions that form the beginning, middle, and end of all offensive and defensive actions. Understanding these guards is crucial for any practitioner seeking to grasp the art of the longsword. This guide provides a comprehensive rundown of the principal guards found in the major historical traditions, primarily German and Italian, detailing their characteristics, tactical applications, and significance in combat.

Key Insights into Longsword Guards

Dynamic Positions: Guards are not static; they are fluid postures facilitating movement, attack, and defense. Fencers transition between guards constantly.
Historical Traditions: The most well-documented systems come from German (e.g., Johannes Liechtenauer, Joachim Meyer) and Italian (e.g., Fiore dei Liberi) masters, each with distinct but sometimes overlapping guards.
Tactical Versatility: Each guard offers unique advantages for offense, defense, controlling distance, creating openings, or deceiving an opponent.

The German Tradition: Masters of the Blade

The German school of longsword fencing, heavily influenced by Johannes Liechtenauer and later masters like Joachim Meyer, emphasizes four primary guards known as the "Vier Leger" (Four Guards). These are considered foundational, with many other positions being variations or transitional movements.

A HEMA practitioner demonstrating a longsword fighting stance.

A fencer adopting a ready stance, exemplifying the poised and dynamic nature of longsword guards.

The Four Primary Guards (Vier Leger)

1. Vom Tag (From the Day / Roof Guard)

Position: The sword is held high, typically above the head or resting on the shoulder (often the right shoulder for a right-handed fencer), with the point angled upwards or slightly back. The left foot is often forward.

Purpose: This is an aggressive guard, poised for powerful descending cuts (like the Oberhau or Scheitelhau). It can also be used to invite an attack to a seemingly open line, only to counter swiftly. It offers excellent offensive potential and can transition into thrusts.

Tactical Notes: While appearing open, Vom Tag allows the fencer to command the high line and initiate attacks with gravity's aid. It's a versatile starting or reset position.

2. Ochs (Ox Guard)

Position: The sword hilt is held to the side and typically above head height (e.g., on the left side if the right foot is forward), with the arms curled so the point is directed towards the opponent's face or chest, like an ox's horn. The long edge often faces upwards or outwards.

Purpose: Ochs is strong for defending against attacks from above and allows for quick, well-aimed thrusts. It controls the upper lines and can be used to bind and wind against the opponent's blade.

Tactical Notes: This guard provides good cover for the head and upper body while maintaining a direct threat to the opponent. It's effective for close-range engagements.

3. Pflug (Plough Guard)

Position: The sword hilt is held low, typically near the hip on the side of the back foot (e.g., left hip if the right foot is forward), with the point angled upwards towards the opponent's face or chest. The long edge usually faces downwards.

Purpose: Pflug is a robust defensive guard, excellent for parrying attacks and delivering quick counter-thrusts or rising cuts from below. It covers the lower and middle lines effectively.

Tactical Notes: This guard offers a stable base for both defense and offense, allowing for strong leverage in the bind and quick transitions to other actions.

4. Alber (Fool's Guard)

Position: The sword is held low, with the point directed towards the ground, often slightly forward. It can appear to leave the fencer vulnerable.

Purpose: Alber is a deceptive guard designed to bait an opponent into attacking a perceived opening. From Alber, the fencer can execute swift counter-attacks, often thrusts (like Langenort) or rising cuts.

Tactical Notes: Its "foolish" appearance is its strength, inviting predictable attacks that can be exploited. It's excellent for controlling distance and setting traps.

Secondary and Transitional German Guards

Beyond the Vier Leger, other positions are recognized:

Langenort (Long Point): Not a static guard but the moment of full extension in a thrust, directly threatening the opponent. It is often considered a "hidden fifth guard" due to its critical importance.
Nebenhut (Side Guard / Near Guard): A variation of Alber where the sword is held low and to the side, often as the end point of a diagonal cut. It's well-suited for launching rising false-edge cuts.
Zornhut (Wrath Guard): A very aggressive high guard, often more coiled than Vom Tag, ready to unleash powerful diagonal cuts.
Schlüssel (Key Guard): A winding position, often used in the bind to control the opponent's blade.
Kron (Crown Guard): A defensive posture where the sword is held horizontally above the head, crossguard forward, primarily to defend against downward blows.

The Italian Tradition: Fiore dei Liberi's System

The Italian school of longsword, notably documented by Fiore dei Liberi in his "Fior di Battaglia" (Flower of Battle, c. 1409), presents a system often based around twelve primary guards or "Poste." These guards are also dynamic and serve as entry and exit points for techniques.

Key Italian Guards (Poste)

Fiore categorizes his guards, some having multiple variations (e.g., stable, instable, front or rear-weighted).

High Guards

Posta di Donna (Woman's Guard): Held over the shoulder (left or right), similar to Vom Tag. There's a destra (right) and sinistra (left) version, and also a "soprana" (overhand) version. Excellent for powerful descending cuts and parries.
Posta di Fenestra (Window Guard): Sword held to the side of the head, point forward, often with the true edge up (destra) or down (sinistra), creating a "window" to see the opponent. Good for thrusts and protecting the head.

Middle Guards

Posta Longa (Long Guard): Sword extended directly towards the opponent, point threatening their chest or face. A primary threatening and probing guard.
Posta Breve (Short Guard): Sword held closer to the body than Posta Longa, point still threatening. Offers more defensive stability and readiness for close actions.
Posta Frontale / Corona (Frontal / Crown Guard): Sword held horizontally in front of or above the head, offering protection.

Low Guards

Porta di Ferro (Iron Gate): A central low guard.
- Tutta Porta di Ferro (Whole Iron Gate): Sword held low and centrally, point slightly up, offering strong defense for the lower body. Similar in principle to Pflug.
- Mezza Porta di Ferro (Middle or Half Iron Gate): Sword held more to one side, hilt lower, point angled up.
Posta di Dente di Cinghiale (Boar's Tooth Guard): Sword held low and to the side, point angled upwards towards the opponent. Often an end position of a cut or a guard from which to thrust upwards. There are variations like Dente di Cinghiale Mezzana (middle) and Dente di Cinghiale Vera (true).
Posta di Coda Longa (Long Tail Guard): Sword held low and trailing behind the body, point towards the ground. Used for powerful rising cuts or to hide intentions.

Other guards mentioned by Fiore include Posta di Bicorno (Two-Horned Guard) and transitional postures. Like the German system, these are not static but points in a continuous flow of motion.

Comparative Analysis of Longsword Guards

The following radar chart offers a conceptual comparison of some prominent German and Italian longsword guards across several tactical attributes. These are generalized assessments, as the effectiveness of any guard can vary based on the fencer, opponent, and specific situation.

This chart illustrates that guards like Vom Tag and Posta di Donna excel in offensive power, while Pflug offers superior defensive stability. Alber stands out for its deception potential, and Posta Longa for reach. All guards require fluidity for effective transitions.

Tactical Roles of Longsword Guards

Regardless of tradition, longsword guards serve several crucial tactical functions:

Defense: Protecting vital areas and preparing to parry or deflect incoming attacks.
Offense: Providing a stable and advantageous position from which to launch cuts, thrusts, and other offensive actions.
Control: Dominating the center line, managing distance (Mensur), and controlling the opponent's blade in the bind.
Deception: Using "inviting" or ambiguous postures to lure the opponent into a predictable response, creating openings for counters.
Transition: Facilitating fluid movement between different guards and techniques, allowing the fencer to adapt to the evolving combat situation.

Mastery involves not just knowing the guards but understanding their interplay, the appropriate moments to use them, and how to transition seamlessly between them in response to an opponent's actions.

Understanding Guard Relationships: A Mindmap

This mindmap provides a visual overview of the primary longsword guard traditions and their core components, illustrating the structured yet interconnected nature of these foundational fencing postures.

mindmap root["Longsword Guards"] idG["German Tradition (Liechtenauer, Meyer)"] idG1["Vom Tag (Roof/Day)"] idG2["Ochs (Ox)"] idG3["Pflug (Plough)"] idG4["Alber (Fool)"] idG5["Secondary Guards
(Langenort, Nebenhut, Zornhut)"] idI["Italian Tradition (Fiore dei Liberi)"] idI1["Posta di Donna (Woman's Guard)"] idI2["Posta Longa (Long Guard)"] idI3["Porta di Ferro (Iron Gate)
- Tutta
- Mezza"] idI4["Posta di Fenestra (Window Guard)"] idI5["Posta di Dente di Cinghiale (Boar's Tooth)"] idI6["Posta di Coda Longa (Long Tail)"] idI7["Other Poste
(Breve, Frontale, Bicorno)"]

The mindmap highlights the two major historical schools—German and Italian—and lists some of their most characteristic guards. While distinct, some guards share functional similarities across traditions, reflecting common biomechanical and tactical principles of sword fighting.

Longsword Guards at a Glance

The following table summarizes key information for some of the most prominent guards from both German and Italian traditions, offering a quick reference for their positioning and primary purpose.

Guard Name	Tradition	General Position	Primary Purpose(s)	Tactical Notes
Vom Tag	German	High (over shoulder/head)	Powerful downward/diagonal cuts, offense	Aggressive, can invite attacks
Ochs	German	High (hilt by head, point forward)	Thrusts to face/chest, upper line defense	Strong for binding, close control
Pflug	German	Low (hilt by hip, point up)	Low/mid line defense, upward thrusts/cuts	Stable, good for counter-attacks
Alber	German	Low (point down)	Baiting opponent, deceptive counters	Invites attack to exploit openings
Posta di Donna	Italian	High (over shoulder)	Powerful cuts, high line defense	Versatile offensive/defensive high guard
Posta Longa	Italian	Extended (point forward)	Threatening at distance, probing, thrusting	Controls range, initiates engagement
Tutta Porta di Ferro	Italian	Low-Central (point slightly up)	Strong low/mid line defense, thrusts	Similar to Pflug, very stable
Posta di Fenestra	Italian	High-Side (point forward)	Thrusts, protects head, lateral defense	"Window" offers view and angles
Posta di Coda Longa	Italian	Low-Rear (trailing)	Powerful rising cuts, deception	Hides intention, good for surprising attacks

This table serves as a comparative overview, highlighting the diversity and specific applications of various longsword guards. Remember that these are starting points, and actual application involves fluid transitions and adaptation.

Visualizing Longsword Guards in Action

For a dynamic understanding of how these guards are utilized and transitioned between in practice, observing experienced practitioners can be invaluable. The following video offers a beginner-friendly introduction to longsword guards, demonstrating their postures and discussing their applications.

This video, "Learn the Art of Combat: Longsword Guards - Beginners Guide," provides visual examples and explanations that complement the textual descriptions, helping to bring these historical techniques to life. It emphasizes that knowing the guards, understanding which techniques and concepts apply from each, and fluidly transitioning between them are key to effective longsword fencing.