Most two hand sword fighters seem to favour what could best be described as the 'Medium Guard'; that is with the sword held out diagonally in front of the body with its point towards the opponents face. "Over the centuries this guard has been both praised and damned. There were those who said it should never be used because it was an 'uncertain defence'. And there were those who regarded it as the finest defence of all. Indeed there were maisters who believed that the Medium Guard was the only true guard, and that all other guards were merely transitory positions to which the swordsman warded when fighting, their idea being that the Medium is the guard in which all moves start and finish" 2 . Here we see two different guards.

The fighter to the left is using what in Oriental martial arts might be called 'Waki Kamae' or Rear Angle Posture3. This posture seems very open; in fact this is its secret of success, it invites an unwary opponent into making a committed attack. Once the attack has been started the fighter needs only to advance his right leg drawing the sword up to strike at his attackers raised arms or step diagonally forward with the same leg, swinging the sword around, to move himself out of the line of attack and strike his opponent on the side or even back if he has over committed himself. Against a more wary attacker retreating the left leg while pulling the sword up in front of the body will move the fighter back out of range and into a Medium guard.

The fighter on the right is using a high medium guard (in the normal medium guard the hands would be held lower to point the sword at the opponent's face or neck). This is an interesting counter to the other fighter's guard as it invites him to step forward and cut towards the stomach (a natural blow from his guard). Such a blow would then be countered by either striking rapidly downwards towards the head as soon as the opponent moved into range (the time of the hand being quicker that the time of the hand, body and foot according to the principles of 'True Times') or by moving the left leg so as to turn the posture 90° to the left and cutting across the extended arms of the attacker as they swing around for the stomach cut.

Both fighters are therefore demonstrating postures that attempt to control the fight by inciting an opponent to attack in a manner that can be easily countered.

(1) Translations by Lady Jane to whom grateful thanks are given!

(2) English Martial Arts by Terry Brown. Anglo-Saxon Books 1997 ISBN 1-898281-18-1.

Mr Brown's book contains descriptions of various techniques, distilled form the works of period masters, along with an interesting history of the English fight schools of the middle ages. His terminology makes an excellent basis for describing period techniques; hence its use in these articles.

(3) Jo: The Art Of The Japanese Short Staff By Dave Lowry