Durchwechsel and Zucken: Longsword Lesson 17 

Great video! I'll have to try that durchwechsel variation. Especially with the Schielhau. Zucken I'd always interpreted as "pulling," so instead of dipping around you'd pull the sword back to get around the blade. What you guys show I've been calling abnemen, "taking off."

Nice video! Here we use the Durchwechseln mostly when the opponent parrys too close to the point, then the sword slides more easily from the bind.

Well explained. Thank you.

Excellent as usual, guys.

Well, at least in p.v.D., the Zucken is also a thrust: "hew in from the right side above strongly to the head. If he then drives with the sword strongly forward with the hew and will parry, or hews to your sword, then pull your sword on you, before he binds on you, and stab into the other side."

Hi guys, it's always good to see folks around the globe, who use the same source material as one self. As pointed out by others, I would interpret your Zucken as an Abnehmen. But I do not want to get into semantics here. IMO the main issue with your work from the bind (Sprechfenster), that ALL of the shown techniques should be subject to Fühlen, and executed Indes. If your opponent isn't hard in the bind (trying to displace your blade), his point will always threaten you, when leaving his blade for a Durchwechseln, Abnehmen, or the like. That for, pressure of the opposing blade is essential. Indes (while) the other applies said pressure, you can now suddenly end your support of this pressure by your blade. This may lead to an opening, because his blade now goes to the side without your support, and his nasty point is now out of the way. I experienced that this sudden release make these techniques from the bind much easier, if not an essential prerequisite. Depending on the measure and where you bind to the opposing blade, you now can do your Durchwechseln, Abnehmen, Zucken, and even Schnappen (in the close measure) with minimal danger of catching a thrust in the process. Durchwechseln: you suddenly yield tho the pressure while a change into thumb-grip makes your point automatically circle around the opponents hilt and gets your thrust on-line (but be quick on your feet to avoid the Afterblow). Abnehmen (your Zucken): use your pommel-hand to slide up the blade of your opponent in an explosive motion. As soon as you pass the point, bring down your blow to the hands, chest, or head of your opponent. Zucken (my interpretation): in long, low bind explosively pull back your sword into pflug position, to end the support of the pressuring blade of the opponent, and thrust immediately on the other side of his blade (just move the arms, your body should follow the thrust). Schnappen: in close, high measure, suddenly yield to the opposing pressure, and let your point be pushed down, while your pommel comes on-line to your opponents face. Now you can either go for a pommel-strike, or you can get the "upper hand" by pushing down his arms with your pommel and go for a Krumphau/Schnappen to his face. Every one of these techniques (maybe with the exception of Schnappen) can be used as a Fehler/Feint/Feller, as long as you can be sure, the opponent attacks your blade, instead of your body - as you showed a the end of your video. While your video documents a valid point of view, I sincerely hope my interpretation of the topic is of some value to you.

Nicely done as always guys, really enjoy and appreciate your videos!

Guys, i think it's a good idea to make video on the vier leger and put it on the top of playlist.. your videos are great! So much explaination. Greetings from indonesia

Thank you for alll the Great Videos. For my Interpretation what you Call Zucken is an Abnehmen. You could translate Abnehmen in Lift. Zucken in German is literraly a shrug or wince but I would Interpret it as a tug. It really works well in your example When the Partner is deflecting your weak with his strong. Abnehmen works well if his Point is facing up. Either technique You should always do it in a tight movement. That Said, I really like your durchwechseln. Keep up the good work. Kudos from Germany.

Kristen Argyle, I think of Zucken as a particular kind of Abnehmen done as tightly as possible. I've also seen it translated as "pulling", but our school's resident, native German tells me that "twitch" is closer to the mark.

First, you guys are awesome. Second, is there an efficient and safe way to place a cut after Durchwechseln? At the place where I train we aren't allowed to thrust. I can imagine that a cut to the opponent's swordarm might work, because you can keep his sword under control, while you perform the attack? (Sorry for any mistakes, I'm German)

As always, great instructional video. Thanks for taking the time to produce this series - I hope there are more in the works! At Swords of Chivalry (chivalrytoday.com/services/knight-school-historical-fencing/) we teach the Durchwechsel just a little differently - as a "sliding through" under the opponent's sword, and as soon as your point clears the opponent's blade, you wind in against his sword to perform the thrust. The result is that, as you rightly point out, you restore the "your sword between you and the opponent's sword" defense as you begin your attack. I point this out because, in the way we approach it, the opponent's technique is what makes the determination between Zucken and Durch. If the opponent binds your blade -but- keeps his point close to "on line," the Zucken (over the top of his point) works best; it uses the narrow angle of the opponent's sword to create the path that your Zucken takes. If, on the other hand, the opponent binds particularly wide, pushing your point far out to your right (in the perspective of your video), the "slide under" style of Durch seems (to me) to naturally follow from the pressure the opponent is putting on your blade. Narrow angle = Zuchen. Wider angle = Durchwechsel. That way you never have to struggle against your opponent's blade to get your tip clear. Hopefully that makes sense! In any case, thanks for your videos!

So would you say that with the Durchwechsel that you are reengaging the bind from the other side? or is that just convenient if it happens?

Coupe and disengage or double disengage.

Is this an interpretation of Döbringer? I always assume people are explaining Meyer, but from what I can read, what you're calling a durchwechseln Meyer just calls a Wechseln, and Meyer seems to describes Zucken as a very different handtarbeit altogether.

Video quality is getting a lot better. Don't fidget with the sword and bob your head to attempt to let the audience know you know what you're talking about. It's distracting when there is constant movement while attempting to concentrate on the technique at hand. Much better video! Thumbs up!