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Post by jf on Jul 26, 2021 17:07:49 GMT
The author of this blog has a few neat articles on this sort of stuff. If I am reading it right he appears to be reviving Chinese Historic Martial Arts in a similar manner to HEMA with the European arts. The zwerchhau may not be the deadliest of martial blows in longsword but it still is a pretty nasty cut. I have put a dent in a fencing mask with a zwerchhau, I have no doubts it could lop off body parts if applied correctly but it is one of them cuts that has multiple uses including but not just "killing blow", in my opinion. www.chineselongsword.com/single-post/Effectiveness-of-Zwerchhau-German-Swordsmanship |
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Post by Kane Shen on Jul 26, 2021 22:36:00 GMT
In my experiencing with Zwerchau using various swords, both hand-and-a-half, and single-handed, Zwerchau can lash out considerable damage even to the head that's well protected by the skull. Zwerc from right side to the left side has some problem with following through the strike, due to human anatomy. It's not a problem from the other side. It's not as powerful as a oberhau for sure, and edge alignment can be a bit tricky even when thumbing the blade flat. But once connects, it doesn't take that much to end a fight, even without an immediate fatal strike. Bleeding can knock out an opponent soon, or it might blind them, if the pain and shock don't stop them on the spot.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 28, 2021 16:13:24 GMT
"it's better to kill a man with a hundred lacerations than a single blow" the old saying went something like
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Taran
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Post by Taran on Sept 26, 2022 11:51:28 GMT
It was used well on Knife or Death with an Iberian Montante from A&A.
At least until he got to the rope, anyway...
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Post by RufusScorpius on Sept 26, 2022 15:14:57 GMT
I took a good Zwerchau hit to the side of the head earlier this year. I have a full respect for it. It really rattled my cage and that was with good head protection and padded swords. I can imagine the top of my head flying off if it was a sharpie and I wasn't wearing a helmet.
Granted, it's a difficult hit to make because it requires the opponent to be in just the right spot, but when it hits... yah...
Think of it as just one more tool in your kit that you have available when the time is right. I certainly would learn how to deliver such a blow myself, and I have it on my "to do" list next time I'm in Germany.
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Post by leviathansteak on Sept 27, 2022 9:20:39 GMT
Seems like an old thread, but the zwerch is one of my favored go-tos in sparring.
The article emphasizes that you should continue to defend yourself after landing a zwerch, but i would argue that you should have this mentality for all techniques.
With regard to the zwerch, i have little doubt as to its efficacy when delivered properly with rotation of the body. In fact i have noticed that it tends to land on the back of the opponent’s head, which is generally more dangerous. The blows in sparring have to be 'pulled' significantly in order not to hurt your sparring partner.
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Post by willaumep on Mar 12, 2024 18:56:22 GMT
Hello Sorry if this is thread necromancy I would say it kinds of depends on our interpretation and the sword we are using. For me it is one of the most powerful strike we have at our disposal. Now i tend to do it more like in the Pseudo VD (i.e. not quite horizontal, but more at 45 and i change the grip when the sword is armed)  rather than Meyer  The VD works well will all medieval swords (i tried) provided that we strike with tip (taking the short edge does increase the tip velocity compared to a Zhorn) and step to the right (sending the back foot around make it so that our body does not get in the way until after we have cut). Now when i use the Meyer version, it is mush harder to cut efficiently unless we are talking Alexandria/tamashigery dedicated shinken level of sharpness |
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