The Five Distances of Longsword

Coaches Nicole And Lee take a look at the five distances of longsword and how to use them effectively.
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[@lsporter88]

Efficient and thorough lesson. Thank you.

[@NotReallyHere198]

Really efficient way to explain!

[@Davlavi]

Very nice thanks.

[@joshvwvd]

as someone who has practiced Hema for a good 7 years I have always worked with only three distances which are Zufechten, Krieg and Ringen where Zufechten is the distance where you need to make a step to preform an attack Krieg is the distance where you can make an attack without making a step and Ringen is the distance in which you can grapple without making a step and because of that I think these 5 distances which seem only a small collecting step distance apart are over complicating and only more confusing

[@Helsvga]

Out of distance is a distance as well. But yeah, they overcomplicate dividing the krieg in 2 different distances.

[@edwinpoon]

Dividing Krieg into 3 parts isn't complicated or confusing if you learned the basics and sparred enough. It actually helps to teach someone what they are up against at each sub-part, and of course know the associated risks.

[@Helsvga]

@@edwinpoon it is unnecessary, simply as that. Krieg is krieg, and even when getting hit in a more vital part has obvious differences, it is still the same, you get hit, that's all. The interim states or subparts shouldn't be looked upon so closely cause there's not a difference in what you want to do, that is simply win the lane and take enemy blade out of dangerous spots. At the end, a Passo (step) ends up covering much more distance than one of those subframes, and even a copasso would do.

[@edwinpoon]

​​​@@Helsvga I disagree. Being in range of hitting ur hand vs hitting ur head is not the same. If u get cut on the arm even with a sharp, u still retain the presence of mind for a few seconds to step in and afterblow ur opponent, if the intent is to kill and not draw first blood as described in the texts for some duels. If u get hit in the head or the neck, with a thrust, it's pretty much bye bye.
You shouldn't stick so rigidly to German medieval treatises, which I am assuming due to the terms used. I'm sure Liechtenauer would encourage deeper research and development into HEMA beyond what had been written, so as not to stagnate. Even Ringen range has two sub-parts: the arm-grab/wrap range and the throw range, and their associated payloads.

[@Helsvga]

@@edwinpoon all you say is correct. The error is to teorice it, as I see it this should be obvious and quite instinctive and there's no need to pointing it up, since the thing is the same. Hit and not get hit. If you were fencing with your mind of changing blow for the other, like getting hit on the arm in exchange of taking your opponent's life, you're doing it WRONG.
You want to stay safe out there, and the strategy will be always to stay safe and close the lane.
Again, obviously, there's a distancie were you want to be even more careful cause you might get hit in your head, but anyway, you DON'T WANT TO GET HIT, be it on your head or on your hands, cause for a medieval warrior, getting hit on your hands and not be able to fence anymore almost equals to be dead.
So, again. Krieg is krieg, and techniques for krieg are almost the same be further or closer, you just adapt to where the blow is sent. Trying to put more concepts into play is try to overthink the problem and trying to give the students more concepts to process in a snap, which is contraproducent when you've got an immediate threat.
Besides, there's no clear frontier where the inner and outer krieg starts as it depends on the enemy blade and arms lengths, that could be longer or shorter than you in each occasion, and also where you have your hands positioned, so again... Simplifying is better, and in this case, you want to see it like this: out of threat (you can see the enemy running at you before taking any offensive action), immediate threat (enemy can land an attack on you by extending and doing a step) war (enemy can land an attack on you without stepping into you) and hand to hand (distances where you cannot send cuts or thrusts but attack with your hands, pommel of the weapon, the guard, a dagger, etc.)
Inside of those categories you have multiple techniques and counter techniques, obviously, depending on the exact distance, if the enemy is stronger/taller than you or not and many more things, as in any martial art, but still all this techniques are usually the same adapted to where you are being attacked, and you have to see this division as something more metaphorical or abstract, ir flexible, rather than something rigid which you're constantly looking upon. Is some kind of guide, but not like the index of a dictionary, rather, a way of judging how close you are from the enemy and how immediate is a threat.

[@StarBoundFables]

Great advice & that pun @ the end was perfect! Cheers

[@edwinpoon]

It is great that B&I is going back to fundamentals.