Johannes Liechtenauer was a 14th Century German fencing master and is considered to be the father of high medieval martial arts. Liechtenauer learned and mastered the Art in a thorough and rightful way. Little is known about him outside those references found in the various treatises and manuals. "Including one attributed to Hans Doebringer (MS 3227a), Sigmund Ringeck 15th Century fencing master; & 16th Century master Joachim Meÿer.
German longsword fighting techniques rely on combining attack with defense. The type of unarmored combat that is predominantly the study within German longsword fighting clubs is commonly called Blossfechten. It contains at its core four guards (sword stances) and five “Master Strikes.” Each of the Master Strikes is designed to defeat a guard position. All cuts or thrusts transition from one guard to another. Aside from the Master Strikes, German longsword techniques include Oberhau and Unterhau strikes, which refer to downward diagonal and upward diagonal cuts. The system also incorporates thrusts, too.
German longsword fighting techniques rely on combining attack with defense. The type of unarmored combat that is predominantly the study within German longsword fighting clubs is commonly called Blossfechten. It contains at its core four guards (sword stances) and five “Master Strikes.” Each of the Master Strikes is designed to defeat a guard position. All cuts or thrusts transition from one guard to another. Aside from the Master Strikes, German longsword techniques include Oberhau and Unterhau strikes, which refer to downward diagonal and upward diagonal cuts. The system also incorporates thrusts, too.