Learn the Art of Combat: Longsword Guards - Beginners Guide
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Unterhau·Björn Rüther
Knowing the guards in the long sword, knowing which techniques and concepts to apply from each posture, and being able t…
Unterhau
Genusウンターハウ(Untāhau)
TransliterationTranslation: unterhau (under cut)
Overview
The Unterhau (rising cut) travels from below upward, targeting the opponent's arms, chin, or torso from a low guard (Alber or similar). [1] The Unterhau is the natural complement to the Oberhau, and alternating between descending and rising cuts creates the continuous cutting flow that characterises German longsword fencing. [1],[2] Though less powerful than the Oberhau, the Unterhau attacks from an unexpected angle and is effective against opponents in high guards. [2],[3]
History & Origin
Effectiveness
The Unterhau (Under Cut) is a rising cut delivered from below, typically from a low guard position such as Alber. [1] Its effectiveness comes from its unexpected trajectory — rising cuts target the arms, hands, and chin from beneath the opponent's guard, attacking angles that are difficult to defend from a high guard (Vom Tag). [2] Liechtenauer's tradition pairs the Unterhau with the Oberhau as complementary opposites. [2]
Lineage
Competition Record
The Unterhau (underhand cut) is used in HEMA longsword competition as both an opening attack and a counter against high guards. [1]
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Cutting, thrusting, or striking with a bladed weapon — edge alignment and trajectory determine cutting effectiveness
Joints Involved — Wrists (edge alignment and rotation), elbows (extension for thrusts, chambering for cuts), shoulders (arc of the cut), hips (power generation)
Force Vector — Varies — downward diagonal cut (kesa-giri), horizontal cut (yoko-giri), thrust (tsuki), or rising cut (kiri-age)
Weapon Mechanic — Edge alignment (hasuji) is critical — the blade must travel along its cutting plane for effective cuts
Position & Entry
From ready stance (chudan-no-kamae or equivalent) — Assume guard position, establish distance (ma-ai), execute the cut or thrust when an opening appears
From engagement distance — Use footwork to close to striking range, execute the technique with proper edge alignment (hasuji)
As counter — Wait for the opponent's attack, deflect or avoid, and counter-cut to the exposed target
Variants
Standard cut — primary cutting angle from the ready stance
Thrust (tsuki) — straight thrust targeting the throat, chest, or face
Rising cut (kiri-age) — upward diagonal cut from low to high
Diagonal cut (kesa-giri) — downward diagonal cut following the kimono line
Videos
Lesson 3, Oberhau & Unterhau
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Unterhau·Sword Carolina
You can't return to the basics too much. Over the years, Josh and Aaron have often seen that problems students have in …
Longsword Techniques: ZornhauWinden Duplieren Mutieren
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Unterhau·Adelaide Sword Academy
taken from jan 2011 training. We have since moved back to a zornhau that "punches" out more and clears the centre line, …
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3 videosWhat Instructors Say
The Unterhau (underhau, undercut) is one of two foundational cuts in Liechtenauer longsword tradition, from which all other master cuts derive, according to the historical manuscripts. Sword Carolina emphasizes that the Unterhau, like its counterpart the Oberhau, functions as a category encompassing multiple techniques rather than a single rigid movement. The cut should target the opponent's body rather than their sword, creating genuine threat and forcing defensive commitment. Mechanically, Sword Carolina stresses that the sword must lead the movement before the feet follow, keeping the weapon as both offensive and defensive instrument. The Unterhau transitions between guards—commonly executed from Vom Tag (from above) into positions like Plow or Ox—and practitioners should aim to arrive cleanly at the finishing guard rather than cutting uncontrolled and retreating. This guard-to-guard progression provides structural clarity and improved cutting accuracy. The Unterhau serves as a fundamental versetzung (setting aside), capable of deflecting incoming attacks while simultaneously attacking available openings. Distance and balance maintenance are critical; while reach toward the target is important, overextension compromises defensive positioning and invites counterattack. Sword Carolina's approach treats the Unterhau as both an attacking and defensive tool within the bind, emphasizing intentional movement from one position to another with continuous threat.
Synthesized from 3 instructors
- Sword Carolina — Lesson 3, Oberhau & Unterhau: Provided detailed technical breakdown of Unterhau mechanics, including its foundational status in Liechtenauer system, emphasis on cutting to the body rather than the sword, sword-lead footwork, guard-to-guard transitions, and its dual function as attack and defense through versetzung.
- Björn Rüther — Learn the Art of Combat: Longsword Guards - Beginners Guide: Discussed guards as structural framework for understanding cuts including underhau, noting that guards function as memory aids and conceptual anchors; mentioned side guard and other positions relevant to underhau execution and flow.
- Adelaide Sword Academy — Longsword Techniques: ZornhauWinden Duplieren Mutieren: Minimal direct content on Unterhau; transcript consists primarily of music cues without substantive technical instruction.
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
9
Extreme9/10
Edged weapons cause fatal lacerations; historical battlefield mortality rates >30% (Amberger 1999)
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Advanced
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
— FIE — Legal fencing technique — governed by FIE rules for...
FIE Rules of CompetitionPDFHEMA — Legal in historical fencing competition {src— various organizations
Training Notes
✓The Unterhau (undercut or cut from below) is a rising cut delivered from a low position — it attacks the opponent's lower openings and can displace their sword from below (Tobler, Fighting with the German Longsword, 2004)
✓The Unterhau is the complement to the Oberhau: where the Oberhau cuts downward, the Unterhau cuts upward — together they cover all vertical angles
✓The Unterhau launches naturally from Alber (the low guard) or from any position where the sword is below the waist
✓The Unterhau targets the opponent's hands, forearms, or lower body — rising through their guard to strike areas that high guards leave open
✓The rising path of the Unterhau naturally transitions to Ochs or Vom Tag: the sword rises through the target and ends in a high position ready for the next action
✓The Unterhau is particularly effective against opponents in Vom Tag: their sword is high, leaving the lower openings exposed
✓In HEMA competition, the Unterhau is used as a counter-timing attack: the upward path passes under the opponent's descending cut
Common Mistakes
!Using the Unterhau only as a secondary technique — it is a primary cut that should be trained as extensively as the Oberhau
!Rising too steeply — the Unterhau can be vertical or diagonal; the diagonal version is often more effective
!Not transitioning to a high guard after the Unterhau — the sword naturally rises to Ochs or Vom Tag; use that position
!Using the Unterhau without footwork — the rising cut requires a step to generate power and close distance
!Cutting with the flat instead of the edge — edge alignment in the Unterhau requires specific attention
!Not using the Unterhau against high guards — it is specifically designed to exploit openings left by Vom Tag and similar positions
!Committing to the Unterhau without a follow-up plan — the initial cut must chain into the next technique
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Assume Guard (Kamae/Hut) — take the appropriate ready position with the weapon
2Measure Distance (Ma-ai) — establish correct striking distance
3Initiate Cut/Thrust — execute the technique with proper edge alignment or point control
4Follow Through (Zanshin) — maintain awareness and readiness after the technique
Sources & References
Primary Source
The Art of Combat (Joachim Meyer, 1570)
1BookThe Book of Five Rings (Musashi, 1645)
Alias sources — [1] Sigmund Ringeck's Knightly Arts of Combat [2] Sigmund Ringeck's Knightly Arts of Combat [3] Sigmund Ringeck's Knightly Arts of Combat
2BookThe Art of Fencing (Barbasetti, 1932)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Forgeng, J., The Art of Combat (Palgrave Macmillan, 2003) [2] Tobler, C., In Saint George's Name (Freelance Academy Press, 2010)
3OtherJapanese Combat Sports Katakana Convention
Standard katakana transliteration of Western martial arts terminology (外来語) — used in Japanese MMA, boxing, and BJJ communities
4CitationThe Book of Five Rings (Musashi, 1645)
Alias sources — [1] Sigmund Ringeck's Knightly Arts of Combat [2] Sigmund Ringeck's Knightly Arts of Combat [3] Sigmund Ringeck's Knightly Arts of Combat
5CitationThe Art of Fencing (Barbasetti, 1932)
Effectiveness sources — [1] Forgeng, J., The Art of Combat (Palgrave Macmillan, 2003) [2] Tobler, C., In Saint George's Name (Freelance Academy Press, 2010)
Community
Athletics
Requires
wrist control for edge alignment, grip endurance, footwork precision
Favours
quick wrists, strong forearms, good posture
Key muscles
forearm extensors/flexors, deltoids, core, calves
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Oberhau and Unterhau considered so important in longsword fencing?
According to the historical manuscripts, the Oberhau and Unterhau are the two most fundamental cuts from which everything else in longsword technique is derived. Mastering these cuts provides the foundation for all other techniques.
How do I transition between guards when executing cuts?
Every cut involves moving from one guard to another—you are fundamentally transitioning between guard positions as you execute the technique. Understanding this guard-to-guard progression is essential to proper cutting mechanics.
What should I focus on when planning my guard changes?
Never change your guard without an intention or idea behind it; otherwise your opponent gains more opportunities to attack the openings you create while you're repositioning. Each guard change must have a tactical purpose.
Can I use the same cut to both attack and defend?
Yes—for example, if an Oberhau is coming at you, you can defend by executing an Oberhau yourself from a position like the long tag into plow to set the opponent's sword aside. This defensive cut can work against many attacks.
How does the Unterhau work?
The Unterhau (rising cut) travels from below upward, targeting the opponent's arms, chin, or torso from a low guard (Alber or similar). The Unterhau is the natural complement to the Oberhau, and alternating between descending and rising cuts creates the continuous cutting flow that characterises German longsword fencing.
Where does the Unterhau come from?
The Unterhau is described in all major German fight-books as the complementary cut to the Oberhau, together forming the basic cutting vocabulary upon which the master cuts are built. Fiore dei Liberi's system includes the equivalent sottano (rising blow) as a core technique.
Is the Unterhau legal in competition?
FIE: legal — Legal fencing technique — governed by FIE rules for foil, épée, and sabre; HEMA: legal — Legal in historical fencing competition
How dangerous is the Unterhau?
Danger rating 9/10. Extreme — edged weapons cause fatal lacerations; historical battlefield mortality rates >30% (Amberger 1999)
How do I set up the Unterhau?
The standard setup chain: Assume Guard (Kamae/Hut) → Measure Distance (Ma-ai) → Initiate Cut/Thrust → Follow Through (Zanshin).
How do I defend against the Unterhau?
Standard counters include: Parry (Absetzen) — deflect the incoming blade with a counter-displacement / Void (Step Back) — withdraw from measure to avoid the cutting arc / Counter-Cut (Nachreisen) — strike into the opponent's opening during their attack.
What are the variants of the Unterhau?
Common variants: Standard cut (primary cutting angle from the ready stance); Thrust (tsuki) (straight thrust targeting the throat, chest, or face); Rising cut (kiri-age) (upward diagonal cut from low to high); Diagonal cut (kesa-giri) (downward diagonal cut following the kimono line).
How effective is the Unterhau in competition?
The Unterhau (underhand cut) is used in HEMA longsword competition as both an opening attack and a counter against high guards.
What are common mistakes when doing the Unterhau?
Top errors to watch for: Using the Unterhau only as a secondary technique — it is a primary cut that should be trained as extensively as the O… / Rising too steeply — the Unterhau can be vertical or diagonal; the diagonal version is often more effective / Not transitioning to a high guard after the Unterhau — the sword naturally rises to Ochs or Vom Tag; use that position / Using the Unterhau without footwork — the rising cut requires a step to generate power and close distance.
What are other names for the Unterhau?
The Unterhau is also known as Untāhau, Under-Cut, Low Cut, Rising Strike.