Mixed Weapon Cutting Tournament (Top 4) - Filipino, Latin American, German Swords!
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Quarta Guard·Blood and Iron HEMA
The Short Blades Symposium hosts a variety of fighters from multiple different combat systems, and puts them together ag…
Quarta Guard
Genusクァルタ構え(Kwaruta Kamae)
HybridTranslation: quarta guard
Overview
Quarta (fourth guard) positions the hand with the palm facing upward (supinated), the blade angled across the body to protect the inside low line and threaten a thrust to the opponent's flank or abdomen. [1] Quarta is the guard most commonly used for parrying thrusts to the inside line and is the foundation of the modern fencing parry of quarte. [1],[2] From Quarta, the fencer can deliver a riposte thrust along the inside line with minimal blade movement. [2],[3]
History & Origin
Effectiveness
Lineage
Quarta was described by Italian rapier masters including Agrippa, Capo Ferro, and Salvator Fabris as one of the four primary guard positions. [1]
Competition Record
Quarta is studied and used in HEMA rapier tournaments and historical fencing events worldwide. [1]
Images
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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
Learn to fight with the Greatsword! A tutorial on Figueyredo's simple rules 1-16
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Quarta Guard·Virtual Fechtschule
A year ago, I went out to Teylingen castle in 32 degrees of heat, to record all of Figueyredo's simple rules for the mon…
Learn the Art of Combat: Longsword Guards - Beginners Guide
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Quarta Guard·Björn Rüther
Knowing the guards in the long sword, knowing which techniques and concepts to apply from each posture, and being able t…
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3 videosWhat Instructors Say
Quarta guard appears minimally in the provided instructional material. Björn Rüther's comprehensive longsword guards overview does not explicitly mention quarta by name, instead organizing instruction around Joachim Meyer's 14 guards (four main and ten secondary), which include positions such as ox, plow, fool, and day guard—structured as both starting positions and transitional postures. The Blood and Iron HEMA transcript provides no instructional content, consisting solely of tournament footage with minimal commentary. Virtual Fechtschule's treatment of Figueiredo's greatsword rules focuses on basic cutting and thrusting sequences rather than named guard positions. None of the three instructors provide direct exposition of quarta guard positioning, mechanics, or applications. Rüther emphasizes that guards serve as memory aids and structural frameworks for understanding fencing concepts, noting that practitioners should flow between guards with intention rather than arbitrary repositioning. The absence of explicit quarta discussion across these sources suggests either that quarta is not a primary guard in the Meyer or Figueiredo systems covered, or that it is addressed under alternative nomenclature within the broader guard taxonomy these instructors employ.
Synthesized from 3 instructors
- Björn Rüther — Learn the Art of Combat: Longsword Guards - Beginners Guide: Comprehensive overview of Meyer's guard system (14 total guards including four main guards), guard purposes, and conceptual applications; no explicit quarta reference
- Blood and Iron HEMA — Mixed Weapon Cutting Tournament (Top 4) - Filipino, Latin American, German Swords!: Tournament demonstration footage; no instructional content on specific guards
- Virtual Fechtschule — Learn to fight with the Greatsword! A tutorial on Figueyredo's simple rules 1-16: Figueiredo greatsword system instruction focusing on cutting and thrusting sequences; guard positions not systematically named or discussed
Learn This Technique
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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
✓Quarta (fourth) guard positions the hand with pronation (palm facing down) covering the outside high line — it is the primary defensive guard against attacks from the outside (Capo Ferro, Gran Simulacro, 1610)
✓Quarta is the guard for the outside high quadrant: the pronated hand position naturally displaces attacks to the outside of the body
✓From Quarta, the thrust travels to the opponent's outside — attacking the flank or the outside of the arm
✓Quarta's parry is the strongest defensive action in rapier: the pronated hand position creates maximum blade leverage for deflecting incoming attacks
✓The Quarta parry combined with a riposte is the fundamental defensive-offensive action in Italian rapier
✓In Fabris' system, Quarta is used extensively against right-handed opponents: it controls the outside line where most attacks travel
✓Quarta is the guard used for many counter-attacks: the pronated position deflects the incoming blade while the point extends
Common Mistakes
!Over-pronating the hand — the palm faces down but should not be forced to an extreme position
!Not using Quarta defensively — it is the strongest parry guard; use it when the outside line is threatened
!Holding Quarta without offensive intent — the point must threaten from every guard position
!Not training the Quarta parry-riposte — the parry into counter-thrust is the fundamental Quarta sequence
!Using Quarta against inside-line attacks — it covers the outside; use Terza for inside defence
!Tensing the wrist in the pronated position — maintain wrist flexibility for quick transitions
!Not understanding Quarta's relationship to other guards — it works as part of the guard system, not in isolation
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1En Garde — assume the fencing ready position with proper blade presentation
2Advance/Lunge Preparation — close distance with footwork
3Attack — execute the touch with right-of-way (if applicable) and proper point/edge
4Recovery — return to en garde after the action
Sources & References
Primary Source
The Art of Fencing (Luigi Barbasetti, 1932)
1BookThe Book of Five Rings (Musashi, 1645)
Alias sources — [1] The Sword and the Centuries (Castle, 1901) [2] Classical Fencing (Rogers, 2014) [3] Classical Fencing (Rogers, 2014)
2BookThe Art of Fencing (Barbasetti, 1932)
Effectiveness sources — [1] The Martial Arts of Renaissance Europe (Anglo, 2000) [2] The Swordsman's Companion (Windsor, 2004)
3OtherJapanese Martial Arts Hybrid Terminology
Mixed Japanese-Western terminology — combines traditional Japanese terms with katakana loanwords
4CitationThe Book of Five Rings (Musashi, 1645)
Alias sources — [1] The Sword and the Centuries (Castle, 1901) [2] Classical Fencing (Rogers, 2014) [3] Classical Fencing (Rogers, 2014)
5CitationThe Art of Fencing (Barbasetti, 1932)
Effectiveness sources — [1] The Martial Arts of Renaissance Europe (Anglo, 2000) [2] The Swordsman's Companion (Windsor, 2004)
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
How do I transition from a cut into Quarta Guard effectively?
Instead of cutting all the way through into the guard in front of your face, pull your arms in after cutting through to bring the greatsword into a guard over your right arm, from which you can thrust quite well. (Virtual Fechtschule)
Should I change guards frequently when fighting?
Never change your guard without an idea behind it or an intention, as otherwise your opponent will have many more options to attack openings while you foolishly switch positions. (Björn Rüther)
How does the Quarta Guard work?
Quarta (fourth guard) positions the hand with the palm facing upward (supinated), the blade angled across the body to protect the inside low line and threaten a thrust to the opponent's flank or abdomen. Quarta is the guard most commonly used for parrying thrusts to the inside line and is the foundation of the modern fencing parry of quarte.
Where does the Quarta Guard come from?
Quarta is described in all major Italian rapier manuals as the fourth guard position, essential for defending the inside line. Its direct descendant, the parry of quarte, remains the most frequently used parry in modern sport fencing.
Is the Quarta Guard 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 Quarta Guard?
Danger rating 9/10. Extreme — edged weapons cause fatal lacerations; historical battlefield mortality rates >30% (Amberger 1999)
How do I set up the Quarta Guard?
The standard setup chain: En Garde → Advance/Lunge Preparation → Attack → Recovery.
How do I defend against the Quarta Guard?
Standard counters include: Beat Parry — deflect the blade with a sharp lateral beat before it reaches target / Displacement — move the body off the line while threatening with the point / Counter-Thrust — extend into the attacker's line during their advance.
What are the variants of the Quarta Guard?
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 Quarta Guard in competition?
Quarta is studied and used in HEMA rapier tournaments and historical fencing events worldwide.
What are common mistakes when doing the Quarta Guard?
Top errors to watch for: Over-pronating the hand — the palm faces down but should not be forced to an extreme position / Not using Quarta defensively — it is the strongest parry guard; use it when the outside line is threatened / Holding Quarta without offensive intent — the point must threaten from every guard position / Not training the Quarta parry-riposte — the parry into counter-thrust is the fundamental Quarta sequence.
What are other names for the Quarta Guard?
The Quarta Guard is also known as Kwaruta Kamae, Quarta, Fourth Guard, Guardia di Quarta.