Foundation: The Two Primary Cuts

The Oberhau and Unterhau are the two most fundamental cuts in the Historical European Martial Arts manuscripts, from which all other techniques are derived. Rather than viewing them as isolated techniques, modern instruction categorizes all cuts into these two foundational categories. Mastery of these basics directly translates to improved performance across the entire technical curriculum.

Principle 1: Target the Body, Not the Blade

A common beginner mistake is cutting toward the opponent's sword rather than their body. Striking the blade alone creates no offensive threat and does not force the opponent into a compromised defensive position. According to the manuscripts, cuts must target the body to generate meaningful defensive reactions and maintain initiative.

Principle 2: Lead with the Sword

The sword must extend forward before the feet move, not after. Many practitioners lock their arms and body together, stepping first while the blade lags behind. The correct execution places the sword in front of the body as the advance occurs, creating simultaneous offensive and defensive coverage.

Guard-to-Guard Movement

Every cut transitions from one guard position to another. An overhead cut from Vom Tag moves to either Platt or Alber. The guard serves as the finishing point of the cut, not a position to recover into after an uncontrolled strike.

Improving Cuts Through Guard Work

Dedicated practice of guard positions directly improves cutting technique. By treating each guard as the intentional endpoint of a cut, practitioners develop precision and control. This approach eliminates the common error of cutting wildly and then retreating to find the proper guard position.

Offensive Extension: Attack Range

When executing an Oberhau or Unterhau as an attack, the swordsman extends fully toward the nearest available opening while maintaining balance. Arms extend forward to maximize reach, but never at the expense of stability or footwork control.

Defensive Positioning: Parry Range

Defensive applications of these cuts require drawing the arms closer to the body compared to full offensive extension. This reduced extension creates proper blade angles and prevents the attack from bypassing the parry by flowing around the sides. The sword in the guard position is now properly angled to defend effectively.

Versatility in Application

The Oberhau and Unterhau serve as both offensive and defensive tools capable of addressing multiple threats. A simple overhead cut from Vom Tag to Platt, for example, can defend against numerous incoming attacks while simultaneously positioning the practitioner for the next action.

Lesson 3, Oberhau & Unterhau

Sword Carolina

Oberhau

2 min read·8 key moments·PT6M43S video

Key Takeaways

•Foundation: The Two Primary Cuts
•Principle 1: Target the Body, Not the Blade
•Principle 2: Lead with the Sword
•Guard-to-Guard Movement

You can't return to the basics too much. Over the years, Josh and Aaron have often seen that problems students have in master cuts and paired drills are really a misunderstanding in simple Oberhau and Unterhau. But simple does not necessarily mean easy, and definitely does not mean that you will always do them correctly. Obviously, we can't cover everything in a short video like this, but there are a lot of good points and ideas here. Hopefully you learn something new, or are reminded to pay attention to the things you already have known. Thanks for watching. Enjoy!

Related Techniques

Krumphau Unterhau Zornhau Zwerchhau

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this video teach about oberhau?

This video covers foundation: the two primary cuts, principle 1: target the body, not the blade, principle 2: lead with the sword. It provides detailed instruction from Sword Carolina.

How long does it take to learn oberhau?

The basic mechanics can be understood in a single session, but developing reliable execution requires consistent drilling over weeks of practice. This 8-part breakdown helps structure your training by isolating each phase of the technique.