Step 1 of 4Franconia, late 14th c.
Two fencers in the bind.
Talhoffer, Fechtbuch, 1467 — Cod.icon. 394a, plate 18 (bind from the wrath cut). Wikimedia Commons ↗
Folio 1rGerman (Liechtenauer)

Fühlen & Indes

— feeling and meanwhile

The meta-sequence that governs all bind play. Feel; if soft, thrust; if hard, wind. The response happens during the perception, not after.

Döbringer's gloss treats Fühlen and Indes as the doctrine inside every other technique. At the instant of contact you perceive their pressure. Soft means a free point and an immediate thrust. Hard means rotation: wind, mutate, or zuck.

The play, step by step

1 / 4

Ⅰ

Band

— the moment of contact

Any cut that meets their blade is the start. Both swords are now in contact.

Next → Read their pressure now, not later · step 2: Fühlen

Or deviate from the script

Guards you may transition to

Plays you may enter

Hover or focus a branch to glimpse the next folio. Click to advance the play.