Stance width in guards?

[Eric Chisler]

I'm noticing a lot of the later manuals show a much wider stance (i.e. Meyer) than is suggested by many of the earlier fechtbuchs. Which is preferred for proper martial soundness?

-Eric

[Randall Pleasant]

I'm noticing a lot of the later manuals show a much wider stance (i.e. Meyer) than is suggested by many of the earlier fechtbuchs. Which is preferred for proper martial soundness?

-Eric

I think the width of the stances were probably the same. It's just that the art work in the fechtbuchs got much better by the Renaissance.

[Jeremiah Backhaus]

Eric,


Keep in mind that Meyer's book is shot "in motion" meaning you are seeing the fighters as they are swinging and stepping. Thus you will see a wider stance. That being said, I try to keep a Meyer-esque stance myself. I find that wider helps me to move further faster (of course I am slow anyway so take this with a salt lick).

If I were you I wouldn't worry so much about width but making sure that you are square to your enemy and can move easily and quickly along the Segno.


-Jeremiah (GFS)

[Ken Dietiker]

I'm noticing a lot of the later manuals show a much wider stance (i.e. Meyer) than is suggested by many of the earlier fechtbuchs. Which is preferred for proper martial soundness?

-Eric

Even in the Fiore manuals (which are both earlier manuals), in the PD and Morgan it may appear that the stances are relatively narrow by comparison, but if you look at the Getty, they are drawn wider. I personally recommend wider for various reasons.