Krumphau / Crooked Strike
Krumphau
One of the five German master strikes, delivered with crossed hands to the side of the opponent's wrists, used chiefly as the counter to the Ochs guard.
Quick Facts
Definition
Krumphau, or crooked strike, is one of the five master strikes (Meisterhäue) of the Liechtenauer tradition, and its distinguishing feature is that, unlike the other strikes, it is delivered with partially crossed hands and lands from the side rather than from above. The target is usually not the opponent's head or body but his hands or wrists holding the sword, allowing krumphau to interrupt an attack at its very inception without the blades ever fully meeting. Krumphau is classically taught as the direct answer to the Ochs guard, where the attacker's crossed arms can bypass the opponent's blade and strike his wrists from the side, out of reach of his own edge. Fencing manuals emphasize that a properly executed krumphau requires a step to the side, usually to the right, which gives the strike its necessary angle and simultaneously moves the fencer off the direct line of any thrust the opponent might attempt. In modern HEMA reconstruction, krumphau is often taught as a demonstration of the principle that the German school relies not only on the power of a blow but also on geometry and timing relative to the opponent's specific guard.
Related Terms
One of the four basic defensive guards (leger) in historical German longsword fencing.
Zornhau / Wrath StrikeZornhauOne of the five master strikes of the German school of fencing, a direct diagonal cut delivered from the right shoulder that typically overrides and defeats the Vom Tag guard.
Schielhau / Squinting StrikeSchielhauA deceptive master strike that at first looks like a straight cut but at the last instant turns the blade into a thrust or a cut with the short edge, typically as the answer to the Pflug guard.
Scheitelhau / Parting StrikeScheitelhauThe last of the five master strikes, a long, straight downward cut delivered with extended arms to the opponent's head or hands, traditionally aimed at defeating the Alber guard.