Vor / Nach / Indes (Before, After, Instantly)
Vor / Nach / Indes
A trio of key timing principles in historical German fencing describing initiative, reaction, and simultaneity of action.
Quick Facts
Definition
Vor, Nach, and Indes form the fundamental trio of timing principles underlying the entire combat philosophy of Liechtenauer's school of historical fencing. Vor (before) means seizing the initiative and attacking first, forcing the opponent into a purely reactive role. Nach (after), by contrast, denotes the defensive role of the one who is only responding to an attack and must try to regain the initiative from a disadvantageous position. Indes (meanwhile or instantly) is the subtlest of the three principles – it describes the ability, at the very moment the blades make contact, to instantly sense the opponent's pressure and react with the correct technique before the situation develops any further. According to period masters, mastering these three principles is the prerequisite for a fencer never being merely a passive recipient of attacks but always holding the upper hand in a bout.
Related Terms
A historical crosswise cut with the longsword that serves as both defense and attack at once.
BindBindenThe phase of a fencing bout in which the blades touch and the fighters sense each other's pressure.
OchsOchsOne of the four basic defensive guards (leger) in historical German longsword fencing.
Pflug / PlowPflugOne of the four basic guards (Vier Leger) in historical German longsword fencing, resembling the position of holding a plow.
Alber / Fool's GuardAlberOne of the four basic guards of historical German fencing, in which the sword points downward toward the ground.
Vom Tag / From the RoofVom TagOne of the four basic guards of historical German fencing, in which the sword is raised high above the head or shoulder.