The combatant on the left (Red) has just gotten out of a messy grappling situation and has turned the tables on his opponent (Blue). The photo shows a position in a sequence from Joachim Meyer's 1570 manual. The sequence teaches a counter to the grappling sequence described and illustrated earlier.

Earlier in the sequence, Red found himself in a unpleasant situation. By applying force to Red's arm, Blue controlled Red's arms (and thus his weapon) while throwing Red off balance. At the same time, Blue wound his sword around, threatening an attack to the right side of Red's head. Red lifted his arms up to close off that attack, a move that gave Red an opportunity. As he raised his arms, Red released one hand from the pommel of his sword and grabbed his blade in the middle. Red forced his pommel between Blue's arms and caught Blue's right arm with the pommel. At the instant shown in the photo, Red can pull his pommel (and Blue's right arm) forward at the same time he pushes his blade (and Blue's blade) away. Red's leverage forces Blue to release his sword, thus disarming him. 

Meyer describes this counter to the grappling technique as follows:

When you realize that an opponent will wind from outside at you with his blade over your arm, then release your left hand from the pommel, and grip your sword blade in the middle with it; go at the same time with your pommel between his arms, and catch with it from inside over his right arm, force thus towards yourself with the pommel, and push from you with the blade; thus you will take his sword from him.

In the photos, both Blue and Red are wearing clothing in the style of the late 16^th century.

Translation ©2001-2006 Dr. Jeffrey L. Forgeng