Johannes Liechtenauer/Michael Chidester D 2025

1	Direct your lance with honor plain;  Against you all will ride in vain.
2	If from the path you'd fall away,  The end will see great disarray.
3	Strike here and there as you close in;  Draw not your blade from scabbard then,
4	But pull them left and seize them right—   You need not fence to win the fight.
5	Learn this to joust or fence with lance:  Break calmly through in your advance.

6	If sudden shift the fight then shows  And swords begin to trade their blows,
7	With yours in right hand strongly held,  Cut toward the pouch behind their belt.
8	Now learn to cover, strength displayed,  And then whenever blade meets blade,
9	Be fearless, set upon your foe,  Hang in at them from head to toe.

10	Or if you'd harry and distress,  Then hunt them long and grant no rest.
11	Whoever to defense will rise,  Your turn of sword will hurt their eyes.
12	If they will yet defend at bay,  Catch well the reins and don't delay.
13	Consider where they are exposed;  Your knife, not pommel, finds them most.

14	Two sweeps now learn so you may stand  Against all arms with empty hands.
15	And when to wrestling they would hasten,  Learn to hold them like a basin.
16	When underneath their very nose,  Correctly grab as you fly close.
17	Whoever falls on you with might,  When riding ’gainst you: hold them tight,
18	And let yourself hang toward the earth  While gripping over—show your worth.
19	On either side, both left and right,  Against them learn to ride and fight.

20	If you should choose to charge and ride  Your horse onto the other side,
21	First cover strongly and suppress,  Then set upon and cause distress.
22	When you defend, their sword catch wide  And carry near, their handle tied.
23	Or wheel about to hunt again,  Prepared to harry and restrain;
24	With every skill that hunters learn,  Seek your advantage as you turn.
25	Should you ride forth without relent  But end up left without intent,
26	Then worry not, but their sword find,  And wrestle well: push hard and bind.

27	If someone hunts you on the right,  Turn halfway ’round, prepare to fight.
28	With arms to catch and drive away,  No harm can reach you in the fray.

29	Take sword away like it's a knife  And learn the holds that cause them strife:
30	Apply the hold that has no name  To turn the strong and bring them shame.
31	Spoil strikes and thrusts with this defense;  Have your revenge—no need to fence.

32	If you would grab them as they ride,  Don't fail to ride up alongside.
33	To show the sun and make them bow:  Take first their left sleeve firmly now,
34	Then grab their head in front with skill,  And press it upward hard until
35	They sink down low and show respect  (And then might never stand erect).
36	If taking you down low's their aim,  Then grab them high and bring them shame;
37	Press arm to head, their grip defeat—  This often robs them of their seat.

38	But should you seek a measured course  To catch and hold them on their horse,
39	Then with this wrestling they'll be found,  And without ropes they will be bound.
40	Remember well the grip that leads,  To break through strength and work great deeds.

41	When you dismount or are unhorsed,  The fight on foot must take its course.
42	Take up your spear in steady hands  And face your foe in proper stance;
43	Its sharpened point will serve your needs,  So boldly throw the thrust that leads,
44	Then leap and turn and set upon—  If they defend, pull and you've won.
45	If you would make the leading thrust,  Then pull and break through guards you must.
46	Now if your foe fears injury  And backs away and wants to flee,
47	Then close with them and seek your chance  To catch and hold as you advance.

48	And should you wrestle, learn to leap,  Your foot behind their front leg sweep,
49	Or deftly lock the leg you catch  Just like the closing of a latch.
50	From either hand, both left and right,  Perform your art and end the fight.

51	Should it come to pass that here  The sword is drawn against the spear,
52	Observe the way they thrust, then leap  And catch and wrestle as you sweep.
53	What they extend, your left hand beats;  Leap surely in, catch what you meet.
54	Should they again fear harm and pull  Back from your catch and your control,
55	Then you will find them all exposed,  Your point harassing unopposed.
56	And leather, gauntlets, and the eyes:  Toward these exposures you should rise.
57	Forbidden arts of wrestling learn  And bring them forth in battle's churn;
58	Find ways to lock and take control,  Surmount the strong to reach your goal.
59	In every lesson that you learn,  Your point toward the exposure turn.

60	When each from scabbard draws their sword  And both face off with one accord,
61	Then you should strengthen in the fight  And bear in mind to cover right.
62	Before and After: these two things  Learn well to gauge with backward spring.
63	Pursue whenever steel meets steel,  And you’ll confound the strong with zeal.
64	If they defend, pull back and thrust;  If they defend, rush in you must.
65	If they should fight you long and wide,  Then artfully their fate decide.
66	If they attack you fierce and strong,  Defeat them when you shoot in long.
67	The other point can guard and smite,  So meet their sword and don't take fright.
68	With either hand, both left and right,  Turn then your point to piece their sight.
69	With strikes, your forward foot defend,  That you may fight on to the end.