On Pflug, Lang Ort and Sprechfenster
There are many guard positions within the German tradition of longsword, although sometimes the terms used to refer to positions are not always accurate, or the positions themselves are not always held accurately.
Some of the positions that are sometimes held problematically are the Pflug or plough, Lang Ort or long point, and the Sprechfenster or speaking window. These are all guards that are held with the point directed at the body, and usually with the hilt lower than the point of the sword. Many fighters today in sparring will use a hybrid of a true Pflug and a true Lang Ort: they’ll have the right leg forward, and the sword held in front of them, on their left side. This position often resembles the kendo position chudan-no-kamae. It is often used in a manner very similarly to chudan-no-kamae, as well, generally being used to set up quick snap cuts to the hands, and this type of attack is usually done by keeping the right leg forward and not using passing footwork. This is a perfectly practical way to fence with a sword, and many fighters have made effective use of this position. However it doesn’t match how we are told to use guards in the Liechtenauer tradition.
Image of Kendo c.1920. The fencer on the right is in chudan-no-kamae. Image taken from Wikipedia.
