The Scheitelhau

In striking the Scheitelhau the most important things are an exact timing and an accurate sense of distance. The opponent is hit by bringing one's own body out of the line of attack and getting the point of the sword as far away as possible.

The Scheitelhau is one of the four displacements/Versetzen and breaks the guard Alber. The guards are no static positions and the Scheitelhau is a good example for this: If one trains the Scheitelhau from a static position (in which A and B oppose each other in the guards Alber and vom Tag respectively) the fighter standing in Alber often manages to hit the hands of the one striking the Scheitelhau just by raising his sword. Of course, in a fight one doesn't wait for the opponent to reach a guard position, instead one attacks in advance. Therefore our interpretation is performed in motion.

For reasons of clarity the techniques are shown from both sides.

The Scheitelhau Light attacks with an Oberhau from the right side. Green pulls back his leading leg and straightens himself. By doing so he not only withdraws the target area but also is able to maximise his range. The stroke has already begun. Light's stroke hits at nothing but Green's point goes directly to Light's head. The hands have to be held very high in order to avoid being hit by a possible quick reverse stroke by Light. In detail: The sword can and must be held quite loosely. The impact of the stroke is achieved by the vigorously accelerated tip of the blade. However, this doesn't make the stroke as powerful as those that are supported by the whole mass of the body.