Swordfighting Stance - Window Guard
Window guard is a high guard. You start in a right stance.
Window guard has you pointing your sword directly at your opponent's eyes, with your own sight line running BENEATH the sword blade.
Your right arm is kept in a straight line with the sword, with the back of your hand pointing towards your head. Your left arm then comes around to hold the pommel and to support the back of the sword. You want to be sure to keep your left arm beneath your face and sight line.
The cross guard is angled slightly so the top is away from your body and the bottom is slightly towards the body. This helps to catch an oncoming blade.
There is also a "left window" which is done on the opposite side, from a left stance. With left window the sword is in the same position (against the left side of the head) and you do not need to have your arm in a straight line.
Sixty percent of the weight is on the BACK foot in this pose, so help coil the power for the swing. Also, make sure the hand is "securely wrapped" on the sword in the sense that fingers are not out and flayed. If you have any pre-move motion, it becomes a tell that opponents will watch for to know you are about to attack. You want to move smoothly from this guard into the attack without any initial adjusting of fingers or elbows.
For Audio WAV files to help with guard training, visit my Guards Audio WAV Files page.
Sword Guard Positions
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