Harassing cuts

Harassing cuts are cuts that are more intended to disturb and distract the opponent than actually hurt him badly, and are therefore quite close to the feints, albeit done with a somewhat different purpose. Meyer examplifies this with for example, the Schneller (The Flick) and the Zeck-Rur (Tag-Hit):

The flick or Tag-Hit is not actually delivered as a cut, but is rather flicked; it is executed in the middle of combat when one has occasion, namely when you make your weapon snap at your opponent from above or from either side or from below with the flat or foible of the blade, or flick it in an arc over or under his blade. (8)

There are several cuts of this category, for example: Verfliegen (Flitting), Schlaudern (Slinging), Schneller (Flick), Zeckrur (Tag-Hit) & Prellhauw (Rebound Cut)

Withdrawal Cuts (Abzug)

These cuts only aim to threaten the opponent and are in this aspect more similar to feints, but instead of drawing him or her out of a stance to reveal an opening it is mostly intended to scare the opponent so you can withdraw safely without being attacked or followed. Simple and straight long edge cuts are usually good here, but any cut is good depending on the context.

The end I call the Withdrawal [Abzug], which is how the combatant may cut away from his opponent without harm. Meyer 1570, Foreword to the reader Now it is particularly to be noted that after every device has been executed, you must always withdraw in one of these three ways: either first, before your opponent; or last, after him; or else at the same time as him. (9)

Therefore see that you so crowd him in the Middle-work that you come to the Withdrawal before he realizes it (something I will teach much about in the individual devices); or entice him to cut away from you, so that you can simultaneously cut at him above over his sword as you step out, and suitably take your withdrawal and recover. (10)

So, to summarize we have Displacing Cuts, Cuts that Parry and Hit at the same time, Provokers & Feints, Harrassing Cuts and threatening Withdrawal Cuts which make up our arsenal of cuts to use tactically in different stages of the fight. However, do not mistake this for a set sequence of actions. Meyer expands on this advice with the following words.

Further you shall also know and note that one always changes off with the three cuts, such that sometimes the first, sometimes the second, sometimes the third will be a Provoker [Reitzen], Taker [Nehmen], or Hitter [Treffen]. Therefore when you can hit with the first, you shall use the second for parrying; but if you hit with the second, then parry with the third. (11)

Thus you have provoking, taking, and hitting, which is to provoke the stroke, to parry or set off the stroke you have provoked, and at once to countercut back to the opening. And I do not mean that you should not hit with the Provoking Cut or also with the Taker if you can; it is so named only because the chief intention is either to provoke him out of his advantage or to take out and bear off his cut-whether you can also hit him with this doesn’t matter. – – – Also this order is not always followed, since you can just as well provoke, then hit, and finally take. (12)

Various craftiness is called for with this cutting in the Before, for you can easily see that since you can neither cut nor thrust without making yourself open, he will have positioned himself in this parrying so that when you [he] sees you make yourself open by cutting, he can at once crowd in at your opening. Therefore if you will cut or thrust against him in the Before, then you must use the first cut more to provoke and goad him than to hit, so that when he cuts at the opening that you have offered with this cutting, you are positioned to strike and take it out; at once after you have weakened him and made him open, you will thirdly rush to the opening, actually completing the attack this time. From this arise the three cuts that one shall truly consider a test of a master.

These three cuts were greatly valued by the combat masters of old, since the five” arose from them. This is not to imply that no other cuts are worth reckoning, but rather that all cuts are divided into these three types, namely that some are used to provoke the opponent out of his advantage; others to parry and send away your opponent’s cuts; and some are used to hit, chiefly to harm the body. And it doesn’t matter if you use one or two or even more cuts for each one of them, or with what cuts this is executed. (13)