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I.33 Sword and buckler - 101 - Part 23: Walpurgis ward

The final ward / counter-ward that i.33 presents to us is generally called the Walpurgis ward, and is of interest mostly because it is one of the earliest (and one of the few) depictions of a woman in a fighting manual. The figure is called 'Walpurgis', likely to be St. Walpurgis. I will not discuss the significance of this or why Walpurgis is illustrated as this is not what this blog is about.


The ward itself is pretty straightforward: basically a modification of second ward, with the sword sitting in front of the shoulder rather than above it.


The Walpurgis ward doesn't seem to have any special martial significance, other than it is a nice comfortable ward that easily transitions into half-shield.


From the single play that is presented - Walpurgis ward vs. First ward - it is largely treated like first ward vs. half-shield.


The priest goes into a Krucke-like Schutzen position (the exact position of the blade is unknown, but it is either being held vertically down, or horizontally across - the key is that is blocks the primary direction of the strike). If he does not do this then Walpurgis will perform half-shield, and we know what that means from earlier plays.


Walpurgis binds on the sword to prevent the priest's Stichslach, and then performs a shield-knock and Nucken. Nothing we haven't seen before.



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