This unnamed counter-ward in i.33 (which I call hanging-ward for obvious reasons) is a bit of an enigma. It only appears twice in i.33, against third ward, despite it seeming to be a very useful position in practice. In fact, whenever you disengage under the sword from a half-shield-like position on the left of your opponent's sword to the right, you use hanging-ward during the transition.
I am of the personal opinion that hanging-ward can be used equally against second ward and third ward (as earlier in i.33 it notes that second ward is not much different to third ward). However, hangong-ward on the right is very different to hanging-ward on the left, to the point where they could be considered two entirely different counter-wards.
I will deal with second ward vs. hanging-ward in a seperate post in future.
As usual, the plays in i.33 have up to six stages:
Before the fight
The coming in
a) I attack, or b) They attack
I defend
a) I control and win, or b) They control and win
We grapple
This particular play is not very long.
Stage 1 Before the fight
I see that my opponent (the defender) is moving into, or is lingering in, Third Ward.
Stage 2 The coming in
Seeing my opportunity, I step in and slightly to the left, and 'strike' from whatever ward I was in into hanging-ward on the right. I pause for a heart beat to see what the defender will do.
Discussion: This is where interpretations might differ. How is the blade hanging?
Straight down (forming a 'wall' on the right): MS I.33 Low Schutzen (youtube.com) - the image seems a little squashed in this video. This would be using hanging-ward similarly to Krook but with the sword hang over the buckler hand. This is almost identical to 'high seconde' in Alfred Hutton's sabre system.
Diagonally to the left: I.33 - Opposing 3rd ward part II (youtube.com) , I.33 - Opposing 3rd ward (youtube.com) , Third ward: schutzen - Swordschool - this is a likely possibility, although it would make more sense if it was opposing second ward.
Pointing somewhat at or across the opponent: I.33 - How to use an Obsessio (youtube.com) (at 31 seconds) - I like this interpretation the most, as the counter-ward is doing its job, which is to obstruct the most direct attack from the opponent (a right oberhau). Using hanging-ward like this is almost identical to using right Ochs in German longsword.
I'd suggest trying all three variations. I'm going to go with the last interpretation as it makes most sense to me.
Stage 3a I attack
If my opponent does nothing then I will take another step forward and perform an attack. In my opinion, the attack is a direct thrust from the hanging-ward position (made by simply raising the point and stepping in).
As I've hit my opponent, this ends this sequence of the play.
Stage 3b They attack
I.33 simply says that the defender needs to bind from above - anything else will bring them to harm (see stage 3a).
If they decide to make a left oberhau, perhaps aiming for my head (which looks exposed), this is what I want, as I will simply raise my point and thrust. The thrust will catch their strike, meaning I will simultaneously parry their strike and thrust them. However, if they do nothing, I will thrust anyway.
Therefore they bind over my sword and attempt to push my blade down and to their right. They may also step to their left as they do so. Basically, they want to get on my right side and get my sword tip offline to prevent the thrust.
If they do this well, it is possible they can thrust into my stomach, but this isn't shown in I.33.
Stage 4 I defend
I.33 only shows one form of 'defence' from the bind in 3b, and that is a grapple (see stage 6).
However, I can also disengage by going into hanging-ward on the left, freeing my sword and bringing it round ready for the attack from my right...
Stage 5a I control and win
... which I do by stepping forward and to the right to attack my opponent with a right oberhau. You should recognise this action by now; it is called a step through.
Stage 5b They control and win
This is not shown in i.33, however theoretically, if they can step off to my right side they can make an attack to my sword arm or under my buckler to my chest, etc.
Stage 6 We grapple
Following the bind in stage 3b, instead of disengaging under the sword and attacking from the right (stage 5a), I can instead initiate a grapple. The easiest way to describe this action is as follows:
When they bound my sword, even if it wasn't in a true 'hanging' position before, it now is (hanging somewhat down to the left).
I continue this hanging position, using it as a barrier on my left that their sword can't penetrate.
I step forward and reach out with my buckler arm.
I wrap my buckler arm around both of their arms from the left.
I now free my sword from theirs with a backwards motion of my sword arm, and use my sword to threaten my opponent.
Here is a video:
https://youtu.be/jxwL_T5x944?si=8i9BXiI2h8ZudOP0&t=339 - at 5.39, Federico demonstrates the grapple in slow motion.
Videos
https://youtu.be/jxwL_T5x944?si=HkkFezFozTWjFckc&t=315 - this demonstrates the whole play as described above.
Third ward: schutzen - Swordschool - Guy Windsor's interpretation, which is a hanging-ward to the left.
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