Hanging stance

"Hengen" (left or right) are important and very versatile long-sword postures (they are confused and misunderstood more than any other), called the Ochs ("ox") stance in the German schools (for resemblance to the sloping horns of an ox), one variation places the blade over and behind the shoulder with the body turned more away,this form was known to the Italians as the Queen’s or Women’s guard (Posta di donna sovrana) --possibly because next to the Crown guard it is the most useful or it resembles the long hair of a woman down her back. The hanging is equivalent to the Guardant ward or Prima of later Renaissance swordplay.

A right or left stance with the blade held hilt high and point down diagonally forward. A versatile and useful defensive or countering position not actually described as a true stance in any 15th century manual but does appear in 16th century ones. Also depicted in most texts as an action occurring from a Ochs or Finestra (Ox or Window) guard. Later styles of swordplay actually incorporated a “hanging” or guardant ward, but Medieval manuals do not seem to actually show this as a true ready position or guard, but only a transitory position or action that occurs during weapon contact. In his 1570 text (written at a time when the old Medieval great-sword was more of a “tradition” than practical weapon). Joachim Meyer described a Hengenort (“Hanging Point guard) as this hanging stance with the blade forward and angled down. Di Grassi in 1570 also describes this stance as being the “high ward”. See Pendant.