The basic strategy is to engage your opponent’s weapon in such a way that it prevents strikes or thrusts as you move in, slide along the blade to move into close range, while keeping control of their weapon to prevent strikes, and denying them the center attack line to prevent thrusts.
Please note that if your opponent is much taller than you, it is vital that you move in to close range, but not so close that your arms are under theirs. Keep about six inches or a foot away.

• Opponent in point guard
  
  

  FLASH video of "Moving in on point guard" (0.4 MB)

  
  
1. When you get into a range where you can slash at your opponent’s weapon, such that your weapon would impact your opponent’s about a foot down the blade. Slash so that your blade is moved to a point about a foot beyond your opponent’s weapon to cause it to move out of the direct line from your opponent’s hands to your body or head.
2. It is important to not swing too far past the center line, so that your weapon doesn’t move too far out of position. Your opponent may move his or her weapon to avoid your slash, and you must be in position to block the return attack, which may come rather quickly.
1. It is often useful to include a sliding step with your front foot to allow you to initiate the move from out of range, and complete it in range. You can gain about two feet of range with this movement.
2. Alternatively, if you have determined that your opponent reacts quickly to thrusts, you can make an intermediate thrust, and take the actions below as your opponent’s tip moves out of line.
3. Once your opponent’s weapon has moved, whether by your action, or by the action of your opponent in avoiding your attack to their weapon, you must keep your weapon in between your opponent’s weapon and the center attack line, while you move towards your opponent in the vacated line.
1. At this point, move your back foot in with a full stride, following with alternate steps by each foot to close the range. Do not shuffle in like a fencer.
2. Keep the blade or shaft of your weapon in contact with your opponent’s, at all times, or if this is not possible, keep your weapon between your opponent’s weapon and the center attack line.
4. It may be the case that your opponent moves back quickly after you clear their blade from the center line. In this case, follow them, but retain control of the center line, even if you cannot touch their blade. It is likely that they will swing several times, but if you remember that your objective is to close, rather than strike as you do so, it is relatively easy to block these blows.
   In addition, after a series of blows, your opponent may pause, giving you an opportunity to strike.
   
   
• Opponent in upper or lower guard
  
  

  FLASH video of "Moving in on high guard" (0.3 MB)

  
  
1. Proceed as above, but instead of slashing at your opponent’s weapon, move your weapon towards your opponent’s in such a way that it crosses the available line of attack of your opponent’s weapon. Usually, this is perpendicular to the blade of your opponent’s weapon.
1. If your opponent is in one of these guard positions, there are only two options available for them to use in an attack. Either they must swing or thrust in the obvious line, or they must use the reciprocal motion on the same plane, and swing back then forward. The former is obvious, and the latter is slow, and should provide sufficient warning to allow you to counter or block.
2. Don't actually swing your weapon, but rather move it quickly into the position described above, while moving quickly towards your opponent to close the range. In essence, this becomes a “moving block”, and should not be used as an actual blow.
3. Look for the description of the slide step and the stride step under the section: “Shield Weapon against Great Weapon”, below.

• Sticky hands
  
  Once inside, I use an adaptation of a Kung-fu technique called Sticky Hands. This is a technique in which blows are blocked or diverted with the minimum pressure required, so that your blocking hand is not moved out of a position where it can easily block a reversed movement towards a strike. The defender tries to maintain contact, and thereby control, of the attacking hand. The object of this method is to make your opponent over-commit, when you push on his or her weapon, allowing you to release your weapon, and strike in the cleared line. Please see the section on Exercises for the video.
• Counter pressure
1. Push down, release, cut lower target (sleeve cut)
   
   

   FLASH video of "Sticky hands - counter pressure - low target" (0.3 MB)

   
   
2. Push up, release, cut upper target
   
   

   FLASH video of "Sticky hands - counter pressure - upper target" (0.35 MB)

   
   
• Release and cut
1. Push to either side or directly in, release, cut behind blade video
   
   

   FLASH video of "Sticky hands - release and cut" (0.3 MB)

   
   
• If your weapon handle is grabbed
  I dislike the rule that allows the shafts or handles of great weapons to be grasped by an opponent. The obvious counters are throws, most of which are unacceptably dangerous. I dislike techniques being allowed when the counter-techniques are not also allowed.
  The first of the techniques is the start of a throw, but it becomes safe once your opponent lets go of his or her grip on the weapon that is being twisted out of his or her hand.
• Aikido technique
  
  

  FLASH video of "Aikido disengage - view 1" (0.3 MB)

  
  

  FLASH video of "Aikido disengage - view 2" (0.3 MB)

  
  This technique is made more effective by pulling back and down with the upper/forward hand, thereby pulling your right hand and body around and forward to gain increased leverage. Use this technique when the opponent grabs with their hand that is on the side of your lower hand.
  
  
• Swinging through
  
  

  FLASH video of "Swing through grab" (0.3 MB)

  
  This technique is made more effective by pulling your back hand down and in to pivot your blade around your opponent’s weapon. Use this when your opponent grabs with their hand that is on the side of your upper hand.
  
  

These methods are written as if being used against an opponent who is right-handed. They can be modified for use against opponents using either hand.

The basic strategy is to wait for your opponent to charge. This is usually effective, since the common wisdom is to charge a fighter who is fighting with a weapon system that doesn’t use a shield. If they wish to stay outside of their own range, while in yours, then “sniping” attacks using the edge or the point are useful, if not very effective, and usually safe.

Note that if you “snipe” towards your opponent’s leg with a naginata, it will place you in a difficult position if he or she should charge at that time, since your point will be lower than your hands, getting it to a vertical position to block his or her shots will be difficult, and you will not be able to control (as with a thrust as the attack starts) the direction of the attack. If you are caught in this position, it is sometimes possible to use an adaptation of the arm throw, as described below.

If you use leg attacks, I suggest moving towards your right side as, or immediately after you strike. The danger of this is much less with greatsword, but leaning to that side as you strike, and following the lean with a sliding step with the front foot, will give you a better angle of attack, and move you out of your opponent’s range for a brief period.

Option 1

Please note that the videos are showing the reaction to a slow (for demonstration purposes) charge. To receive a faster charge from longer range, let your weight drop lower onto the your front leg as you meet the charge, and push up and forward just before impact. This will allow your counter-force to be used most effectively by not meeting the forward force of your opponent head-on, but rather by turning it up.

High Guard

FLASH video of "Vs S&S charge - option 1 - high guard" (0.5 MB)

1. Strike/thrust to face – tilts your opponent’s head back, eliminates their strike options to mid-range forehand.
1. Slide step with front foot as you strike
2. Back foot strides forward
3. At same time:
1. Lean down with shoulders
2. Move weapon to vertical on their sword side
4. Then
1. Hit shield with your shoulder, while moving up (pushing off your front foot)
2. Block blow coming in to your weapon (held vertical)
5. Stand up, release pressure of your shoulder on the shield, and move your elbow up, so that the shield touches your elbow rather than your shoulder.   video – 9c-GS
1. Move your back foot around the back of your front foot, and forward, to align your body and shoulders properly to continue the action.
2. As long as they push, you control their shield.
   Please note that I consider this technique to be proper only if your opponent’s charge initiates the contact between their shield and your arm. I will maintain this position – my elbow against their shield – only so long as they push.
3. It is against the rules of the lists to hook your opponent’s shield with your arm or hand. You can, however, use the blade, handle or shaft of your weapon to do so.

Point Guard

FLASH video of " Vs S&S charge - option 1 - point guard" (0.4 MB)

1. Thrust to face – tilts your opponent’s head back, eliminates their strike options to mid-range forehand.
1. Slide step with front foot as you strike
2. Back foot forward, moving around behind front foot
3. At same time:
1. Lean down with shoulders
2. Move weapon to vertical on their sword side
4. Take next step with front foot, and
1. Hit shield with your shoulder, while moving forward and up by pushing with your right foot
2. Block blow coming in to your weapon (held vertical)
5. Stand up, release pressure of your shoulder on the shield, and move your elbow up, so that the shield touches your elbow rather than your shoulder.
   
   

   FLASH video of "Vs S&S charge - opt 1 - release to elbow" (0.3 MB)

   
   
1. As long as they push, you control their shield. Please note that I consider this technique to be proper only if your opponent’s charge initiates the contact between their shield and your arm. I will maintain this position – my elbow against their shield – only so long as they push.
2. It is against the rules of the lists to hook your opponent’s shield with your arm or hand. You can, however, use the blade, handle or shaft of your weapon to do so.

Option 2

FLASH video of "Vs S&S charge - opt 2 - diagonal" (0.5 MB)

1. Strike/thrust to face - tilts head back, eliminates their strike options to mid-range forehand
1. Slide step with front foot on strike
2. Back foot strides forward
3. At same time:
1. Lean down with shoulders
2. Move weapon to vertical on their sword side
4. Take next step with front foot, and
1. Hit shield with your shoulder, while moving up
2. Block blow coming in to your weapon (held vertical)
5. Stand up, release pressure on shield and place your blade, as close to the hilt as possible, on the upper edge of their shield, close to the sword-side corner.
   

   Figure P5-GS

1. Use that pressure to “steer” them. If they throw a forehand, push in towards their sword shoulder to reduce the mobility of their sword arm and “muffle” the blow. If they throw an offside, push in towards their shield shoulder.
   
   

   FLASH video of "Vs S&S charge - option 2 - steering block" (0.37 MB)

   
   
2. Please note that in this position, your shoulders can be in a position that is diagonal with respect to your opponent’s shield, rather than perpendicular, as in Option 1. This movement is easier to perform.
3. It is against the rules of the lists to hook your opponent’s shield with your arm or hand. You can, however, use the blade, handle or shaft of your weapon to do so.

Option 3

FLASH video of "Vs S&S - option 3 - moving in" (0.3 MB)

If your opponent doesn't charge, you can close the distance by using a modification of the technique used to move in on an opponent using a great weapon in a back, high guard. Do a slide step or stride step (depending on the distance to close) towards your opponent's weapon, and move in to the final position of option 2. Remember that you only need to be in range of your opponent's shield to cause a reaction.

Continuous chopping

FLASH video of "Continuous chopping" (0.6 MB)

This attack engages the weapon of your opponent while using a slide-step followed by a full stride to move in. This is followed by a continuous series of short, chopping attacks with the greatsword towards your opponent’s weapon, or a series of short forehands and backhands with a naginata, towards the weapon and head of your opponent (who can be using either a great weapon or shield weapon). The angle of the attacks can be varied, but should always be directed to interfere with a possible attack by the weapon of your opponent. This continues until an opening appears, at which time, you target the opening.
The twin advantages of this attack is that (1) it requires your opponent to block continually, which adds to your defense, and (2) if your opponent tries to strike back, the break in the pattern of blocks is readily apparent, and can be seen immediately, allowing you to quickly block or avoid, and to strike towards the opening exposed by your opponent’s attack.
The disadvantage is that it is quite tiring, but that is true of most of the inside techniques.

Arm throw  

This technique can be used to either move your opponent into a position for you to attack, to break away from an opponent who has closed with you, or to push yourself around your opponent to avoid a charge. It is a very powerful movement, taking advantage of the tremendous leverage supplied by great weapons.

1. Greatsword against sword & shield
   
   

   FLASH video of "Arm throw vs S&S - view 1" (0.3 MB)

   FLASH video of "Arm throw vs S&S - view 2" (0.3 MB)

   
   
2. Naginata against sword & shield
   
   

   FLASH video of "Arm throw - nagi vs S&S - view 1" (0.4 MB)

   FLASH video of "Arm throw - nagi vs S&S - view 2" (0.3 MB)

   
   
3. Greatswords
   
   

   FLASH video of "Arm throw - greatswords - view 1" (0.3 MB)

   FLASH video of "Arm throw - greatswords - view 2" (0.3 MB)

   
   
4. Naginatas
   
   

   FLASH video of "Arm throw against pole weapon - view 1" (0.35 MB)

   FLASH video of "Arm throw against pole weapon - view 2" (0.3 MB)