Alright, so I decided to finally get my hands dirty with the messer. Been seeing it around, you know, in old pictures and stuff, and it looked like a pretty straightforward, no-nonsense kind of blade. Not too fancy, just a big ol' knife, really. That’s what appealed to me, the practical look of it.
First Impressions and Getting a Feel
So, I got myself a practice messer, a blunt one, of course. Didn't want to lose a finger on day one. First thing I noticed was the grip. It’s got that Nagel, the bit that sticks out to protect your hand. Holding it felt a bit different from other things I’ve swung around. It's definitely a one-handed affair, mostly, though you can sort of brace the pommel with your off-hand if you really need to, I guess. Initially, it was a bit clumsy. Just standing there, trying to figure out how to even hold it comfortably took a bit.
I started with some basic movements, just trying to get a feel for the weight and balance. Not even proper cuts, just moving it through the air. It’s got a bit of heft to it, more than I expected for its size, but it felt like it wanted to chop, you know? Like its whole purpose was to come down hard on something.
Working on the Basics
Okay, so after swinging it around like a confused lumberjack for a bit, I figured I should try some actual techniques. I looked up some basic guards and cuts. Simple stuff, nothing too complex.
- Stance: Tried to find a stable stance. Feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent. Felt a bit like I was waiting for a bus at first, but it got more natural.
- Grip: Focused on keeping a firm but not a death grip. You need some wrist movement, I learned that pretty quick. Too tight and you're just fighting yourself.
- Basic Cuts: Started with the Oberhau, the overhead cut. Just bringing it down. Then the Unterhau, cutting upwards from below. Man, that upward cut felt awkward as anything at the start. My shoulder was complaining a bit.
I spent a good amount of time just doing these over and over. Slow at first, trying to get the movement right. It’s amazing how quickly you can get tired just doing simple, repetitive motions. My arm felt like lead after a while.
Putting in the Reps and Noticing Stuff
I set up a simple target in the backyard – an old tire hanging from a tree branch. Nothing fancy. Just something to aim at. This helped a lot. Swinging in the air is one thing, but actually trying to hit a specific point, even with a blunt trainer, makes a big difference.
What I started to notice was how important the whole body is. It’s not just your arm. You gotta use your hips, your legs. When I started to get my body into the movement, the cuts felt stronger, more controlled. Less like I was just flailing my arm around.
Edge alignment was another thing. Even with a blunt, I tried to imagine where the edge would be, making sure it was leading the cut. Messed that up plenty of times, turned the "blade" mid-swing, which would have been useless with a sharp one.
Footwork was, and still is, a big one. Moving and cutting at the same time is a whole other ball game. I started with simple steps – step forward with a cut, step back. Tripped over my own feet more than once, I’m not gonna lie. Looked like a complete fool out there, I'm sure, but hey, that's how you learn, right?
Where I'm At and What's Next
So, after a fair bit of practice, I wouldn't say I'm any kind of expert. Not even close. But I’m definitely more comfortable with the messer now. The movements are starting to feel a little smoother. I can do a few basic cuts in a row without feeling like I’m going to fall over or throw my arm out of its socket.
I’m still just focusing on the fundamentals. Clean cuts, decent footwork, trying to build up a bit of flow. It’s a process. Some days I feel like I’m making progress, other days it feels like I’ve gone backwards. But I’m enjoying it. There’s something really satisfying about learning a physical skill like this, something tangible.
Next, I guess, is just more of the same. More reps. Maybe try to string together some more complex combinations, or work on some defensive movements. Still got a long way to go, but every little bit of improvement feels good. It’s a good, honest weapon, the messer. No frills. And I appreciate that.
