Fighting with the Hidden Blade: Stances and Positions

Welcome to your first lesson in the art of the Hidden Blade!  First off, we're going to start with stances and hand positions.

Stances when using the hidden blade are not specifically set.  In fact, when assassinating a target, it is better to have no combat stance at all, to ensure stealth.  These stances should only be used when in OPEN combat.

STANCE 1:  ‎Open Ready Stance A/Altaïr's Stance

The first stance we will go over is Open Ready Stance A, a favorite of Altaïr.  This was originally meant to have the Hidden Blade go through the fist, exiting through a removed ring-finger, but c. 1400, the removal of a finger was no longer needed.  Instead, it was wielded with a clenched fist.  Of course, an open hand or palm would do just fine too.

The defining features of this stance is as follows:  The hidden blade is extended in the left hand.  The feet are spread apart, one forward and one backwards.  The chest is thrust out.  The right hands is at rest or extending a second blade.  If this explanation is not enough, study the picture above.

This stance can be used in the beginning of open combat, as to intimidate the opponent.  However, once actually fighting, it is not recommended to use this stance, as many parts, such as the chest and the head, are open.  Instead, when the punches are being thrown and the blades are swinging, use Open Ready Stance D, which we will get to later.  Of course, this stance can be used if you are fast enough to block somethin near your head when your hands are down.

STANCE 2: Open Ready Stance B/Auditore Position

This is the second stance we will go over.  This is another intimidation stance, and it is not recommended that it should be used one the punches are thrown. In truth, the Auditore Position has fallen out of favor among the Assassins, as it as been replaced by its modified version, the Auditore Stance, or Open Ready Stance C.

The defining features of this stance are as follows: the feet are spread apart, one in the front and one in the back.  The feet should be in line with each other: If you were to draw a line from your middle toe on the left foot to the midle toe on your right foot, the line should be perfectly straight.  Of course, there is some flexibility in this.  It doesn't HAVE to be perfect, but try to make it near perfect.

Back to the defining features:  The arms should be spread apart, with blades extended.  In the picture, Ezio is extending both hidden blades.  If you have only one blade, or only choose to extend one blade, the other arm can be at rest.

This stance is an intimidation stance, as said before.  It can be used to much effectiveness if you are fast enough to block incoming strikes to the head when your hands are down.

STANCE 3: Open Ready Stance C/Auditore Stance

The third stance we should go over is the favored intimidation stance among the modern Assassins, and it has been since at least the 16th century, maybe before.  it combines the Auditore Position with Altaïr's Stance, making a more comfortable and relaxed version of the Auditore.  It is ideal for maneauverability in an intimidation stance, and can be used in actual combat the most effectively of the three intimidation stances.  Again, one must be fast enough to block incoming strikes, but the position of the feet and hands allow for quicker movement and attack.

Defining features: Feet spread apart about your foot plus half your foot.  Hands are at the sides, raised slightly.  The hands are turned slightly towards the body, and the blades are extended.

As said before, this is the easiest to use in combat of the three intimidation stances.  In untrained hands, it is not as good as Open Ready Stance D while in combat, but in trained hands in can be used just as effectively.

STANCE 4: Open Ready Stance D/Guardian Stance

The fourth stance we will be going over is a true combat stance: the Guardian Stance.  It's not as good as an intimidation tool, but in combat it can be used effectively, as the hands can block easily an movement is easily accessible.

Defining features:  The hands are in a fighting stance: one is positioned near the face, while the other is positioned out, ready to strike.  The other hand is held at at least neck height.  Blades can be either extended or retracted, and hands can be open or closed.  The legs are spread apart, with one foot facing forward toward where you are facing, and the other facing to the side.  In many martial arts, the footing of this stance is called a back stance.

This is the most effective stance in actual combat.  The hand are placed optimally for both striking and blocking, and the feet are ready to move and strike.

This wraps up our stances and positions.  Practice these, and make sure you have them down.  Next, we will be going over attack moves!