Griffweise

Griffweise is a term used in fencing scholarship to describe the manner in which a weapon is held during technique, combining the German words Griff and Weise. While not universal, it appears in several historical treatises and is commonly discussed among practitioners of Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA).

Historically, Griffweise encompasses the different grip configurations such as single-handed grips and two-handed grips, as well as variations like overhand and underhand positions, depending on weapon and context. The precise terminology and class system vary by manuscript and school, but the core idea is to analyze hand placement, finger contact, and wrist alignment to optimize control, leverage, and safety.

In practice, instructors use Griffweisen to tailor drills for swords (rapier, longsword), polearms, or daggers. Understanding a Griffweise helps in coordinating body mechanics, improving grip stability during technique execution, and translating ancient techniques to modern training contexts.

Contemporary relevance: In HEMA education, Griffweise classification forms part of historical technique studies and ergonomic analysis; beyond weapons, the term can be extended to tool-use and sports gear design. Scholarly discussion often cites specific treatises to illustrate how grip choices influenced technique, tempo, and defense.

See also: Historical European Martial Arts, Grips (ergonomics), Fencing.