A guard is a weapon position that closes off a line of attack, in other words it protects a specific area of the body from attack. A ward is either a movement of a weapon from one guard or blocking position to another in order to block or deflect an attack in a different line Or it is simply a movement from one guard position to another in order to cover a potential line of attack or opening. Following are the major guards, wards and stances of the system as taught by Terry Brown:

The True Gardant was held by some maisters of defence to be the best guard to use for approaching an opponent or when being attacked by more than one person at a time. This is because with very little hand/arm movement the weapon could be carried back and forth across the body and therefore ward thrusts or cuts from all directions with very little loss of time. This guard was also known as the Prime (first) guard because it was the first guard formed when the sword was drawn from its scabbard.

The Outside Guard in martial terms the ‘outside’ means anything to the right hand side of the weapon or body when the weapon is being held in the right hand. In the case of the weapon being held in the left hand then the ‘outside’ will be to the left of the weapon or body. The outside guard closes off lines of attack to the upper right hand side of the head and body and forces an opponent to attack under or within the weapon’s range if attacking anywhere else on the head or body.

The Inside Stop/Block should not be regarded as a true guard position but a position you ward to in order to stop/block an attack to the upper left side of the body.

The medium guard is used to keep an opponent at maximum distance and it can be used to block attacks to either side of the body. Not all masters liked this guard because the downside was that it gave an opponent the option of attacking to either side of the body which doubled the risk to the defender.

The St George Guard. Legend has it that this takes its name from its use by St George when he killed the dragon. It should only be used to block or stop downright blows (vertically descending blows to the head).

The outside guard can ward to a low outside to stop (block) attacks to the outside of the lower leg.

There is a low inside block which is used to defend against attacks to the lower left leg.

Successful use of guards, blocks, and wards depends upon the correct applications of the principles of the true fight.