Scythe Stance Training: How a Reaper Builds His Foundation

Every weapon art starts from the ground up. The scythe is no different.

Before the spin, before the cut — the reaper stands. And that stance determines everything: angle, threat, reach, defense, escape.

1. Side-Facing Guard (Smaller Target)

Turn your body slightly. Lead foot points forward. Rear foot 45° outward. Blade rests diagonally behind the body.

This stance does 3 things instantly:

• Reduces your profile — harder to hit
• Keeps your weapon hidden until it matters
• Lets you pivot fast into slash or retreat

2. Low Reap Stance (Compression & Launch)

Drop your center. Slight bend in both knees. Scythe tucked low across the waist like a loaded spring.

This is your ambush stance. From here you can:

• Launch upward attacks from below sightline
• Control your center of gravity for reaping arcs
• Feint, slip, or reset clean

3. Open High Guard (Psychological Pressure)

Feet squared, scythe raised diagonally overhead. You show the blade. You show the weight.

This is full offense posture. It says:

• “You can’t enter without risking death”
• “This weapon is too big for you to handle”
• “I’ve already committed — your move”

4. Stance Transitions = Real Flow

A reaper doesn’t stay still. He transitions between stances mid-cut, mid-breath.

Train each stance on its own — then blend. The real fight begins when your opponent can’t tell where the cut starts.

"Control the stance. Control the cut. Control the fight."

At Scythe School, we stand with intention. Every pose is a threat. Every shift is a trap.

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