This unusual position is called the "Shin-Box", and is used in falling, negotiating the ground, and standing.  The seminar participants were mainly swordsmen, and did not generally know about the proper methods of falling, which they would need for the rest of the weekend.  Because of this, we started the seminar with a long block of instruction on how to do so safely.  We spent over an hour falling to the front, back, and sides, as well as maneuvering on the ground and standing, on a variety of surfaces including grass, gravel, and concrete.  No injuries, not even minor ones, resulted, proving the participants had been paying attention!  The Shin-Box is an insight that I got from Scott Sannon,  and  for more info on this, and on total body mobility, check out Scott Sonnon's "Grappler's Toolbox" and "ZDROVYE" videos from AmerROSS.  Tell 'em you heard it here!

    This footwork drill with obstacles in the path was just one of the many covered in another special block of instruction, requested by the participants.  The foot work for knife fighting and close combat are different than those required for other long-range aspects of the sword, and these drills introduced a quicker, more explosive footwork than the participants were used to.  In this specific drill, the participants had to move left and right around the circle at a "combat run" while attacking with their knives, having to change direction on command, and avoid the obstacles on the ground all the while!  This picture was actually shot after the fact (they were too busy drilling to take pictures), and so here everyone is goofing about - that is why you see them poised so delicately with their arms out instead of being in more combat ready stances...

    Here is a picture of a Parry and Riposte Drill with Daggers from the Solthurner Fectbuch, along with the original picture from the 1480's.  He stabs at you in the middle line.  You parry it aside with a low outward and downward blow, and immediately counter with your own stab. Note that I am also zoning out of the way as I parry and stab.   This is a quick stab and counter, and makes an excellent back and forth style flow drill.  Once you and your partner can both do it, then try to do it in 3 or 5 step exchanges.  When this is easy, experiment with changing angles on the return stab and how that then changes the follow ups.
 

1)  Attacker stabs with a high forehand, you block with the edge of the same side hand and immediately grab the arm...
2)  Ride the energy of the stab and twist the arm around, keeping the flat of the dagger against your forearm to disarm it.  This is the first move shown in Flos Duellatorum (1410), and is seen in Talhoffer, Marozzo, Durrer, Vadi, and others.  We refer to it as a Triangle Disarm because of the principles involved, and you can see how Milo's arm, the dagger, and my arm make a Triangle in the first picture.
3)  Immediately strike his face with the heel of my hand, hitting the cheekbone and driving my thumb into his eye.
4)  Use pressure on the eye to rotate the head and do a take down, dropping your right knee into his ribs...
5)  Then dropping your left knee onto his face, locking out the arm, and striking his face and groin while kneeling on him in an upright, balanced position where you can get up and continue to fight easily.