Well, my point wasn't what was favourable, it was what was logical considering the situation.

Considering Khan's weapon outranges your own, I'd rather be inside his guard rather than outside it, especially as the strike will be more ineffectual if you're further inside the strike, just basic physics and momentum shit. That part of his weapon will be moving slower and pose less of a threat to your shielding. You have no choice but to come at him at that point, but if his strike is mis-timed you have from the moment you see the incoming threat until the point when his blade would reach you to twist your body out the way and use your shield to parry his sword, finishing with the anime-esque decapitation with your own unencumbered sword. 

Tordor really had no way to know his sword is going to encounter resistance before it hits you, so twisting out the way should be fairly easy.