Sacramento Tournament Rules

I. EQUIPMENT A. Weapons 1. All must represent a civilian weapon designed for self­defense or dueling between the years 1500­1650. (modern blades, double­wide epees, Darkwood WMA Rapier Foil blades, or FISAS rapier blades will not be allowed). 2. Blades shall measure no more than 42” from the cross of the weapon. 3. All blades must be blunted and flexible. All tips must be covered with a rubber blunt or equivalent that is secured to the weapons so that it cannot be pulled off by reasonable pressure. 4. All blades must be in good condition, free of rust and burrs. 5. Blades may be neither too stiff (rigid) nor overly flexible (whippy), subject to the discretion of the director and officials. 6. Any weapons with blades designed to catch or break an adversary’s are all specifically PROHIBITED. 7. Only a single weapon is permitted per fencer (no off­hand weapons or parrying devices). B. Armor 1. Three­weapon fencing masks (12 kg punch test) with thick, sewn­in bibs are required for tournaments. 2. Extra protection for the throat, such as a gorget made rigid material is required, and must be sufficiently padded to provide impact protection. All masks must fit properly to ensure maximum protection. 3. The torso, groin and armpits must be covered by a standard three­weapon jackets or equivalent protection. Puncture resistant protection provide by a rigid groin cup will count towards protection, but the area between the cup and the belly must also be covered. 4. Knee protectors are required. 5. Elbow protectors are required. 6. Padded sleeves, padded leg coverings, and shin guards are optional gear as per the comfort of the fencer. 7. Rigid groin cups are required for men. Breast protectors are optional for women. 8. All other areas of the body must be covered by material that will resist snagging or pulling during the bout. 9. The back of the head must be protected with a rigid or heavily padded materials. II. BLOWS A. General 1. All blows shall be counted as if struck with a sharp blade on both point and edge. 2. The unarmed hand may be used to , but not block, a blow. 3. Disarming techniques by means of seizing the arm, of the blade, or the of the adversary’s weapon, are permitted. However, should a fencer drop his weapon as a result of the impact on a valid target surface, that will not be considered a disarm. In this case, a halt shall be called and the fencer shall be allowed to reclaim his weapon. B. Target Area 1. The target area shall include all parts of the body except the back of the head and foot. C. Thrusts 1. A valid thrust with the tip of the blade must land along the line of the blade with minimal positive pressure for the tip to be felt on the skin. The blade does not have to bend to be counted, only to be felt by the receiving combatant. D. Cuts 1. A valid cut will consist of a controlled, well­intentioned blow, delivered with the striking edge of the sword with proper mechanics so to have been able to cleave the target. 2. Cuts must be delivered with sufficient control so as not to injure the opponent while still delivering the necessary impact for a valid cut. 3. Cuts that are brutal, that is, delivered with excessive force, or are made by hacking, chopping, whipping, or bludgeoning, are strictly prohibited. 4. Cuts made by laying the blade on target and drawing are not required to be acknowledged. Cuts that land with percussion and afterwards drawn, shall count as cleaving blows. E. Infighting 1. The use of the unarmed hand for checking the adversary is permitted. Use of the weapon for checking or pushing is permitted. Actions and techniques that constitute a blow, striking, or impact with the body are prohibited. 2. Grappling, wrestling or grabbing, beyond a seizure of the arm in a disarming technique, will not be allowed. III. SCORING A. Points 1. Any blow (cut or thrust) to the head will count for 4 points. 2. Any blow to the body will count for 3 points. 3. Any blow to the arms will count for 1 point. 4. Any blow to the legs will count for 2 points. 5. Pommel strikes to the mask will score 1 point. 6. If a fencer should leave the ring with both feet, their opponent will score 1 point. 7. A successful disarm shall score 3 points. B. of Hits 1. Double Hits a) Double​ hits are those which occur when two fencers strike each other in the same tempo (i.e. at the same time). Double ​hits also include near​ simultaneous hits, such as those landing immediately after a successful hit from the opponent, and which were begun in the same tempo as the successful . b) “Right Angle Rule”: If a fencer places his weapon in the position of the right angle, such that the fencing arm is straight with the weapon parallel to the floor and threatening the opponent’s target, then that fencer is said to be in the Right Angle. That fencer will have priority in any double hit, unless: (1) their opponent moves the weapon off the line. (2) they make a movement of the weapon that is not to avoid an attempt at (1). c) A double hit will be scored as a hit for the fencer with priority via the Right Angle Rule. If neither fencer has priority, the hit will be scored as a double hit. Five double hits will result in a loss for both fencers. 2. Afterblow a) After a touch has landed, his opponent will have the opportunity for an afterblow. b) The afterblow must BEGIN after the touch has landed, and can use up to a single foot movement. c) A successful afterblow will annul the scoring blow. d) A second, clean strike after an initial scoring blow will annul the afterblow, however the first blow is the only one counted for scoring purposes. C. Judging 1. There will be four judges, and one director. 2. Fencers may be required to act as judges while not fencing. 3. Two judges will watch each fencer.. Each judge will be situated opposite the other judge watching his fencer, and 180 degrees around the ring from either judge watching the other fencer. The judges are not required to move. 4. Each judge will have 1 vote a) They may vote, yes (+1), no (­1) or abstain (0). 5. The director will call the priority of the action (i.e. double hit or afterblow). He will also have 0.5 votes in order to break a tie. 6. Combatants may acknowledge blows to their own person, and have the right to waive any blow awarded to them. IV. CONDUCT A. All fencers will be expected to fight with both skill and control. B. Any fencer that is deemed to pose a danger to themselves or others will be first verbally warned, second removed from the match, third removed from the tournament. C. Fencers are expected to act professionally, and respectful to the officiating staff. D. Fencers are expected to follow the commands of the tournament staff at all times. E. Violating the rules of conduct can and will result in: 1. A verbal warning and a point(s) deduction at the discretion of the fight director. 2. Forfeit of the match. 3. Expulsion from the tournament. V. FORMAT A. Field of Combat 1. The field of combat shall be a ring 20’ ­ 40’ in diameter B. Tournament Organization 1. The tournament will be run with a pools and direct eliminations format 2. Pools a) Fencers will be divided into pools of between 4 and 8 fencers. b) Each pool will be a round robin. c) Pool bouts will be to 6 points, with one 2 minute period. 3. Direct Eliminations a) All fencers will advance to direct eliminations (single elimination). b) Each bout will be to 9 or 12 points, with two two minute periods depending on the size of the tournament.