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Commentaries And Procedures for the Judging and directing of Rapier Bouts
Revised March, 2000
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of these rules and regulations is to put in place safe and sane criteria for the practice of the art of the rapier. It is not the intent of these rules to recreate "actual rapier combat," but rather to outline basic parameters for conducting fencing with the rapier. In the opinion of the Association it is impossible to replicate personal combat to the most minute detail and authentic conditions without resorting to actual bloodshed.
It is the intent of this regulatory system to insure that those who wish to practice the historical forms of fencing with the rapier can do so in an honorable and reasonably realistic fashion that stresses safety.
1.0 General Provisions
All rules listed herein are to be enforced without modification in official AHF events, unless permission is granted by the AHF Executive Committee to modify the rules for a given competition.
All bouts shall be fenced in a square area of no less than 25 feet in length by 25 feet in width and no more than 35 feet in length by 35 feet in width, hereafter referred to as the 'ring'. Stepping out of Bounds (one foot constitutes out of bounds) will be penalized as per section 5.0.
Permitted weapons forms are: Single Rapier, Rapier and Dagger, Rapier and Cloak. Double Rapier and Rapier and Buckler are NOT permitted at this time. Rules will be demonstrated prior to all official AHF Competitions. Fencers fence at their own risk and peril.
2.0 WEAPON & EQUIPMENT SPECIFICATIONS
Rapiers
These must be of the cup, shell, or swept-hilt variety and mounted with blades that are either double-wide epée (also sold as "musqueteer" blades), Del Tin Practice Rapier blades, or practice schläger blades (oval or diamond). Blades must be between 35 and 45 inches in length. There shall be no prohibition against different types of blades being used against each other.
Daggers
Daggers shall have hilts of either the ring, cross, or shell variety, and must have quillons. Blades must be of the flexible fencing dagger type (the "flexi-dagger," "safety-flex", or similar type). Daggers made from cut-down epée or foil blades, and any blades specifically designed to catch or break an opponent's blade are all specifically prohibited.
Cloaks
Cloaks may be of any stout material which will not snag on an opponents blade. Cloaks cannot be weighted on the edge, nor may they in any way present a danger to the fencer- such as cloaks which are tattered, have holes, or are in a state of disrepair.
General Weapon Specifications
Rapiers and daggers must be constructed in as historically accurate a manner as possible within the realm of safety. The hilts of weapons must be constructed without any type of eccentricity with regard to the quillions, knuckle bow, or ricasso, and without anachronism, such as offset guards. The blade must NOT be mounted obliquely with respect to the quillions. Moreover, the blade must be in good condition, free of rust and burrs, and may have only a single, gradual curve. Blades may be neither too stiff (rigid) nor overly flexible (whippy), subject to the discretion of the director and officials.* The point of the blade must be covered with a winding of waxed thread covered with adhesive tape and then covered with a leather patch or rubber coating. Rubber or plastic buttons, or their equivalent (such as rubber "archery blunts"), are acceptable, but must be secured to the blade with adhesive tape.
* The quality of the blades as manufactured will be taken into consideration.
Clothing and Protective Equipment
Three-weapon fencing masks (12 Kg Punch test) with thick, sewn-in bibs are required for competition. Extra protection for the throat, such as a gorget made of steel or leather (no less than 4 oz) is required, and must be sufficiently padded to provide impact protection.
Standard three-weapon uniforms or equivalent commercially available protection, which, in order to facilitate judging of touches may be of any solid color but black, are required for competition. Uniforms must be made of strong material, preferably of heavily padded cotton duck or canvas. Long pants or fencing knickers must be worn and must be of a strong, tight weave, non-stretch material. No bare flesh may be exposed.
Heavy plastrons over the jacket are recommended, as are elbow protectors, padded sleeves, padded leg coverings, kneepads, shin guards, etc. Breast protectors are required for women, and rigid groin cups are required for men.
Padded sabre gloves for both hands, or the equivalent, are required. The cuffs of the gloves must go over and cover the sleeves by at least three (3) inches, and construction must be of sturdy leather or equivalent.
All weapons & equipment must be inspected prior to the beginning of the tournament.
3.0 TECHNIQUE AND SAFETY
Target Area
The target area shall include all parts of the body except the back of the head.
Cuts
Cuts which are brutal, that is, delivered with excessive force, or are made by hacking, chopping, whipping, or bludgeoning, are strictly prohibited.
Cuts made by laying the blade on target and drawing are not acceptable or permitted, as these are not true draw cuts.
Cuts landing over steel shall be declared valid.
Thrusts
Thrusts must land distinctly on target, and the blade must bend sufficiently on impact to demonstrate penetrating power. The exception to this rule is thrusts to the mask (including the head, face, or throat), which must be pulled to avoid injury. If these blows are not pulled, they will be judged excessively violent and shall be punished accordingly by the director.
Jabbing or punching actions are forbidden. These do not qualify as thrusts. However, actions such as appuntata or replacements of the point, shall be exceptions to this rule, as they are valid technique.
Use of the Unarmed Hand
The use of the unarmed hand is permitted. The unarmed hand may be used to parry at the option of the fencer.
Seizing of the blade is permitted. The fencer seizing the blade can do so only momentarily. Twisting or pulling the blade, however, is prohibited. This is not the same as disarming, in which the blade, hilt, or arm is seized in a manner specific to the technique. The defending fencer, in order to avoid injury to the fencer who has seized the blade, must not twist or pull his weapon away when it is seized. Permissible actions in this case include letting go of the weapon (which is counted as a disarmament) or employing a counter seizure. If a counter seizure is employed, the director will call a halt to ensure safety and forestall grappling.
Disarming techniques by means of seizing the arm, forte of the blade, or hilt of the adversary's weapon, are permitted. This is counted as three points scored against the fencer who was disarmed. If a fencer loses his primary weapon other than by a disarm he loses the bout and three points are scored against him. If a fencer loses his secondary weapon he must fence without it. However, should a fencer drop his weapon as a result of the impact on a valid target surface, that shall not be considered a disarm. In this case, a halt shall be called and the fencer shall be allowed to reclaim his weapon. The decision of whether a weapon was dropped because of a valid impact shall be solely at the discretion of the director, and this decision shall not be affected by the decision of the judges.
4.0 INFIGHTING & GENERAL CONDUCT
Infighting is permitted. However, discretion and self-control must be exercised. If the director feels that the action has become irregular and unsafe, he must immediately stop the action. Similarly, if the action becomes obscured so that the director and judges cannot interpret the phrase, the action must be stopped.
The use of the unarmed hand for checking and pushing is permitted. Use of the weapon for checking or pushing is permitted. Actions and techniques that constitute a blow, striking, or impact are prohibited.
Ducking, weaving, and slipping, and all evasive displacements of the body, including those in which part of the body comes in contact with the ground, for the purpose of avoiding being hit are permitted, provided the action remains controlled. (This constitutes displacement of the target.) However, should the director feel that the action is uncontrolled or constitutes a fall, he shall halt the bout. This is considered unsafe and will be dealt with as a violation of the rules, section 5.0 (officiating).
Dishonorable conduct, such as attempting to circumvent the rules, will result in a warning for the first offense and ejection for any subsequent offense.
Vindictive acts of any kind will result in disqualification and ejection from the event. The AHF Board of Governors may also ban the offender from all events for a period of any length, up to and including a lifetime ban from Association events.
Wrestling techniques are forbidden. This includes, but is not limited to, tripping and knocking down an adversary. The use of striking actions such as punches, chops, and kicks are forbidden. Blows of any variety are forbidden. Grappling techniques are forbidden, including but not limited to joint locks, throws, and tripping. The fencer who causes body contact without either brutality or violence, even several times in succession, has not violated this rule and is guilty of no irregularity.
ANY VIOLATION OF THE WRESTLING AND GRAPPLING PROHIBITIONS WILL RESULT IN EJECTION.
5.0 OFFICIATING
Every formal bout will be presided over by a Director of Combat. The director's function is to ensure that the combat proceeds smoothly and fairly. He must see that the fencing is conducted in accordance to the rules and must halt any swordplay that, in his opinion, is unruly, patently unfair, and/or unsafe. Additionally, the director shall have the power to:
- On his authority commence, halt, end a bout, and declare a winner.
- Penalize violations of the rules and conventions of fencing, including those written and unwritten rules relating to sportsmanship and good conduct.
- Award touches with the concurrence of the judges and in accordance with the applicable voting procedure.
- Exercise complete control over the fencers, spectators, judges, minor officials, and such other personnel as may be in the area of the ring. This control extends to whatever means may be necessary to maintain order, including ejecting a fencer or spectator, dismissing a judge, etc.
The Director will be assisted in his duties by four judges, the responsibility of whom it will be to watch for touches occurring during the bout, which they will signal against the fencer who was touched by raising a flag, or by such other method as may be determined for a given competition.
To begin the bout the Director shall bring both contestants to the center of the fencing area ("ring"). These fencers shall wear contrasting colored belts. Once the Director has assured that everything is in order (such as that the fencers are wearing the proper belts and using inspected weapons, wearing the approved uniform, etc.) he shall bring them on guard with the command "Gentlemen (or fencers) take your guard." He shall then step back and give the command to "Fence." Each fencer fences in his own way and at his own risk and peril. The fencers shall cease fencing upon the command "Halt." If required, the Director shall use a staff to separate the fencers.
All bouts shall be for three points, with points scored against the fencer receiving the touch. Thrusts to the torso and face shall count for three points, to the rest of the body for one point. All cuts count as one point. In all bouts there shall be a time limit of five (5) minutes. If the score is tied at the end of this time period, one additional touch will be fenced without time limit to determine a winner.
Upon seeing a touch or the signal for a touch from a judge, the director shall stop the bout and poll the judges as to the direction of the touch (who was touched,) the type of touch, whether point or cut, and where it arrived. Judges shall have one vote each and the director shall have one and one-half votes. In the event of a tie vote, the vote of the director shall be the deciding one. Should the jury agree that there was a hit, but disagree as to its point value (e.g. whether it was to the chest or arm), one point shall be awarded. A minimum of two votes is required to award a touch. The fencers may not call nor acknowledge their own hits.
In the case of a double touch (encounter), both fencers shall be considered touched unless in the opinion of the director one touch was clearly out of time. In the case of an encounter where one fencer is struck with a one point touch and the other with a three point touch, the fencer receiving the three point touch is defeated, unless the other fencer had two touches against prior to the encounter, in which case both are defeated. In case of a double defeat (simultaneous reaching of three points against), the bout shall be re-fenced for "first blood" - that is, the first touch shall determine the winner.
Speaking while under arms is not permitted except with the permission of the director, gained by making a foot call (stamping the front foot twice) and being recognized by the director.
Emotional outbursts, or displays of temper before, during, or after a bout is forbidden. Participants must exhibit self-control and good manners.
Violations of these rules will be dealt with in the following manner, unless otherwise noted elsewhere in the rules:
- 1st Offense- Warning
- 2nd Offense- Loss of Point
- 3rd Offense- Loss of bout
- 4th Offense- Disqualification
6.0 SPECTATORS
Spectators must not interfere in any way. Coaching by voice or gesture, commenting in a loud voice, swearing, using foul language, or abusing officials is prohibited. Spectators behaving in an unruly manner, creating a nuisance, and/or preventing orderly proceeding of the contest will be warned, and if they persist in their actions, ejected.
The AHF Rules Committee
Jeannette Acosta-Martinez, Chair
Ramón Martínez, ex-officio
Jana Umbs
Christopher Umbs
Keith S. Massey
Rules Author: Ramón Martínez
Editors: Keith S. Massey and Andy Baiman
These rules are the sole property of the Association for Historical Fencing, Inc. and may not be reproduced in whole or in part in any form without the express written permission of the Executive Committee.
Association for Historical Fencing, Inc. 1999
Revised March, 2000