Association for Historical Fencing (AHF) - Tournament Rules

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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 Small-sword. It is not the intent of these rules to recreate “actual small-sword combat,” but rather to outline basic parameters for conducting fencing with the small-sword. 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 small-sword can do so in an honorable fashion that stresses safety. We have adapted the small-sword rules used for competitions held by the Mayor and Capitouls of Toulouse in May of each year. (1696)

The tournament will be divided into two parts. The first part will be academic in nature to demonstrate the fencer's proficiency in the art of fencing. It is based on the academic assault that took place in fencing schools or contests of skill where nothing leading to rough play was permitted. The second part will be combative in nature with full body target to demonstrate the practical application of the art. Based on the duel where thrusts to the face, disarms, and seizing the opponent's sword are all permitted.

PART I ACADEMIC

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 on a piste 30 feet long by 6 feet wide. Stepping out of Bounds (one foot constitutes out of bounds) will be penalized as per section 5.0

Permitted weapons forms: Small-sword (no auxiliary weapons)

Rules will be demonstrated prior to all official AHF Competitions. Fencers fence at their own risk and peril.

2.0 Weapons and Equipment Specifications

Hilts must be of the French or Italian type and 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 guard of the weapon can be no wider then 4.5 inches and the quillions must not protrude more then one inch beyond the circumference of the guard. Blades must be standard epee, double-wide epee, or schalger blades, with a minimum length of 29 inches and a maximum length of 35 inches. 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.

Clothing and Protective Equipment

Three weapon fencing masks (12 Kg Punch test) with thick sew-in bibs are required for competition, no hoods of any type under the mask or attached to the mask will be permitted. Extra protection for the throat, such as a gorget made of steel or leather (not 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. 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 and equipment must be inspected prior to the beginning of the tournament.

3.0 Technique and Safety

Target Area

A belt must be worn, the upper edge of which is waist level.* The area for good hits is bounded vertically by the top of the collar and the top of the belt, front and back and bounded by the seams, where the sleeves are attached to the jacket. Arms are off target.

* The belts will be all of the same width and will be provide by the AHF.

Instant apology is to be made by a fencer who hits his opponent on the face, but if in the opinion of the judges the hit was malicious the offender is to be expelled from the competition.

Cuts
Not allowed

Thrusts
Thrusts must land distinctly on target, and the blade must bend sufficiently on impact to demonstrate penetrating power. 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 NOT permitted.

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 will 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.

Ducking, 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). A fencer may not substitute valid target by displacing the body in any manner that would replace a valid target with an invalid target on purpose to avoid being hit. For example: A fencer can not lower his body to replace the valid target with the head, if a fencer uses a valid technique such as a "passato sotto" but receives a hit on an invalid surface a point shall be scored against him.

It is forbidden to hold the weapon with both hands or to change from one hand to the other during a bout.

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. Bodily contact of any kind is prohibited.

ANY VIOLATION OF THE WRESTLING AND GRAPPLING PROHITBITIONS 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 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 piste. 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 hand and declaring in a loud voice "touch," 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 piste. These fencers shall wear belts to delineate the target area. Once the Director has assured that everything is in order (such as that the fencers are wearing belts and using inspected weapons, wearing the approved clothing, etc.) he shall have them salute and 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".

All bouts shall be for three points, with points scored against the fencer receiving the touch. 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 whether the touch was good or off target. Judges shall have one vote each and the director shall have one and one-half votes. A minimum of two votes is required to award or deny a touch. The fencers may not call nor acknowledge their own hits.

Hits without interval (continuance of the attack) count up to two hits, providing that they touch different places. Only two successive hits are to count as good.

A coup fourre (double hits) is not counted on either side, unless one of the competitors, in the opinion of the Director, resorts to it in order to bring the score equal, then the trust of the other is good, not his. If, in the opinion of the director one touch was clearly out of time, then the touch arriving on time is the only one valid.

A hit off the target which arrives at the same time as a good hit by an opponent is not valid. The touch made on the valid surface is counted as valid. All touches made off target result in the director halting the bout.

If a competitor disarms his opponent by beating or binding the weapon a hit is good only if made instantaneously.

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 out-bursts, 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: Point against
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.

PART II COMBATIVE

1.0 General Provisions

Fencers will fence on a piste 30 feet long by 6 feet wide. Stepping out of bounds (one foot constitutes out of bounds) will be penalized as per section 5.0

2.0 Weapon & Equipment Specifications

Same as in Academic section.

All weapons and equipment will be inspected prior to the Academic portion 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 and the hands.

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 counts as a point scored against the fencer who was disarmed. A disarm concluding with a hit, executed as a continuous action and technique, shall count as 3 points, regardless of target area. 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. Pulling the adversary with the unarmed hand is allowed. 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. 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.

ANY VIOLATION OF THE WRESTLING AND GRAPPLING PROHIBITIONS WILL RESULT IN EJECTION (see Academic section 4.0)

5.0 Officiating

Same as in Academic section except for the following changes.

To begin the bout the Director shall bring both contestants to the center of the piste. Once the Director has assured that everything is in order (such as that the fencers are using inspected weapons, wearing the approved clothing, etc.) he shall have them salute and 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", the Director may separate the fencers with a cane.

All bouts shall be for three points, with points scored against the fencer receiving the touch. Thrusts to the body and face shall count for three points, to the rest of the body for one point. In all bouts there shall be a time limit of five 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) 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. The fencers may not call nor acknowledge their own hits.

Hits with out interval (continuance of the attack) count up to two hits. Only two successive hits are to count as good.

A coup fourre (double hits) is counted against both fencers. 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.

6.0 Spectators

Same as in Academic Section.

PART III OVERALL WINNER

In the event that there are two different winners in the Academic and Combative portions of the tournament, one bout will be fenced to determine an overall winner under the combative rules. The target area will change increasing the difficulty to insure that the fencers demonstrate both an acute sense of academic and practical skill.

1.0 Target Area.

The target area will be restricted to the torso and sword arm delineated by the top of the belt and the top of the collar of the jacket

2.0 Officiating

The bout will be for three (3) points. A touch to the torso counts as one (1) point and a touch to the arm counts as one-half (1/2) point. There is no time limit.

The AHF Rules Committee

Jeannette Acosta-Martinez, Chair
Ramon Martinez, ex-officio
Keith S. Massey
Jana Umbs
Christopher Umbs

Rules adapted from the Rules of Toulouse 1696

Editors: Ken Mondschein 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. April 2000
Revised March, 2001