Tournament

Rather than do the standard "Best of 3 " straight up bouting in the salle contest. The tournament will involve a street defense scenario which will require the participants to quickly assess threats and respond as if they were indeed required to use their smallsword to defend their lives.

Rules and Procedures

This is a game. Enjoyment and learning are it’s objectives not prizes.
Safety and Sportsmanship far outweigh ego and pride and it is expected that all participants will behave accordingly.
Required gear is the same as required for class participation.
All weapons must be clearly recognizable as smallswords
Weapons and safety gear will be examined
Unsafe gear or weapons will not be allowed.
To start, one player, the “contestant” will stand at one edge of the field of play the “Arena” facing out
Arena may be of any size or shape and may contain obstacles
In Arena will be two “Opponents “ numbered “1” and “2”
There will be at minimum one judge and one time keeper/scorer
On the signal “Begin” contestant turns around and steps into arena. Time begins
Contestant and or opponents recite script
Example: Opponent: “draw or die!” Contestant: “Out of my way foul vermin”
Failure to recite script CORRECTLY by contestant will incur a time penalty of 15 seconds
Contestant and Opponent #1 engage immediately
All players must use the smallsword to neutralize opponents by thrust
Players may not strike, wrestle, throw,trip or punch and pommel with force
Contestants may not use any secondary weapons or objects such as lanterns , cloaks, mugs
Secondary or mixed weapons may or not be used by the Opponents. Such use if included by the judges will be consistent across each scenario. So for example if an opponent is armed with a rapier those same weapons will be used throughout the scenario so that every contestant must face a similar situation.
Players may use the offhand to deflect , parry or grab the opponents sword , arm or jacket momentarily for the purpose for opening a line into which to thrust or to disarm
Players may use their off hand or body to push or hold off their opposition.
If such contact results in the contestant losing his/her weapon or going to the ground there will be a time penalty to contestant equal to that for receiving a palpable hit
Palpable hit is defined as clear and obvious thrust to the head or torso with sufficient blade bend to suggest disabling penetration to an internal organ.
Judges will call hits and play will stop on each hit
The time penalty for contestant receiving a palpable hit is 60 seconds
Double hits incur the penalty for the contestant only
If contestant hits Opponent #1 Play will stop. clock will be paused Opponet will leave the arena. On resumption clock will resume and Opponent #2 will immediately engage Contestant
On the call of halt players will disengage until told to proceed
Dropped swords, disarms are equal to hits.
Three strikes in total from first and or second opponent and contestant is “ OUT” fighting stops and time stops.
If contestant fails to “Hit” first opponent in 30 seconds Opponent #2 will enter fight alongside of Opponent #1
Time ends when
1. Contestant receives total three hits from one or both opponents
2. Contestant scores one hit on each opponent
Score will be the total expired time plus any additional (hit) penalties incurred.
Lowest time wins
No prize will go to a contestant who has not scored at least one hit against an opponent
Failure to abide by rules or failure to uphold the spirit of the game or to display poor sportsmanship will receive a one minute penalty or disqualification.
Excessive force or violence will result in disqualification.
The number of scenarios or run-throughs will be determined by the number of participants and available time.
When more than one scenario is run winners will be those with the lowest aggregate time.
Judges rulings are final
All participants will also serve as "opponents" in rotation set by the judges.
All players may be called upon to act as judges.
Have fun
Respect your opponents