Rules ENG

1. Required protective gear

1.1 Smallsword

Obligatory protective gear consists of: fencing mask, fencing uniform, fencing gloves, breast protector for women, suspensor for men. Recommended equipment: knee protectors.

1.2. Rapier and dagger

Obligatory protective gear consists of: fencing mask, fencing uniform, fencing gloves, breast protector for women, suspensor for men, knee protectors.

1.3 Dueling sabre

Obligatory protective gear consists of: fencing mask, fencing uniform, fencing gloves, breast protector for women, suspensor for men, knee, shoulder, elbow and forearm protectors, additional torso protector. Recommended equipment: shin guard and additional fencing mask padding.

The judge has the right to disqualify a fighter from a given fight if his protective gear is insufficient or in poor condition (rusty metal mesh). Weapons that fail the regulation measurments can also be a reason for disqualification.

2. Weapons measurments

The referee has the right, in justified conditions, allow a fighter to use a weapon which is fails the measurments specified by the rules ( e.g. heavier or with smaller hand protection).

Uwaga: Sędzia ma prawo, ze względu na uzasadnione czynniki, dopuścić do walki zawodnika posiadającego broń niespełniającą wymogów regulaminu (np. cięższą lub wyposażoną w mniejszą ochronę dłoni).

3. Refereeing a fight. The judge, the referees the main judge.

Each fight is refereed by three or five people. One of them plays the role of a judge, while the others are called referees. The judge has the following duties: he awards the hits, directs and supervises, halts and renews the bout. The referees’ role is to observe the fight and signal the hit. The fight is halted by the judge on his own accord or signalled by one of the referees ( by raising his or her hand or flag). The fight can also by halted by one of the referees or fighters (see p.7). In case of any doubts or debatable situations the decides on scoring the hit. The main judge is the only person that superintends the entire competition, settles debatable situations and decides about possible changes in the organisation of the competitions.

4. Valid target area

4. 1 Smallsword

The entire body is a valid target. Only proper touches that cause a visible bending of the blade are considered to be scored hits.

4.2 Rapier and dagger

The entire body is a valid target. Only proper touches that cause a visible bending of the blade are considered to be scored hits.

4.3 Dueling sabre

The entire body is a valid target. Both cuts and thrusts are scored. Sabre is considered conventional weapon and ?right of way? rules apply.

5. Scoring

5.1 General rules

Both fighters start the fight with the set of 3 points (2 in case of rapier fights). Each time a fighter receives a hit, he or she loses one point. The fight continues until one of the fighters loses all his points. There are four possible outcomes of a fight:

• a) a vicory
• b) a draw
• c) a double touch
• d) disqualification

A fighter can also lose a point without receiving a hit:

• a) as a result af behaviour violating the rules of the competition (by the decission of the main judge)
• b) in result of leaving the field of combat

5.2 Victory

The fight is conluded if one of the fighters loses all three points he started with. The winer gains 2 points in his general competition classification, the loser gains no points.

5.3 Draw

If both fighters avoid combat and do not engage is a fight the referee may start a countdown after notyfying the fighters. If no hit is scored within the following 0 seconds both fighters are penalised by subtracting one point from their score. If the score reaches 0-0 the fight ends in a draw and both players gain no points in general classification.

5.4 Double hit

First double touch means no points for both contestants. If a second double touch is ruled, the fight is considered concluded and both fighters lose 1 point from their general classification score. In the case of saber Primum Vivere rule apply (kind of right of way).

5.5 Disqualification

A fighter can be disqualified both by the judge or by the main judge. Disqualification may consider only one fight, in which case the disqualified fighter loses one point from his general classification score and his opponent gains two points, and the fight is conluded. A fighter can also be disqualified from the entire championship. In that case his name and score is removed from the list of the contestants.

6. The course of the fight and the commands of the judges.

• a) “Salute!” – both fighters salute each other. The form of the salute is appropriate to a given school.
• b) “Masks on!” – the players put on their fencing masks.
• c) “Positions!” – the fighters adopt the fencing stance in an appropriate part of the field of combat.
• d) “Ready?” – the fighters are required to confirm that they are by saying ?Ready!? loudly and clearly.
• e) “Fight!” – the fighters commence the fight.

7. Halting the fight.

The fight can be halted in following cases:

• a) A command “Stop!” or “Halt!” is used by the judge or one of the referees.
• b) One of the fighters calls for a halt by saying “Stop!” or “Halt!” in a loud an clear way.

A fighter has the right to stop a fight in any given moment ( in case of injury or damage to his equipment etc.), however, if the halt to a fight found to be unjustified, the judge has the right to penalize the fighter with loss of one point in a given fight. A referee can halt the fight in case of injury to one of the fighters, damage to the equipment or any other threat to fighters safety.

8. General rules

It is forbidden to:

• a) holding opponent’s blade in any way
• b) holding the knuckle bar of the opponent’s weapon
• c) pushing away opponent’s blade with unarmed hand (only in sabre competition)
• d) grips and throws
• e) leaving the field of combat with both feet
• f) throwing the weapon

It is allowed to:

• a) closing in and changing the sides on the field of combat
• b) tripping and knocking the opponent over
• c) gripping, pushing the opponent away or disarming him or her
• d) punching, kicking except the opponent’s back and the back of his head
• e) pushing away opponent’s blade with unarmed hand (only in court sword competition)

9. Appealing to the decission of the judge

The fighters can appeal from the decission of the judge to the main judge. The appeal has to be supported by the decission of at least one referee. All improprieties in the course of the competition have to be reported to the main judge.