- Freestyle fencing with the historical arsenal
Sparring Rules
Sparring Rules
We've employed the following rules during Sunday Butchers and Realistic Sparring Weapons combat for years. You may take it as your reference in constructing your set of rules.
Principle
The rules of Realistic Sparring Weapons combat were designed to simulate the reality of the weaponry and the effects of hitting the targets, such as the stopping power. During the game, one or two judges will monitor the process along with a video camera capturing the motions. After an effective hit, the game will be paused and if necessary, the video will be replayed in slow motion for reaching the final decision.
Effective hits
Bladed weaponry:
They can be categorized as Thrusts, Slices and Cuts. Thrusts have to be deep enough. Slices have to be drawn or pushed. Cuts have to penetrate deep enough. The Slices and Cuts have to be done with proper blade alignment that the swords have to travel in the direction pointed by the edge straightly through the target area.
Bludgeoning weaponry:
It depends on the impact force.
Punches, Kicks and Grappling
The participants can choose one of the two modes below depending on their needs.
Full usage:
Even if the strikes landed squarely or someone is grappled to the ground, the game will continue until an effective hit from the weapon occurs or surrender.
Instant Stoppage:
The players may still execute techniques to close the distance and touch the opponent actively. The game will stop when someone was touched as the one was defeated.
Stopping Power
If strikes landed both sides during a short period of time and the attacker did not achieve enough stopping power to cease the counter attack, the result will be "Double Kill". Listed below are the stopping power generated by different types of hits and the target areas in descending order.
Cut / Heavy Bludgeoning Hit
1. The wrist and fingers of the weapon-holding hand.
2. The weapon-holding arm.
3. The shoulder of the weapon-holding side and the head.
4. Knee and below.
5. Thigh.
6. Torso and other places.
Thrust
1. The wrist and fingers of the weapon-holding hand.
2. The weapon-holding arm.
3. The shoulder of the weapon-holding side and the head.
Slice
1. The wrist and fingers of the weapon-holding hand.