IFG Micro Tournament IV: Tournament of Defense

This longsword tournament intends to test the defensive abilities of its participants in a non-compliant, martial context. Fencers will need to demonstrate intent to avoid and defend against their opponent in order to win. Gear requirements are the same as for IFG’s Tournament of Roses Longsword tournament

NOTE: THIS IS AN EXPERIMENTAL TOURNAMENT. THESE RULES MAY OR MAY NOT BE CONDUCIVE TO AN OPTIMAL EXPERIENCE.

There are three main ways this tournament differs from others:

Defense matrix: Scoring will be done based on a fencer's ability to keep themselves safe. Attempting a defense and failing it may result in a better score in the case that both fencers hit each other. Not attempting to defend will always be penalized more heavily than attempting defense. See the full ruleset for more details.

Judging: Participating in judging is MANDATORY for this event as a competitor. Judges will only be focused on one fencer during a bout, and will only call points that strike that fencer.

Afterblow/halt timing system: A halt occurs when a strike is made and then one of the following occurs: fencers leave measure, another strike is made (to sword or body), or a grapple is initiated. Directors may also call halts for other reasons. Self calls are allowed and when done during active bouting will halt the action.

Written by Anthony Zavin

Ruleset Focus:

This tournament intends to test the defensive abilities of its participants in a non-compliant, martial context. Fencers will need to demonstrate intent to avoid and defend against their opponent in order to win. Gear requirements are the same as for IFG’s Tournament of Roses Longsword tournament.

Scoring:

Fencers will engage their opponents in bouts of five exchanges. Exchanges end when at least one fencer is struck. The winner of each exchange and points scored will be determined by the matrix shown below. Not all exchanges will result in a winner, as detailed by the matrix.

Definition of Defenses:

There are two ways in which a fencer can be struck: while attempting (and failing) to defend themself, and while not defending themself.

Attempted defense:

When attempting a defense, a fencer must either be attempting to use their body to avoid the strike or attempting to use their sword to defend against the strike. Examples of attempted defenses include but are not limited to: moving a hand or leg out of the way to avoid the strike, attempting a retreat out of measure, holding a guard that attempts to close the line to a strike, attempting to close a line while striking, moving to parry a strike, or moving to grapple the opponent’s sword arm to impede a strike.

No defense:

A fencer does not defend when the strike lands to a target that was not being defended in the ways mentioned above. Additionally, a fencer fails if their method of defense was impractical for the situation. Examples of impractical defenses include: Moving a body part away from but still in the path of a weapon (e.g. ducking away from a strike while still being in its path), attempting to grab a blade in motion towards the target, parrying to the wrong opening.

Definition of Scoring Actions:

• A scoring cut must be made with at least 30 degrees of rotation, good edge alignment and with force sufficient to cause a serious wound, should the target be unarmored and should the weapon be sharp.
• A scoring thrust must travel forward at speed before making contact with the target, with force sufficient to puncture should the target be unarmored and should the weapon’s tip be sharp.
• A scoring slice is one made with the sword firmly pressed into the head, body or hands/arms and traveling at least half the length of the blade or in a way that significantly moves the fencer.
• A scoring pommel strike is one made with at least six inches of motion to the front mesh (but not the top or sides) of the mask. Such a strike may be made while holding the sword with either one or two hands. Miming the ability to strike an opponent’s mask without landing the blow may be a scoring action. A pommel strike is a deep target.
• A scoring grapple is one in which a fencer establishes dominant position before the end of a period of five seconds (called by the director), beginning at the onset of the grapple. The determination on dominant position shall be decided at the discretion of the judging team at the end of the five second period. Examples include: grapples that result in the opponent being forced into a compromised body position, losing control of their sword in a way that the fencer can take advantage of, wrapping of arms, blade grabs, etc. Scoring grapples are considered a deep target.
• A deep target is the head and neck, from the clavicle upwards, and a scoring grapple.
• Shallow targets include the hands, arms, body below the clavicle and legs.
• Decisions on a strike’s martiality shall be made at the discretion of the judging team.
• One handed strikes are allowed but are subject to all conditions regarding quality. A fencer may not remove one hand from their weapon for an extended period of time, such as holding a guard, except to grapple.
• All martial strikes may be assessed to determine excessive force, with an emphasis on one handed strikes due to their inherent lack of control.

Structure of the Exchange:

• All exchanges will last for one minute, or until a fencer has been struck. Failure to strike within the minute will result in a double loss of the exchange.
• The event will be officiated by five officials: one director and four judges. Judges will be assigned a fencer at the start of the match, and will only call hits that land on their assigned fencer. Additional staff to keep time or score may be used.
• Any grapple will be allowed to continue for five seconds, with the director audibly counting the seconds. At the end of the five seconds, the director will call “halt!” If any scoring actions were seen during the five seconds, the judges will call “point!” If not, the director will resume the match.
• When a judge or the director determines a scoring action has been made, they will loudly call “point!”

• The exchange will continue until one of the following things happen:

• The fencers leave measure (more than one step is required to strike each other)
• A subsequent strike hits a fencer
• A subsequent strike is parried
• A grapple is initiated, or ongoing (a scoring grapple ends the exchange)
• One or both fencers leave the ring

• When a fencer determines a scoring action has been made on them that was not called by the judges, they may self call with a loud call of “point!” The ring director will call “halt!” immediately.
• Either fencer may self call a hit in ONLY the following ways:

• A fencer may only call a hit during active fencing when they were the one hit.
• A fencer may rule that they were hit when the judges rule no hit had been made.
• A fencer may rule that a hit they struck was made without quality or that they did not hit at all.
• The director will have the final say as to whether to accept the fencer’s judgment.
• Should a fencer self call a hit, they must also announce the target of the hit to determine scoring.

• The fencers must return to their side of the ring at the call of “halt!”.
• Judges will indicate score using a two step process: First, they will indicate whether their fencer was not hit, attempted a defense, or had no defense.

• No hit is indicated by holding their batons downward and crossed
• Attempted defense is indicated by bending the elbow at a 90 degree angle and holding one baton upwards, in the direction of the fencer that received the hit.
• No defense is indicated by holding one baton straight out towards the fencer that received the hit.

• Second, they will indicate target:

• No hit will remain with batons downward and crossed.
• To indicate a shallow target, the judge will point to the forearm with the baton not used to indicate a hit.
• To indicate a deep target, the judge will point to the head with the baton not used to indicate a hit.

• Judges must hold their batons in position until the director announces the winner (if applicable) of the exchange.
• In the event that judges disagree, the director will act as a tiebreaker.

Structure of the Event:

• Competitors shall be divided as evenly as possible into pools of four, five or six fencers.
• Each fencer will fence every other fencer in their pool for one match.
• The event organizers shall determine the order of matches, and ensure that each fencer fences in as few back to back matches as possible.
• Upon completion of pools, fencers will be seeded into an eliminations bracket based on total number of points won.
• Tiebreakers will be determined by the following criteria:

• Exchanges won per match
• Clean exchanges per match (a.k.a. exchanges in which the fencer was not hit)
• Number of penalties per match (lowest first)
• Random measure

• Eliminations will continue until four fencers remain, after which finals will begin.
• Finals matches are fought as normal, except each one will have seven exchanges.

Penalties/Disallowed Actions

Penalties System:

• The director may give penalties as they see fit, and are not limited to giving penalties for actions specifically mentioned in the restricted areas/disallowed actions list. However, directors will use the restricted areas/disallowed actions list as a framework to inform their issuance.
• Not all warnings are created equal, and some warnings may result in more severe penalties than others.
• The primary goal of warnings is to keep fencers safe. In an effort to avoid injury, the director may issue warnings more frequently or of more severity if continuous dangerous behavior is noted.
• A fencer’s second is considered an extension of the fencer, and the director may award penalties based on the actions of their second.

Restricted Areas/Disallowed Actions:

• The following are restricted areas that are not allowed to be struck:

• From the top of the ankle downward.
• The back of the head and neck.
• Pommel strikes to any target except the front mesh of the mask.
• The spine, all the way down to the tailbone.
• The groin.
• Strikes made to these targets will not result in scoring actions.
• Presenting any of these areas in a way that exposes them to strikes is also not allowed.
• Points will be awarded at the director’s and judges’ discretion in the event that a fencer clearly demonstrates ability to strike to a disallowed target, but does not make contact.

• While one handed strikes are allowed, a fencer may not remove one hand from their weapon for an extended period of time, such as holding a guard, except to grapple.
• Takedowns are not allowed.
• Mordhau strikes are not allowed.
• Arm bars, joint locks, chokes or any grapples that may cause harm are not allowed.
• Any strikes made with excessive force are not allowed, and strikes that land with excessive force are not scoring actions. The determination of excessive force will be made by the director, and judges will still call “point!” when they see contact made.
• Penalties may also be issued for the following:

• Strikes after a halt has been called.
• Repeated small offenses.
• Arguing with the director.
• Retaliation after a disallowed action.
• Failure to defend.
• Breaches of the code of conduct.
• Any other actions the director deems worthy of a penalty.

Tiers of Penalization:

• Tier one (Yellow Card):

• Verbal warning, no consequence.
• Actions that may result in a yellow card are those deemed to be breaches of the warnings guidelines that are not dangerous or excessive. Multiple yellow cards for the same offense may result in a red card.

• Tier two (Red Card):

• Loss of the exchange to the offending fencer.
• Actions that may result in a red card are repeated yellow card actions (throughout a single match) or those that are potentially dangerous or excessive.

• Tier three (Black Card):

• Forfeiture of match, expulsion from the tournament.
• Actions that may result in a black card are repeated red card actions (throughout the tournament), any actions that demonstrate a disregard for the code of conduct, or actions that injure an opponent.