RAPIER/COURTSWORD RULES-1988 -by Morgil en Tauro Andune, KSCA (PROPOSED RULES: NOT YET IN FORCE) (With thanks to Master Ioseph of Locksley and to all those I have crossed swords with, for their contributions to this endeavor) (As vetted and annotated by Ioseph of Locksey and Morgil) I-GENERAL 1- The standard by which all Rapier/Courtsword combat shall be conducted and judged is the standard of PERSONAL HONOUR. All combatants are expected to conduct themselves as honourably as possible at all times. If there are any questions concerning the Rules or Customs of Combat, the abiding standard shall be determined as the most honourable, safe and historically accurate possible. 2- Rapier/Courtsword combat is a privilege. Because we are using REAL STEEL, a Marshall has the power to recommend permanent cancellation of this privilege. II- ARMOUR/CLOTHING 1- Head protection shall be a standard three-weapon fencing mask or equivalent. A coif or equivalent shall be worn to cover the back of the head and the base of the neck. A "Rapier Helmet" or some other hard protection for the back of the head is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED. (note: minimum coverage shall be considered as two layers of denim) 2- The throat shall be protected by a heavy padded collar or gorget, or their equivalent. A gorget of heavy leather is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED. The neck will not become exposed in any position taken by the head. (note: minimum throat protection shall be 6 oz. weight leather) 3- The torso and arms must be covered by at least 6 oz. denim weight material, leaving no exposed skin. Padding for the torso, shoulders and elbows is SUGGESTED. 4- Female combatants shall wear breast protection. It should consist of heavy leather or padding, or an equivalent. Metal fencing breast protectors are STRONGLY RECOMMENDED. 5- An athletic cup or equivalent shall be worn by male combatants to protect the groin. 6- The legs must be covered by at least denim weight material,and padding for the hips and knees is SUGGESTED. 7- Light leather gloves, or their equivalent, AT LEAST, shall be worn on both hands, covering the entire wrist. Heavy gauntlets with padded cuffs are SUGGESTED. 8- Footwear shall consist of a minimum of light leather, and must have hard soles."High top" style boots with rubber soles are RECOMMENDED. III- WEAPONS STANDARDS (RAPIER ONLY) 1- Foils, sabres and epees may NOT be used in rapier combat. They tend to break too easily to allow realistic and historically accurate rapier combat to be done safely. Epees ARE used for "Courtsword" combat (see Courtsword Weapons Standards). 2- Theatrical combat blades, of the following description, are available commercially. These blades are the accepted standard for rapier combat in this Kingdom. Flexible enough to thrust with safely, these weapons are sturdy enough not to break in combat, and thus lessen the concern of jagged and potentially lethal broken blades. The oval blade is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED. length (tip to hilt) width weight cross section A- 35 inches 13/16 inch 5 1/2 oz triangular B- 35 inches 3/4 inch 9 oz oval (note: "A" is commonly called the "Musketeer" blade, while "B" is the "Slagger" or "Theatrical Rapier.") 3- The point of a weapon must have a firmly attached rubber archery "rabbit blunt," with rounded edges and no sharp points, or the equivalent. The actual metal point must be unable to penetrate the rubber tip.All nicks in the blade must be ground down. Blades must be in good shape, showing neither rust, nor pit marks, nor more than one gradual bend. 4- "Cup," "Cage," or "Bell" style hilts are encouraged as they provide the best protection for the hand. "Cross" and "Swept" hilts may be used, but heavy leather gauntlets are STRONGLY RECOMMENDED. Guards may not have any sharp edges or corners. 5- Daggers may be used both offensively and/or defensively, provided the combatant can demonstrate, to a Marshall, the weapon safe for either or both purposes. 6- Bucklers may be used for defense only, and shall be padded or rimmed in such a way as to not damage blades. 7- Cloaks may be of any size, weight, color or stiffness desired. They may be weighted, as long as the weights are padded as to prevent injury. Cloaks may not have rods, strips of metal, wood or other such material to stiffen them. A cloak may be used both offensively and defensively, provided it can be demonstrated safe for both purposes. 8- Anything may be used defensively, provided it can be demonstrated to be both safe and historically realistic. 9- Projectile weapons, except for cloaks, may not be used in a Rapier List. IV- WEAPONS STANDARDS (COURTSWORD) 1- Standard competition epees are the accepted weapon for Courtsword combat in this Kingdom, and are the ONLY accepted weapon for such combat. Foils and Sabres will NOT be used, and "rapier-legal" blades will NOT be used against epees. 2- The point on the epee must have a firmly attached rubber tip. All nicks in the blade must be ground down. Blades must be in good shape, showing neither rust nor pit marks, nor more than one gradual bend. 3- Standard fencing guards may be used. Long quillions or pierced work that might catch a blade will not be used. Modern "pistol-grips" will not be used. Guards may not have any sharp edges or corners. Period guards are available, for information on where to purchase these, contact your Marshall. 4- Parrying weapons such as daggers, bucklers, cloaks &c are NOT allowed in Courtsword conbat. 5- Projectile weapons may not be used in Courtsword combat. V- COMBAT RULES (GENERAL) 1- Combat shall be done in the round. 2- All attacks shall be executed and counted as if from a real weapon on an unarmoured surface. All areas of the body are valid targets, except the hands to the wrist. 3- All blows in Rapier/Courtsword combat are struck at about 1/4 of full force, and are focused on the surface of the target, but must be of realistic form and technique. Combatants need only make their attacks felt thru the armour/clothing of the opponent. Use of exessive force is grounds for loss of Rapier/Courtsword privleges. 4- A thrust to a vital organ, face, or throat results in victory. A cut to a vital organ, throat, major vein or artery results in victory. Remember: certain wounds, while not immediately disabling, will cause you to bleed to death in a matter of seconds. This is enough time for a dramatic and overacted death. 5- Attacks to limbs shall be treated as disabling wounds. 6- Pommelling is NOT ALLOWED. 7- If combatants lock, a hold shall be called to separate them. Wrestling is not allowed, in the interest of safety. 8- A thrust may be parried by the hand, arm, foot, &c but the blade may not be grasped. The blade may be parried at any point along it's length, including the opponent's wrist. This hand-to-wrist contact, as a parry, is the ONLY body-to- body contact allowed. If the hand alone is injured, the arm may still be used to parry. This rule (V-8) may be modified under "Optional Rules" below. 9- Specially REHEARSED demonstrations of rapier combat may include wrestling, &c, when it has been cleared with the Marshall beforehand, and is announced as a DEMONSTRATION. 10- A combatant may refuse combat with any weapon or combination of weapons ONLY if they deem it to be unsafe. 11- Any combatant being disarmed, or dropping a weapon, must be able to draw another weapon from his/her person or yield. NO HOLD SHALL BE CALLED. His/her opponent may exploit an earned advantage with no loss of honour. 12- For the sake of counting blows, Rapiers shall be understood to be double- edged, and sharp from hilt to point. Courtswords, while still double-edged, are sharpened only within 12 inches of the point, and are therefore primarily thrusting weapons. 13- Rapier Combat may consist of as many combatants as safe Marshalling allows, as it represents street fights and bar brawls in addition to the normal formal duel. 14- Courtsword Combat shall consist of only two combatants at a time, as it represents a formal duel. 15- Marshalls should advise combatants as to their observation of blows in question, but the final decision shall rest with the combatants. 16- Marshalls will call a HOLD immediately should a point be caught (bind) in anything (hilt, armour, clothing &c) and fighters will be aware that a HOLD is considered to be automatically called if a point is caught. VI- OPTIONAL RULES LIST (RAPIERS ONLY!) Note: all techniques covered under this list are purely voluntary. Both combatants must agree beforehand, and inform the Marshall of their intent to use any of these techniques. While these techniques may be used in a List, NO combatant will be forced to participate in these techniques if he/she believes them to be unsafe for himself/herself personally. A- BLADE GRABBING 1- The blade may be grasped at any point along it's length, except the tip. Should the hand come in contact with the tip, in any way, the grip MUST be released to avoid any chance of removing it and exposing metal. 2- A combatant electing to grab a blade shall be considered unharmed by this act as long as the blade remains motionless in the hand. If the blade slides thru the hand, in any way, the hand must be considered cut and disabled, but may still be used to parry. 3- A combatant may ignore a sliding blade if he/she chooses to wear a VERY HEAVY leather or mail glove, but still must release their grip should the hand come into contact with an opponent's tip. 4- Should both combatants' weapons become immobilized, a hold shall be called and the combatants shall be separated. B- GRAPPLING 1- A combatant may attempt to neutralize an opponent's attack by grasping his/her weapon arm ONLY, and ONLY if done in such a way as to cause or threaten NO INJURY. 2- Clothing alone shall not be grasped. 3- If both combatant's weapons arms are grasped, a hold shall be called and the combatants shall be separated. 4- If, at ANY time, a Marshall should consider a grappling attack unsafe, a hold shall be called. C- ARMOUR AS WORN 1- Combat shall be conducted with the idea that armour that would be "proof" against actual Rapier attack will be counted as such. 2- Only REAL armour shall be counted as "proof." Armour other than hekmets constructed out of modern lighter materials, such as plastics, shall NOT be considered "proof," as if affords an unfair advantage. 3- The option of "Armour as worn" will NOT be used in any competition list. VII- FIGHTER QUALIFICATIONS AND AUTHORIZATIONS ALL combatants MUST demonstrate proficiency in the use opf each weapon or combination of weapons PRIOR to being allowed to use it at ANY SCA event. This proficiency shall be judged by a Rapier Marshall. If the combatant is being observed by more than two Marshalls, a majority MUST agree on the combatant's proficiency. A list will be kept by the local Marshall, with copies being sent to the Principality and Kingdom Marshalls, of all authorized combatants within that local Marshall's sphere of responsibility. ALL other required notifications and paperwork shall be kept up to date by these Marshalls. ONLY A WARRANTED MARSHALL MAY SIGN AN AUTHORIZATION! A combatant will present himself/herself, armed with the weapon(s) theywish to qualify with, to the Marshall. The Marshall shall then inspect the combatant's equipment, and, if it meets the required standards, he/she is introduced to his'her opponent. This opponent should be armed with a weapon or combination of weapons similar to that which is being qualified, and will be an experienced Rapier and/or Courtsword combatant. For the first few minutes, the combatants are asked to spar at full speed, acknowledging blows verbally, but not counting them. During this phase the Marshall and observers shall be getting an impression of the qualifying combatant's footwork, co-ordination, stance, and parries. Then, if the first portion of the bout has progressed satisfactorily, the combatants are instructed to proceed "as if it were a point of Honour," counting blows until one is defeated. During this time the new combatant's aggressiveness, reation to blows, and ability to cope with stress is observed. This second phase maybe repeated as often as needed. After the bout, the Marshall, the experienced opponent, and any qualified observer shall confer to decide if the new combatant exhibits adequate performance in the minimum criteria for authorization, listed as follows: 1- RAPIER/COURTSWORD a- Does the combatant know and apply the rules and customs of Rapier/Courtsword combat? b- Does the combatant exhibit safe behaviour on the field, both for themselves, and others? c- Do they maintain proper stance? Do they parry properly? d- Does he/she avoid locking blades (Courtsword only) e- Is their offense adequate? Are their blows realistic in technique, but not overly hard? f- How do they react to pressure? Do they fight back, or do they get disorganized and confused? g- Is the combatant able to feel and judge blows, both given and received? Are blows acknowledged immediately? h- Is the combatant co-ordinated enough to keep from dropping the weapon repeatedly, and to they maintain their footing? i- Is the response IMMEDIATE to a call of "hold?" ( This should occur at an unexpected time during the qwualifying bout(s) ) j- Are they aware of the etreme danger of a broken blade, and of the necessity to FREEZE in place the instant of this occurrence? k- Is his/her conduct courteous and honourable? 2- RAPIER AND BUCKLER a- Is the buckler of a period design (ca. 1500 to ca. 1650) and formed to protect the opponent's blade? b- Is it used in a safe manner, without offensive moves at anything but the opponent's blade? 3- RAPIER AND CLOAK a- Is the cloak of acceptable design? Is it a period style? b- Is it used in a safe manner? 4- RAPIER AND DAGGER a- Is the dagger of an acceptable design? Is it a period style? b- Is it used in a safe manner? 5- OTHER COMBINATIONS a- Brace of Rapiers is qualified the same way as single rapier. b- Two-handed forms must retain the same safety precautions as single handed forms. VIII- MARSHALLATE QUALIFICATIONS 1- The Earl Marshall of the Kingdom shall determine who shall be qualified to be a Rapier/Courtsword Marshall. 2- A Rapier/Courtsword Marshall will: a- Have shown proficiency in all weapons combinations b- Have shown a consistent attitude for safety, and superior performance on the field in this fighting Art. c- Must demonstrate a knowledge of Rapier/Courtsword history, and must recognize, and use, realistic and period techniques. 3- Once a person is a Rapier/Courtsword Marshall, they may reccommend other qualified persons to the Earl Marshall, who need not conduct a test of their qualifications himself/herself. 4- There shall be persons known as "seconds." a- Their duty shall be to observe combat and advise the Marshall. b- They shall also insure that weapons, equipment, and combat does not endanger the Marshall, bystanders, combatants or other observers. c- Seconds shall be appointed as needed by the Rapier Marshall, and shall be qualified in Rapier/Courtsword combat. IX- MARSHALLATE REGULATIONS 1- There shall be NO Rapier/Courtsword List/combat unless there are at least one Rapier/Courtsword Marshall and two seconds observant on the Field. Each second shall have the majority of their attention focused on one combatant, as assigned by the Marshall, and should advise the Marshall of blows observed. 2- The Marshall shall have ABSOLUTE say on any question regarding a combatant's performance on the Field. If a combatant is cutting or thrusting improperly, or behaving in any way that is outside the Rules, Customs and/or Qualifications for Rapier/Courtsword combat, then the Marshall may elect to eject him/her from the Field. 3- The Marshall may revoke qualification for any weapon if he/she feels the combatant no longer meets minimum standards, and the combatant MUST re-qualify before two Marshalls before using that weapon again. 4- Revocations may be appealed to the Crown. The Crown's decision shall be final. *end* To the Earl Marshall: In re our telephone conversation, the following from Morgil, which has convinced me: 1) Single breast cups for ladies are in use in standard fencing. He sees no reason why we can't use them too. 2) Footwear must be heavier than you ask for, as he is concerned with stepping on people's feet in close situations. This is reasonable. Otherwise, as you read them both he and I approve. Please publish for comment in Southwind. 10/16/88 Ioseph of Locksley, OL OP &C Kingdom Light Weapons Marshall/Atenveldt *end*