To facilitate the practice and study of historical armed combat in an unarmoured context.

• Insufficiently delivered (weak and/or poorly structured) blows will not be counted as “fair blows.” A thrust should be felt with positive pressure on the recipient. Percussive cuts should move through a minimum of 45 degrees of arc. Push and Draw cuts are made by placing and pulling the blade through the target for at least the length of 1/3 of the blade.
• Combatants will understand that a deed of arms is an opportunity to display skill and honor, not a venue to display brute power or ruthlessness.
• Excessive power in blows is brutality.
• Striking an unresisting opponent after the marshal calls hold or the opponent has backed away to acknowledge a blow is improper and likely to be deemed ruthless.
• All combatants recognize and acknowledge, regardless of their armoring choices and prior training, that unarmored combat is an active game that can result in injury. The choice to participate means that risk of injury has been voluntarily assumed.
• The conventions for fair blows unarmoured shall be:
  • Daggers strike fair blows against an opponent with point, edge, and pommel.
  • Spears strike fair blows with the point and butt spike.
  • Swords strike fair blows with the point, edge, and pommel.

We expect that - Weapons will be styled after historical models in materials and appearance within the bounds of safety.

We acknowledge that:

• Safety trumps authenticity. This is non-negotiable.
• All weapons shall be of types and styles from within the period covered by the scenario. Weapons will represent known historical analogs. Any weapon from outside this period may be forbidden, limited, or altered by the marshals or host.
• Sword and dagger blades should be steel, and purpose built for reenactment or HEMA type combat in an unarmored context
• Spear points should be thermoset or rubber and, in the opinion of the marshal and host, flexible and safe.
• Butt spikes on spears and poleaxes should be rubber blunts.
• Dagger, sword, and spear points shall be covered with a blunting cap such as hiking stick tips. Polymer daggers such as the ones made by Cold Steel are also acceptable.
• The minimum size for a weapon tip or blunt is 3/8″ by 5/8″.
• Spear and poleaxes should have hardwood shafts.
• The weapons in use may vary from the recommended forms and materials at the discretion of the host/presider and any such deviations should be announced to prospective combatants before the deed.

• No combatant will be compelled to fight with or against any weapon (or opponent) that he/she deems to pose an unacceptable risk.
• If the issue is a weapon, the combatant may simply express the wish to “not fight with that.” Reasons need not be given. The combatants should choose a different weapon.
• If the opponent is the issue, the declining combatant may do so by simply expressing a wish to “not have this fight.” Reasons need not be given. Other pairings should be found for the combatants.
• Any combatant may, without reproof, request a limitation of targets/blows struck due to lack of or inadequate armor or due to concern for a pre-existing physical condition.
• Bouts shall be completed when an appropriate conclusion is achieved. Herein is a list of historically based conclusions to deed of arms bouts.

General

• Protective will be a best effort analog of historical clothing.
• Discrete additions or modern reinforcements may be required.
• Combatants will have armor that fits well and is well maintained.

Head

• Modern fencing mask with rigid back of head protection, armored helmets with full face protection.
• Helmets should have a minimum 16-gauge skull and sides.
• Visors must lock, latch, or be buckled or tied closed and may not be able to be opened with a blow to the base of the visor or any other part.
• Any opening in the visor must not allow a 1/4″ x 1/2″ bar to enter unimpeded in such a way that the wearer’s face can be touched. Any other gaps in the helmet must not allow unimpeded access to the wearer by a 1/2″ square bar. Wider eye slots and other openings must be protected by perforated steel for safety. Pierced steel or perforated visors are acceptable.

Neck/Throat

• Solid neck protection for cervical area, clavicles, and larynx protection will be worn, regardless of its historical suitability for the armor style chosen. This will preferably be of period form such as a plate gorget or bevor.
• Neck protection may be impact resistant modern materials if such are concealed.
• A maille aventail alone is insufficient to protect the front of the throat.

Hands

• Rigid hand protection as used in HEMA competitions, Steel gauntlets either fingered or clamshell.

Body

• A torso and arm covering garment capable of resisting penetration of a broken blade. This will be at a minimum a 350 newton-rated fencing jacket, a garment of 3 layers of tight weave linen or shark mail.
  Safety trumps authenticity. Combatants are expected to wear modern elements of protection to provide a safety margin where historical kit does not.
• Modern Requirements include:
  
  • Groin protection (an athletic cup or “box”) for men.
  • Solid chest protection for women. A modern plastic fencing plastron worn under the arming coat or gambeson is acceptable when the combatant is not wearing a formed steel or other breastplate.

Shields

• Shield shall be made to the proper dimensions and weight of historical shields.

• The agreed upon number of fair blows have been struck. A “fair blow” is one which would score against the opponent with point, edge, or pommel.
• Five blows, in total, is a good number for well-paced bouts.
• Combatants will acknowledge blows received and acknowledge if they have been “Set” in a grapple.
• One combatant is driven from the field. If both combatants fall from the list at the same time, the bout is halted momentarily, and the combatants have returned to a standing position in the middle of the lists before combat resumes. If a combatant willfully leaves the lists, he/she is effectively calling for quarter and yields the bout to the opponent. This may be counted as ‘one fair blow’ or as a bout-ending victory.
• One combatant is disarmed of his last weapon. This may be counted as ‘one fair blow’ or as a bout-ending victory.
• Grappling is permissible by agreement of the fighters. Shoving and pushing are normal components of this form of combat and are baseline acceptable. Fighters may agree to fight to throws or to “Set” where one fighter believing they have structure to affect a throw will yell SET! The fighters will freeze in place and with the assistance of the marshals determine if a throw was possible. Fighters may agree to not grapple beyond the baseline pushing and shoving. Disarms are legal under all conditions. Seizing a weapon by hand is permissible to affect this. A blade that moves along the hand may be considered to have struck a fair blow as is grabbing a weapon tip.
• One combatant is thrown to the ground with the other in clear control of the situation, such as by remaining standing (a follow up blow to the downed opponent is not necessary or desired). If both are carried to the ground and one combatant does not immediately establish a position of dominance, the bout is halted momentarily, and the combatants have returned to a standing position in the middle of the lists before combat resumes. This may be counted as ‘one fair blow’ or as a bout-ending victory.
• Slipping or tripping is not considered a bout conclusion.
• One combatant achieves a secure bind upon the other.
• One Combatant is rendered unable to continue. This may come from injury, but it may also be declared if the chief marshal or the marshal in charge of the bout decides it is unsafe for a combatant to continue.
• One combatant calls for quarter and yields the bout to his/her opponent.
  Groups electing private conclave are encouraged to accept input from other fighters as to whom they considered deserving of praise.