This proposal, prepared for the first Swordplay Symposium International, is the result of research into the diverse combat systems in use throughout the world to govern the conduct of medieval swordsmanship. An analysis was also prepared, "Tournament Formats and Combat Systems: Internationalization in the Medieval Martial Arts" that reviews this material.

The International Medieval Alliance was founded in March, 2000 to establish an international tournament circuit, to foster cooperation between reenactment groups, and to work towards legitimizing the educational functions of relevant societies with various government agencies.

These rules represent the Company of Saint George's first-cut proposal for a rules structure that takes into account the very different traditions of Europe, North America, and Australasia. It must be stressed that these rules are preliminary; they must see adoption both with the IMA and with various sponsoring groups, at which point they will doubtless see modification as more experience is built.

As of the date of their publication--June 1 2000--these rules are incomplete, including only Divisions I and 2--armoured and semi-armoured combat formats. The other divisions remain to be worked through; this work is expected to see completion in time for the October

Please email the IMA or Brian directly with questions and suggestions! We hope to have these rules ready for presentation by the 2nd International Martial Arts Workshop, October 2000 (sponsored by AEMMA).

Charter
The practice of swordsmanship and other arts of war have long been of interest to individuals across a wide spectrum, be they re-enactors, members of combat or tournament societies, martial artists, fencers or stage choreographers. Amongst these practitioners some subset has pursued their art on the path to a more spiritual goal, the never-ending pursuit of the chivalric ideals. Through the development of essential skills and through the test of competitive combats, the individual’s character may grow and develop beyond the limited boundaries of the lists and extend into the world at large, thus improving the world if even a small amount.

Although chivalric combatants have a variety of traditions under which they practice their arts, members of the IMA observe that such combatants are bound by a common belief in the practice of chivalry that transcends differences in fighting style.

In an effort to help provide bridges between previously isolated practitioners of swordsmanship and medieval martial arts, and to foster increased crossover between the various groups that practice these arts, the IMA does hereby announce its intention to develop a set of international tournament combat guidelines.

Recognizing that many groups have established rules for combat that differ significantly, and recognizing also that each set of combat rules has different strengths and weaknesses, these guidelines propose a multi-divisional approach designed to allow tournament sponsors to select the most appropriate combat forms in support of their feat of arms.

These guidelines are only proposed as an opening standard, one that should evolve alongside the experiences gained as more “crossover” feats of arms are held.

These guidelines are NOT an effort either to remove or modify individual rules standards or to aggregate medieval groups into a monolithic whole, nor is it an attempt to favor the traditions of one region over another but is rather hoped to serve as a point of departure for future

Objectives

1. To encourage the safe practice of swordsmanship and to seek continual improvement in a way that encourages crossover between the many groups that practice forms of European Medieval Martial Arts.

2. To promote a continual improvement in authenticity with respect to equipment, techniques and the formats of medieval tournaments.

3. To promote chivalric conduct in the practice of medieval martial arts and in the arts themselves as a method of building character.

4. To encourage promotion of the educational components of the medieval martial arts, of living history and re-enactment, and for the chivalric ideals by individuals and member groups worldwide.

These rules are considered subordinate to any national, state, or local law and take these laws as their binding authority.

Any sponsoring group should be able to host a tournament using IMA guidelines as stated minimums, enhancing minimum requirements as they see fit.

The feat of arms can be a test of prowess and a test of character. A well-run feat of arms encourages excellence on both counts and it celebrates the whole spectrum of knightly virtue. Each sponsor celebrates the chivalric ideals differently; crossover combatants should endeavor to act in accord with the culture and values of the sponsoring group while also demonstrating their own beliefs so long as this practice does not interfere with the spirit or conduct of the day’s activities.

The Company of Saint George would like to encourage the setting of a tournament within a particular historical time period. Unfortunately a narrow historical window—which encourages cohesiveness of presentation that is the ideal of re-enactment and living history groups—also limits participation. The degree to which anachronisms are allowed also helps to determine those who can participate. Authentic equipment is unfortunately limited, so we recommend selecting a time period of no more than one hundred years, offering benefits to those who participate but not barring those whose gear is not yet up to standard, within reason. Blatantly modern equipment should be avoided or at the sponsor’s decision disallowed.

Whenever possible, tournaments should be held as a feat of arms in a medieval format. Experimentation and variation seem to have characterize medieval tournaments as much as they do today, and we hold that is a healthy state of affairs, though we encourage the use of historical models to guide efforts at medieval tournaments. Any of the combat conventions that are found in this guideline can be married with any tournament format to offer a compelling feat of arms that provides both a test of skill and of character.

By selecting the tournament format and combat standards, the feat can be encapsulated in the following manner:

“The Company of Saint George declares their intention to hold an armoured béhourd à plasiance in the form of the pas d’armes, with points, on the 23rd day of April…”

“The combatants of the De Liberi Fighting Salon do challenge their counterparts of the Schola Talhoffer to an armoured feat of armes fought with rebated weapons, to be held in the manner as set forth in the AEMMA guidelines for such encounters on the 8th day of July…”

“The household of the Green Knight declares their intention to conduct a semi-armoured tournament, with wounds, for the enjoyment of the populace at the North County Faire, just north of Kansas City…”

To run a tournament:
1. Define the historical period: The period you select will help to determine appropriate armour and weapons, as well as the tournament format itself.
2. Select a tournament format: Be sure that your tournament format applies to the historical period you select, or revise the historical period to support the tourney format you want.
3. Select a combat format: Generally this format will be the one the sponsor and expected guests know well, but experimentation is good so long as it is done safely.
4. Assemble the rules and options: Select the rules and options, quickly write them up into the tournament declaration that includes the time and place for the fighting, the historical period, armour and weapons variations, and additional components.  Publish these rules as appropriate.
5. Ensure pacing, focus and safety are observed: Keeping tournaments on track to Ensure that the rules are maintained, that the fighting moves along sufficiently to maintain interest, to keep the focus such that the feat doesn’t dissolve into a fighting practice, and that the fighting is conducted with safety as the highest virtue.
6. Reward virtue and prowess: The sponsor and experienced combatants should encourage combatants and chivalric acts as they are done. By celebrating the desired performance the combatant’s renown is enhanced and the virtues celebrated.
 

Sponsor’s Responsibilities
The tournament sponsor determines the tournament format, combat style, victory conditions and any combat variants to be employed.

Some groups have a well-defined set of policies and procedures with respect to the sponsoring authority, while others handle these responsibilities more informally.

Marshal Authority
Marshals are deputized by the sponsoring group to oversee safety and to ensure that combatant’s equipment meets the required specifications.

All major combat systems grant marshallate authority to officials who inspect and authorize combatants to take to the field, remove combatants from the field, and sometimes to see that fights are conducted in an organized fashion, as well as to maintain separation between the combatants and any spectators or unarmoured participants.

All combats must be overseen by at least one—preferably two or three—qualified marshals. Minimum qualifications for marshaling activities is significant experience in the combat form to be practiced. Marshals must approach their duties with a respectful demeanor, since they are to be held to the same standards as combatants with respect to chivalric conduct and

Marshals have the express authority to ban or remove combatants, or inferior/failed equipment from any given feat of arms. Combatants may be removed for lack of control, impairment or unacceptable conduct.

Under combats where blows are determined by the combatants, marshals may be asked for a determination of a specific blow by both combatants, at which point their judgment is final. Further powers in this regard are at the pleasure of the sponsor.

Judges Authority
Some marshals may also be given “judges authority,” which enables officials to determine the outcome of fights or to sometimes specific blows. This authority is by no means universal but is an option available to tournament sponsors to define as required.

Combatant’s Responsibilities

1. To act in a courteous and chivalric manner at all times.
2. To demonstrate and interest in and support safety measures in all fights and other activities.
3. To accept the authority of the marshals and the sponors.
4. To possess sufficient prowess and control to ensure safety of all combatants.
5. To be knowledgeable in the conventions of combat and rules guiding the conduct of the feat of arms.
6. To maintain equipment of appropriate authenticity, keeping the same in good repair.

Conducting Combat
Combat shall be conducted with a defined “list” area, separated from spectators by distance or by suitable barriers.

List Enclosure
A double fence—as pictured in Rene d’Anjou’s tournament book—is optimal. Since fencing is generally not available, two sets of ropes creating an “inner” and an “outer” list—at least six feet should be maintained between the fighting list and the outer list.

Public Control
Combats shall be conducted such that members of the gallery and spectators face minimal danger should a combatant fall, a weapon break or a child wander onto the lists.

Marshals should carry white batons and should be vigilant in watching for potential safety problems, crying “hold!” or “halt!” when such a situation arises, if necessary placing themselves between the danger and spectators in the hopes of avoiding an accident to an innocent party.

Ten feet is the recommended distance separating the nearest point of combat from any spectators.

Combat Competency & Qualification
Although the IMA adopts no initial proposals regarding competence and qualification, member groups are encouraged to extend one another mutual recognition for safety and qualification standards if the combat forms in question are similar.

Individuals seeking to participate as “crossover” combatants must be trained and competent in the weapons used.

Safety
Safety shall be the highest concern of all combatants, officials and sponsors.

Recognizing that there are different ways to approach safety, and that many re-enactment groups have substantial experience in the management of combat systems, these IMA guidelines hope to encapsulate this experience into various combat divisions.

Safety shall be the primary concerns of officials charged with marshallate authority defined below.

Suffient & Excessive Force

Sufficient Force
Blows should be thrown with force sufficient to accomplish the intended effect. In fully armoured systems sufficient force is intended to be rather stout, the armour taking some of the blow’s effect. In semi-armoured combat the blow calibration is regulated according to the kind of armour worn by the opponent. Blow trajectories might also be restricted. In unarmoured activities a touch is sufficient unless the weapons are padded.

Excessive Force
Blows thrown with excessive force that cause injury to an opponent should be considered cause for immediate removal from the field and from the tournament by the marshals, while blows that do not cause injury should be answered with a stern warning. Blow calibration will be different from locale to locale and it is the combatants responsibility to become familiar with local standards.

Combat will be divided into 5 divisions with a attempt to group combat styles according to similarities with

Division 1—Fully Armoured Combats on Foot
     1.1—Armoured combats with rebated weapons
          1.1a—combats à plaisance
          1.1b—combats à outrance
     1.2—Armoured béhourds with bâtons or wasters
          1.2a—combats à plaisance
          1.2b—combats à outrance
Division 2—(Suggested) Semi-Armoured Combats on Foot
     2.1—Semi-armoured combats with rebated weapons
     2.2—Semi-armoured behourds with bâtons or wasters
Division 3—Unarmoured Combats on Foot
     3.1—unarmoured combats with rebated weapons
     3.2—unarmoured béhourds with padded wasters (proposed)
     3.3—unarmoured Fencing
     3.4—unarmoured wrestling
     3.5—Children’s combat with “boffer” weapons
Division 4—Jousts & Equestrian Games
     4.1—Equestrian Games
     4.2—Jousting
Division 5—Archery
     5.1—Target archery
     5.2—Combat archery

The intent of these standards is to provide minimum standards governing crossover combats in the various forms. Sponsors may always add further restrictions.

In the case of fully armoured, semi-armoured and unarmoured combat, two broad groups of rule options are categorized; à plaisance and à outrance. Each option conveys a very different kind of fighting, though both are useful to experience a broad spectrum of fighting styles.

Combats à plaisance and à outrance
Combats à plaisance are “of peace” and are considered friendly tests of skill. This style is generally appropriate to encourage chivalric combats, but it also places restrictions on grappling, use of non-bladed components of a weapon, thrusting and legal targets. Unarmed combatants are generally not struck and are allowed to rearm.

Combats à outrance are “of war” and give a great deal more latitude with respect to target zones, thrusting, grappling, use of non-striking surfaces of the weapon, and attacking with the shield. Unarmed combatants may be struck. Note that ‘chivalrous’ conduct is expected even in fights of this nature; à outrance is NOT an excuse for discourteous or dangerous behavior.
 

DIVISION 1: FULLY ARMOURED FOOT COMBAT

Armoured combat is defined to be fighting that attempts to recreate foot combat between individuals encased in various forms of medieval harness. The supposition in these forms of combat is that the presence of armour provides sufficient defense to allow for more “full-contact” styles of fighting with either bâtons or rebated weapons.

“Fully Armoured” individuals are defined for the purposes of these rules as being combatants with a full helmet, all other main target zones to be covered with a minimum of mail over padding or rigid defenses.

Combatant’s Responsibility
The presence of armour does NOT absolve either combatant from the overriding responsibility for mutual safety on the field. Combatants are expected to bear the safety of their opponent in mind when delivering any blow and MUST pull or modify a blow if a reasonable person, trained in the martial arts, would see a danger in landing the blow with force.

Fully Armoured Divisions
To start armoured combat will recognize two subdivisions, “rebated weapons” forms of combat and “béhourd” forms. Note that the position of the IMA is that combat in each form emphasizes different aspects of medieval fighting, and that where appropriate combatants seeking to improve themselves in the medieval martial arts should compete in both forms.

Division 1.1: Armoured Combat with Rebated Weapons
This combat form was derived mainly from the new AEMMA standards. The objective is to create a division wherein armoured combat with rebated weapons can be safely practiced in a competitive tournament environment, recognizing that certain restraints on fighting forms must be practiced to maintain safe fighting.

This historical precedent for the use of rebated weapons generally follows the rebated weapons proposed in King Rene’s Tournament Book, though the use of rebated weapons in tournaments is well documented.

Division 1.2: Armoured Combat with Béhourd Weapons
This combat form was derived mainly form experimental Tournament Company rules used in the conduct of feats of arms, based originally on the more pervasive SCA standards but modified to reduce certain weaknesses in the older forms. Combat with bâtons and wasters is designed to allow fully armoured combatants to fight as close to “full out” as possible while sacrificing weapon dynamics.

The historical precedent for the use of bâtons in tournaments follows numerous written accounts of the béhourd  as well as being illustrated in tournament scenes throughout the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries.
 

DIVISION 1.1: Fully-Armoured Combat with Rebated Weapons

General Description
Armoured combat with rebated weapons is intended to facilitate competitive engagements by combatants who, bearing a full harness onto the field, intend to fight a full-speed, full-contact fight with rebated weapons against a similarly armoured opponent. The combat system as proposed by AEMMA is the baseline standard that was used to devise this proposed division.

Target Zones
Legal targets consist of any location on the body not formally restricted by the baseline targets, further restricted by the tournament sponsors, the Marshals, or the combatants themselves. All other zones are considered to be off-limits and may not be struck.

Baseline legal targets: Head, Neck, Shoulders, Torso, Hips (to exclude the groin), Upper and Lower Arm (to exclude the elbow, wrist and hand), and Legs (to exclude the knee and foot). Blows to the hands, wrist, elbow and knees shall be allowed as if they were unarmoured (see below).

“Armoured” target zones shall be comprised of any “legal” target zone defended by a minimum of mail over padding. All other “legal” target zones are considered to be unarmoured.

Blows
Non-telegraphed, full-speed blows may be thrown to any armoured location on the body not formally restricted by sponsors rule options or by mutual consent of the combatants. Blows may be thrown with any degree of force deemed safe by the marshals to any ‘legal’ target zone.

Blows to unarmoured locations must be thrown to a “touch” standard only—preferably landing with the flat. Whether or not they land flat they must be pulled and no force may be applied.

Forms of combat (options pre-packaged for convenience)
Armoured combats à plaisance shall consist of the baseline armoured combat standards. Blows to the hands, joints and lower legs are forbidden, as are all thrusts. Blows to the head are allowed, but blows to the head and face should be declared in advance by the tournament sponsor. There shall be no grappling, though an opponent’s weapon may be grasped if it is safe to do so. Strikes with the shield, hafts and hilts are disallowed. The default blow determination for combats à plaisance is by the combatants. Other restrictions are at the pleasure of the tournament sponsor.

Armoured combats à outrance shall consist of the baseline armoured combat standards. Blows to the hands, joints, lower legs, head are legal. The groin is considered unarmoured, but is a legal target. Thrusts are only allowed if declared in advance and if all equipment is in compliance with the special thrusting rules cited below. Grappling is allowed provided that the list field makes its practice safe. Grabbing an opponent’s weapon is allowed if it is safe to do so. Strikes with the shield, shafts and hilts are allowed. The default blow determination for combats à outrance is done by judges. Other restrictions are at the pleasure of the tournament sponsor.

Armour Standards for Fully Armoured Foot Combat
Head: The head shall be defended by a fully-enclosed, well-constructed and authentic helmet, padded appropriately to insulate the combatant’s head from shock under a full-strength blow. The helmet should also be worn on the head and any moveable parts secured in such a way that they cannot be easily dislodged in combat.
    o The occularia shall be no longer than 3” in width and no more than 5/8” in width.
    o For encounters where thrusting is allowed, no opening in the helmet should admit a rebated point.
Neck: There must be no opening to the neck region, including the upper vertebrae, collarbone that can admit a rebated point. Mail coifs or aventails should not allow direct contact with the spine, adam’s apple or carotid arteries. Plate bevors must  have some method to prevent the opening of the face or neck during combat to admit a blade.
Body: The entire torso must be protected with a minimum of mail over heavy padding, including the shoulders, excepting the armpits (unless thrusting is allowed). Plate or brigandine defenses for the body are strongly recommended. Female combatants must also defend the breast region with rigid defenses.
Arms: In addition to the mail/padding defense a rigid couter covering both bones is required. A plate alternative to the mail/padding requirement shall consist of padding with a fully-enclosed vambrace of rigid material, a couter that defends both points of the elbow, and a rerebrace long any portion of the upper arm not defended by mail or the shoulder defense.
Hands: The whole of the hands and wrist should be defended by mail over heavy padding, although authentic, rigid hand protection is strongly recommended. Hourglass cuffs are permitted though they do present a risk for blade entry at the wrist. Finger gauntlets should combine plates with padding to help reduce impact transmission. Where hand defenses are problematic from a historical precedent safety conceits should be well hidden.
Hips/Groin: The hips and groin must be defended by a padded gambeson or arming coat overlaid with mail and the equivalent of modern groin protection consisting of a cup and supporter for men or karate groin defenses for women.
Legs: In addition to the padding / mail defenses required for armoured combat, the knee must be defended by a poleyn to provide rigid protection for the knee. Cuisses and fully-enclosed greaves are highly recommended, and should be considered a requirement for combats à outrance.
Feet: No modern footwear should be evident. Sabatons of plate, scale or mail are highly recommended. Spurs should be worn only with caution—sharp roweled spurs should not be worn onto the field.

Weapon Standards
All weapons should be made from hardened and tempered spring or stainless steel.

Swords & Daggers
Only blunted daggers may be used in combat. Tips should be rounded to the width of a nickel and edges should be no less than 1.5mm thick. Swords should be 2mm thick at minimum with tips rounded to the diameter of a quarter.

One variant to be discussed is the possible addition of a ½” ball-bearing added to any point intended for use with thrusting. Perhaps the use of a ball-bearing to equal the size of the occularia (5/8”) would improve safety? Comments needed.…

Polearms
Polearms should be no less than 3mm thick. No surface on the head should be narrow to the point of entry into an occularia.  Thrusting points should feature a welded ball-bearing no less than 3/8” in diameter or be thickened to 5mm. The head must be mounted to the shaft in such a way that the marshals and opponent believe it will not come loose in combat. No polearm head shall have excessive weight. Shafts should be made of hardwood and should be no less than 1 ¼” in diameter.

Mass Weapons
Mass weapons (maces & axes) should have no edge less than 3mm thick. No surface of the head should narrow to the point of entry into an occularia. Thrusting points should either feature the rounded end or the ball-bearing option discussed earlier. Shafts should be of metal or hardwood and the heads should be attached in such a way that the marshals neither the opponent believe the head to be secure.

Shields should whenever possible be made from medieval materials, including steel, wood, leather and canvas. Aluminum, plastic and rubber components are strongly discouraged. Shield edges must be covered with leather or equivalent to prevent injury in shield-strikes.

DIVISION 1.2: Fully-Armoured Béhourds with bâtons or wasters
General Description
Armoured béhourds with bâtons or wasters are intended to facilitate competitive engagements by combatants who, bearing a full harness onto the field, intend to fight a full-speed, full-contact fight against a similarly armoured opponent. The combat system as proposed by the Company of Saint George building on the experience of the larger SCA system that governs the combat of over 20,000 combatants and the successful experiments culled by the Tournament Companies, with special credit to the Company of Saint Michael.

Target Zones
Legal targets consist of any location on the body not formally restricted by the baseline targets, further restricted by the tournament sponsors, the Marshals, or the combatants themselves. All other zones are considered to be off-limits and may not be struck.

Baseline legal targets: Head, Neck, Shoulders, Torso, Hips, Groin, Arm (to exclude the wrist and hand), and Legs (to exclude the knee, shin and foot).

For combats with bâtons or wasters no distinction is made between armoured and unarmoured locations; legal targets should be defended by appropriate armour consisting at a minimum of padding.

Blows
Non-telegraphed, full-speed blows may be thrown to any legal target location on the body provided that excessive force is not employed.Blows to un- or under-armoured locations should be pulled to avoid injury by the opponent.

Forms of combat (options pre-packaged for convenience)
Armoured béhourds à plaisance shall consist of the baseline armoured combat standards. Blows to the hands, knees, groin and lower legs are forbidden, as are all thrusts. Blows to the head and face are allowed. There shall be no grappling, though an opponent’s shafted poleweapon may be grasped if it is safe to do so. Strikes with the shield, hilt or weapon’s shaft are disallowed, though shield presses are legal. The default blow determination for combats à plaisance is by the combatants. Other restrictions are at the pleasure of the tournament sponsor.

Armoured béhourds à plasiance with points: Blows to any legal target zone shall be cried out; the fight can end when the requisite number of blows have been thrown, received, or upon another declared victory condition. Common to fighting within tournament companies.

Armoured béhourds à plaisance with wounds: Blows are acted out; wounds to the arms and legs result in the loss of the limb for the duration of the fight. The common “SCA” standard.

Armoured béhourds à outrance shall consist of the baseline armoured béhourd standards. Blows to the hands, joints, lower legs, groin, head and face are legal. Thrusting is permitted with appropriate weaponry. Grappling is allowed provided that the list field makes its practice safe and if the combatants agree. Grabbing an opponent’s weapon is allowed if it is safe to do so. Strikes with the shield are allowed if declared by the tournament sponsor. Blows with the hilt are allowed if the combatants so agree.  The default blow determination for combats à outrance is done by judges. Other restrictions are at the pleasure of the tournament sponsor.

Thrusting rules: Bâtons fitted with appropriately constructed thrusting tips can be used to thrust at any legal target zone with force. Thrusting with wasters is accomplished by gently touching the target with the tip, not by making a full-contact thrust. needs reworking

Armour Standards for Fully Armoured Béhourds on Foot
Head: The head shall be defended by a fully-enclosed, well-constructed and authentic helmet, padded appropriately to insulate the combatant’s head from shock under a full-strength blow. The helmet should also be worn and any moveable parts secured in such a way that they cannot be easily dislodged in combat.

•  The occularia shall be no more than 1” in width. Grilles are allowed provided that they are constructed from ¼” round barstock or equivalent. Except under unusual circumstances the occularia should have a raised stop-rib all the way around the opening.

• Perforated metal coverings for the face, of sufficient durability, may be used although the face is then considered to be unarmoured.

Body: Heavy padding is considered a minimum defense for the torso with rigid protection over the kidneys and solar plexus.  Female combatants must also have rigid armour covering the breast region.

Arms: The arms shall be defended with rigid defenses at the elbows. Vambraces and rerebraces and shoulder defenses are recommended.

Hands: The hands shall be defended by rigid protection, though padded defenses may be acceptable if the padding would reduce a full-force blow sufficiently to minimize the risk of injury.

Hips/Groin: While groin armour is not required, it is strongly recommended, especially in women. All male combatants must wear the equivilent of an athletic cup and supported while female combatants must wear the equivilent of modern a modern martial arts defense for the groin.

Legs: Only poleyns that cover the knee over padding are required, although cuisses of a rigid material are strongly recommended.

Feet: No modern footwear should be evident. Sabatons of plate, scale or mail are highly recommended. Spurs should be worn only with caution—sharp roweled spurs should not be worn onto the field.

Weapon Standards for combats a la Behourd
All weapons should be made from hardwood or rattan.  The tournament sponsor should indicate whether combats are to be conducted with wasters, bâtons or both.

Bâtons: All blades and shafts should be no less than 1 ¼” in diameter and must be made of rattan covered in duct tape. Thrusting tips should be constructed with foam to offer 2” of progressive give. No metal can be used in the construction of a striking surface. Edges must be plainly marked and all single-handed weapons must feature a lanyard.

Polearms must be padded and attached to rattan shafts that conform to the above standards. Add striking surfaces must be at least 1 ¼” in diamater and must offer sufficient give through the use of rubber, leather and/or foam.

Wasters: All blades and shafts should be no less than ¾” in diameter. Wasters should be made of an appropriate hardwood (hickory seems to work well) and need not be taped. No metal should be used in the construction of the waster’s blade. Wasters hit harder than bâtons and so more care must be exhibited in their use.

Shields should whenever possible be made from medieval materials, including steel, wood, leather and canvas. All modern bolts and edging should be camouflaged and all sharp points covered. The shield edges should be covered with leather and canvas; all rubber must be camouflaged.

 PROPOSED DIVISION 2: SEMI-ARMOURED FOOT COMBAT

“Semi-Armoured” combat is defined to include combatants who adhere to the “helmet and gauntlet” standards. Only helmets and gauntlets are required to take to the field, although many other elements are strongly recommended. Generally speaking semi-armoured combat entails the delivery of restricted blows in terms of  both targeting and in blow delivery—blows must be delivered in proportion to the armour at the strike point, sufficient force being defined such that the defender is aware of the blow.

The reason for the adoption of a middle-standard is the frequent use of this standard in Europe and Australia. In general this category allows strikes to the opponent as hard as the opponent’s armour will allow, but it sets very low minimums to take to the field. Blows are slightly telegraphed and are thrown through specified angles only. This division would attempt to account for the Early Medieval Alliance, Varangian, Interclub and NAAMA standards as published.

2.1 Rebated Weapons (based on EMA rules)
Combat with rebated weapons in a semi-armoured capacity follows the English EMA combat standards, where the angle of blows are restricted as are the available targets. The philosophy of this style of combat is to augment safety by telegraphing the blow slightly to give the defender a better chance of effecting a parry.

2.2 Behourd Combats (based on AEMMA rules)
Combat with wasters assumes padded armour with rigid defenses at the joints and a helmet (determine here whether or not the kettle-hat option will work).

DIVISION 3: UNARMOURED FOOT COMBATS

Unarmoured combat rules are intended to provide a mechanism for the conduct of tournament forms without extensive armour requirements. “unarmoured” does not necessarily mean that combatants are completely unarmoured, but rather than blows are thrown as if the combatants were unarmoured: a “touch” standard with rebated or béhourd weapons and contact allowed with padded weapons. Unarmoured combat such as this have been practiced within England and Australia for a long time. The present rules are based heavily on the Regia Anglorum combat standards.

Rules for medieval wrestling competitions and rapier combat are also intended for this division.
 3.1 Rebated Weapons (Regia)
 3.2 Waster & Padded Batons (HACA, Selohaar)
 3.3 Padded Weapons (HACA, Selohaar)
3.4 Wrestling (TBD)
 3.5 Medieval Fencing / Rapier (AHF baseline)
DIVISION 4: MOUNTED COMBATS & COMPETITIONS
     4.1 Jousting (Jousting Society America)
 4.2 Non-contact equestrian activities (TBD)
DIVISION 5: Archery
  5.1 Target archery (TBD)
  5.2 Combat archery (SCA, Varangian)