SCORING (visual guide)

Direct contacts (worth 1 to 3 pts)

• Bodyshot (aka First Contact): 1 point

• Headshot: 2 points

• Counterattack: 3 points

• Clean or late contact: 2 points

Indirect contacts

• Always 1 point

Other scoring situations

• Simultaneous: 0 pts

• Messy/ambiguous exchange: 0 pts

• Out of bounds: 2 pts

• Headshot Priority & General Priority: 1 pt

• Concession: 1 pt

TARGET

• Anywhere on the fencer’s body, including head, legs, fingers, toes, clothing or armor, and the hilt of their weapon…

• EXCEPTION: the groin, regardless of gender or whether a cup is worn (is a cardable violation)

ILLEGAL MOVEMENTS & POSITIONS (visual guide)

• No point-attacks (ie thrusts)

• No Extended Point Positions (ie point-in-line)

• Incidental physical contact only

• No upward swings to anywhere below the waist

CAUTION

These moves are legal but the attacker must either moderate their speed, deliver an accurate percussive cut, or strike a well-padded or armored target such as the mask— as judged by the referee or tournament director.

• Breaking your blade

• Long sweeping attacks (chambered near or beyond 90 degrees, accelerating beyond the target area)

• Any attacks to the knees, shins, ankles, feet, and toes.

• Attacks to nonstandard armored/padded areas.

STANDARD PLAY AREA

• One 30 by 15 foot rectangle (30’x15’)

FIGHT TIMES, PERIODS, ROUNDS, & MATCHPOINTS

These may vary depending on the needs and design of any given tournament.

• Pool bout / sparring match:

  • First to 8 points or highest score after 2m0s

• Elimination match:

  • First to 16 points or highest score after 4m0s, fought in two periods.

  • Change period after the first fencer reaches 8 points OR on reaching 2m0s, whichever comes first.

• Semifinals / finals / championship match:

  • Best of 3 rounds, 10 points each, 2m30s each.

• 30s break and side switch between periods and rounds

EQUIPMENT

• See the Equipment Guide

REN SABER

• The quillons, as well as the entirety of the guard, are considered inert, and therefore can be used to block attacks.

• Indirect attacks that land on the hilt, gloves, or forearms over the quillons are considered blocked (usually as a result of the flexibility of the Lightspeed blade) and therefore do not score, are inert, and can be followed up with a counterattack by the defender for 3 points.

• The quillons may be used to hold the opponent’s blade and deliver a Direct Counterattack.

TANO SABER

• Two unguarded sabers maxing out at 9.5” hilt and 34” blade may be used concurrently for offense and defense.

• Only one saber may be used at a time to attack.