In the second year of the Glasgow HEMA Open we will be working with the Glasgow University Historical Arts Society to deliver our biggest event yet.
As last year there will be both an Open Singlestick Tournament and an Open Steel Longsword, unfortunately we did not have enough sign ups to run a Womens Longsword Tournament - hopefully next year we will be able to. See below for more details:
Note: Some of the following information is subject to minor change without notice.
Registration has now sold out / ended. All competitors should read our Terms and Conditions here.
Sponsors:
More Sponsors to be announced
Sparring Gloves
We’re happy to announce that this year we will be sponsored by Sparring Gloves.
You can find their website here: http://www.sparringglove.com
And like them on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/Sparring-Gloves-335927113168223/
Aureus Swords
We’re happy to announce that this year we will be sponsored by Aureus Swords.
You can find their website here: https://www.aureusswords.com/
And like them on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/aureusswords/
Superior Fencing
We’re happy to announce that this year we will be sponsored by Superior Fencing.
You can find their website here: http://www.supfen.com/index.php
And like them on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/SuperiorFencing1/
Halfswording
We’re happy to announce that this year we will be sponsored by Halfswording.
You can find their website here: https://www.halfswording.com/
And like them on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/halfswording/
PBT Historical Fencing
We’re happy to announce that this year we will be sponsored by PBT Historical Fencing.
You can find their website here: https://pbthistoricalfencing.com/
And like them on Facebook here:
https://www.facebook.com/PbtHistoricalFencing
Neyman Fencing
We’re happy to announce that this year we will be sponsored by Neyman Fencing.
You can find their website here: https://neymanfencing.com/
And like them on Facebook here:
https://www.facebook.com/neymanfencing/
SPES Historical Fencing Gear
We’re happy to announce that this year we will be sponsored by SPES Historical Fencing Gear.
You can find their website here: http://histfenc.com/
And like them on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/SpesHistoricalFencingGear/
Caledonian Craftsman
We’re happy to announce that this year we will be sponsored by Caledonian Craftsman.
You can find their website here: http://caledoniancraftsman.com
And like them on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/CaledonianCraftsman/
Timetable:
09:00 - 10:00 - Registration Opens
09:30 - 10:00 - Judge Briefing
10:00 - 12:30 - Singlestick Open
13:00 - 16:00 - Steel Longsword Open
16:00 - 17:00 Prize giving and Closing Ceremony
Kit Requirements:
Singlestick:
CEN 1 Mask
Gorget
Padded Jacket (any HEMA jacket or a Fencing Coaches jacket)
Light glove for sword hand
Groin Protection (mandatory only for Males)
Knee Protection
Singlesticks will be provided
You may wear any additional kit at your own discretion.
Steel Longsword:
CEN 1 Mask with back of head protection (full overlay is recommened)
Gorget
350N HEMA Jacket (this must be a jacket designed for HEMA, excluding jackets like the SPES Officer’s and Red Dragon Light)
Joint Protection (Elbows and Knee)
Heavy Gloves (For example Sparring Gloves, SPES Heavy Gloves, Koning Gloves etc. NOT Red Dragon Gloves or any other Lacrosse style glove)
Groin Protection (mandatory only for Males)
Steel Feder or Longsword, free from major damage and defects.
You may wear any additional kit at your own discretion.
Head Judges and Event organisers will have final say on whether kit is suitable or not, if you are in doubt please contact us before the event starts and we may be able to advise you.
Tournament Rules:
Universal Rules:
The following rules apply to all tournaments at the event, unless otherwise stated.
Doubles and Afterblows:
Double hits will be any hits that strike simultaneously
Afterblows will be any hits that land in a short space of time after a first hit landed, or before ‘Halt’ is called.
If an afterblow or a double hit happens, the lower score will be subtracted from the higher score and remaining match points will be awarded. All afterblows and double hits will be recorded.
Ring outs:
All ring outs will be considered unsafe behaviour and will therefore be penalised.
If a fencer willingly steps out of a ring (with a part of their foot) they will receive a penalty of -5 match points in the bout for a lack of spatial awareness.
If a fencer physically pushes their opponent out of the ring they will receive a penalty of -5 match points for unsafe behaviour and may also be given a warning by the judges.
Throwing swords:
Throwing a sword at an opponent is illegal and will result in disqualification from the tournament.
Dropping a sword to the floor when entering a grapple will not be penalised, however it should be performed with spatial awareness
Warnings
Warnings will be given at the head judge’s discretion for all unsafe or inappropriate behaviour (including but not limited to):
Pushing an opponent out of the ring
Throwing a sword at the opponent
Lack of control (hitting the floor, blows landed after ‘Halt’ called, etc.)
Unsportsmanlike behaviour (showing frustrated or angry reaction, excessive swearing)
Suicidal fencing (consistently ignoring incoming attacks, attempting to double etc.)
All warnings will be issued at the Head Judge’s discretion, repeated offences may result in disqualification.
Progression into eliminations:
Each match win will be worth 3 progression points
Each match draw will be worth 1 progression points
Each match loss will be worth 0 progression points
Each technical excellence point will be worth 1 progression point
Your second, and each subsequent warning will be worth –1 progression point
After all pools fights finish, the two fencers in each pool with the lowest overall afterblows and doubles will be rewarded with 2 progression points.
The eight fencers with highest progression points will proceed into the elimination round.
If a tie between fencers progressing into eliminations happens, the outcome will be determined by the highest score in the following order: most technical points, least doubles/afterblows, least warnings, most matches won.
Eliminations and Finals
Elimination fights will be the same as pool fights, with the following exceptions:
Warnings will warrant -2 match points
Technical excellence points will warrant +2 match points and can now be awarded more than once during a bout
If fencer’s scores are at tied when the match time runs out, the match will continue until ‘sudden death’.
Final fights will be same as the elimination fights, with the following exceptions:
Match time will be extended by 60 seconds to 210 seconds
The point cap will be removed.
Singlestick Rules
Each match will take 150 seconds or until one of the fencers reaches 15 match points
Cut to the head or neck: 5 match points
Cut to the rest of the body: 3 match points
Illegal targets:
The following parts of the body are considered illegal targets: feet, back, back of the head, off-hand.
If a fencer strikes an illegal target, they will be given a warning by the judges.
If a fencer presents illegal targets to the opponent, he will be given a warning by the judges.
Use of the off-hand:
As previously stated the off hand is an illegal target.
The off-hand must be held behind one’s back or on their hip for the duration of the fight.
If a fencer attempts to use the off-hand (grapple, cover...) they will receive a penalty of —3 match points.
Illegal Strikes:
Any thrusts are banned. A fencer that attempts a thrust will be given a warning.
Punches and Pommel strikes are banned.
Steel Longsword Rules:
Each match will take 150 seconds or until one of the fencers reaches 15 match points
Cut or thrust to the head or neck: 5 match points
Thrust to the torso: 5 match points
Pommel strike to mask: 5 match points
Cut to the rest of the body: 3 match points
One-handed cut or thrust (when not controlling the opponent’s blade): 1 match point
One-handed cut or thrust (when controlling the opponent’s blade): full points for target area awarded
Draw cuts, or slices only count when performed against the neck or forearms. Missed thrusts against the body will not be considered draw cuts.
Only cuts and thrusts supported by good body mechanics and edge alignment will score points, at the judge’s discretion.
Grappling:
All successful grappling techniques will be worth 5 match points.
Throwing or tripping an opponent is allowed, although any throws which lift the opponent off the ground (i.e. any suplex or double-leg takedown) are banned.
Judges may choose to penalise any fencer who throws their opponent in a way that is deemed unsafe or if they throw their opponent with excessive force.
As per ring-out rules, any throws which throw the opponent out of the fighting ring are also banned.
Throws will only score points if the fencer remains standing on their feet. Any throw that results in both opponents falling to the ground will not score points.
Fencers do not need to complete a throw to score points. If a fencer off-balances their opponent, dominates a grapple or otherwise clearly shows that they could have thrown their opponent, they will score points.
Striking an opponent once they have been thrown to the floor is banned.
Controlling both of an opponent’s arms or their weapon as part of a grapple will also score points. If a fencer controls their opponent’s arms or weapon with one hand while maintaining free use of their own weapon in the other hand, they do not need to strike their opponent with the sword to gain points, but only need to demonstrate control or dominance over their opponent.
Disarming an opponent will also score points, but points will only be scored if the fencer wilfully and purposefully disarms their opponent, or otherwise clearly demonstrates that they could strike their disarmed opponent. An opponent simply dropping their sword will not result in points being scored by itself. Fencers may choose to drop their weapon to gain an advantage in a grappling situation and will not be penalised for this.
Joint locks or manipulation are banned.
Illegal targets:
The following parts of the body are considered illegal targets: feet, back, back of the head.
If a fencer strikes an illegal target, they will be given a warning by the judges.
If a fencer presents illegal targets to the opponent, he will be given a warning by the judges.
Illegal Strikes:
Strikes with the cross guard are banned.
Grappling moves that take bot the opponents feet off the ground.
Striking an opponent once they have been thrown to the floor is banned.
Technical Points:
Technical excellence points will be awarded at the head judge’s discretion to any fencer that performs an impressive technical feat (disarming the opponent, using half-sword, mutiren, abschneiden, or other ‘wow-ing’ moves. Commonly used techniques such as zwerhaw, schillhaw etc. will not award technical excellence points). During pools one excellence point can be gained per match by either fencer. Both fencers can score technical excellence points in one match.