Welcome to the third annual Glasgow HEMA Open, one of Scotlands largest HEMA tournaments.
As last year there will be two opens: As normal we will run a Steel Longsword Open, but our Singlestick Open will now be replaced by a Dussack Open. As last year we want to run a Womens Steel Longsword tournament if we get the number to do so.
Note: Some of the following information is subject to minor change without notice.
Tickets cost £40 to enter any number of tournaments.
All competitors should read our Terms and Conditions here.
Sponsors:
Caledonian Craftsman
The first of our sponsors we are happy to announce is Caledonian Craftsman, who will be providing a Dussack as the first place prize for the dussack Tournament..
You can find their website here: http://caledoniancraftsman.com
And like them on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/CaledonianCraftsman/
Sparring Gloves
Our second sponsor is Sparring Gloves, who have graciously provided a pair of their Mitten Gloves that will be our 1st place Longsword Prize.
As I'm sure you will have already seen they also recently released a new style of 5-fingered glove - the Infinity Gloves - which you can see reviewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNOplUraTlw
You can find their website here: https://sparringglove.com/en
And like them on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/Sparring-Gloves-335927113168223/
The Knight Shop
Our third sponsor is The Knight Shop, the UK's biggest HEMA retailer, who have provided medals for all and some nice vouchers for their shop which will go to second place in each tournament, just in time for Christmas.
You can find their website here: www.theknightshop.com
And like them on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/theknightshop/
Timetable:
09:00 - 09:30 - Registration
09:30 - 10:00 - Judge Briefing
10:00 - 13:00 - Dussack Open
13:00 - 13:30 - Break
13:30 - 16:30 - Steel Longsword Open
16:30 - 17:00 Prize giving and Closing Ceremony
Kit Requirements:
Dussack:
CEN 1 Mask
Padded Jacket (any HEMA jacket or a Fencing Coaches jacket) or forearm & elbow protection
Light glove for sword hand
Groin Protection (mandatory only for Males)
Dussacks 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.
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
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.
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 an opponents sword arm or their weapon as part of a grapple will also score points. If a fencer controls their opponent’s sword arm 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.
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, mutiren, abschneiden, or other ‘wow-ing’ moves. Commonly used techniques such as zwerhaw, zornhaw 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.
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
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 one fencer has a 5 point lead over the other, if this hasn’t happened after a total time of 4 minutes, the next successful strike, without a double or afterblow, will win the bout.
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.
Dussack 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
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.
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:
Grappling moves that take bot the opponents feet off the ground.
Striking an opponent once they have been thrown to the floor is 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.
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.