Following a break due to the coronavirus pandemic we welcome you to the fourth Glasgow HEMA Open, one of Scotland’s largest HEMA tournaments.
As last time there will be two opens: A Steel Longsword Open that has run every year of the open and a Steel Sabre/Broadsword Open, which we will be running for the first time.
Note: Some of the following information is subject to minor change without notice.
Early bird tickets are £30 and have been extended to 07/01/22 , after that the price rises to £40.
Both Opens are now full, though you may still sign up to the reserve list in case of cancellations.
All competitors should read our Terms and Conditions here.
Sponsors:
Coming Soon!
Timetable:
10:00 - 10:30 - Registration
10:30 - 11:00 - Judge Briefing
11:00 - 14:00 - Steel Sabre/Broadsword Open
14:00 - 14:30 - Break
14:30 - 17:30 - Steel Longsword Open
17:30 - 18:00 Prize giving and Closing Ceremony
Kit Requirements:
Steel Sabre/Broadsword:
CEN 1 Mask with back of head protection (full overlay is recommened)
Gorget
350N HEMA Jacket (this must be a jacket designed for HEMA and includes lighter jackets like the SPES Officer’s and Red Dragon Light, but not newton rated hoodies)
Joint Protection (Elbows and Knee)
Shin and Forearm Protection
Groin Protection (mandatory only for Males, recommended for all)
Steel Sabre or Broadsword, free from major damage and defects.
If using a Broadsword you must have a minimum of a light glove.
If using a Sabre, you must be wearing a minimum of Red Dragon Gloves or similar.
You may wear any additional kit at your own discretion.
Bare skin should not be visible once in full kit
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)
Shin and Forearm Protection
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, recommended for all)
Steel Feder or Longsword, free from major damage and defects.
You may wear any additional kit at your own discretion.
Bare skin should not be visible once in full kit
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:
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):
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.
Match Rules (Longsword and Sabre/Broadsword):
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 may be given a warning by the judges.
If a fencer presents illegal targets to the opponent, they may be given a warning by the judges.
Illegal Strikes:
Strikes with the cross guard are banned.
Grappling moves that take both the opponents feet off the ground.
Striking an opponent once they have been thrown to the floor is banned.