ECKY THUMP!

RULES

About Ecky Thump!

Ecky Thump! includes three distinct and unique categories based on (loosely) historical time periods. We are fully aware that we are playing fast and loose with history when assigning weapons to categories and by only allowing smallswords and rapiers to thrust. These distinctions facilitate a variety of fencing styles allowing for a fun tournament. And if it isn’t fun what’s the point?

A reminder that this is a officially considered a “semi-contact” tournament. We use appropriate PPE for each bout and excessive use of force will not be tolerated.

Each category will consist of a minimum of a 5 round Swiss-pairings tournament, followed by 2 semi finals and a final.

We aim to make sure that each competitor will have 5 fights in each tournament, with more available should time and numbers allow. Should time be at a premium, this may be cut down to 4 fights in each tournament.

Each fighter will begin the tournament with 20 “life” points. All fighters are expected to referee other fighters bouts wherever possible.

Please keep in mind that the tournament is open to a wide range of experience levels. Expect to cross swords with people entering their first steel HEMA tournament, or have someone judging your pool who is similarly limited on experience. Everyone should be patient and politely communicative with each other.


Target Rules

All bouts will be the first to 5 points. Doubles and afterblows count as fully scored hits.

For the purposes of this guide we will split the weapons into two categories.

Cut & thrust weapons at Ecky Thump! are longsword and federschwert, arming sword, messer, sidesword, dussack, basket hilted sword, sabre and spadroon.

Rapier, smallsword and colichemarde are considered thrusting weapons.

These distinctions are made to encourage different forms of tactical play and to draw a distinction between weapons for in order to make the event fun.

For cut & thrust weapons any head cut or thrust counts as 3 points, as does a thrust to the torso. A hit (cut or thrust) to any other area is 1 point.

For thrusting weapons, as the name suggests, they cannot score with a cut, only a thrust. Thrusts to the head or torso count as 3 points, any other area is 1 point.

Remember, you are scoring with the weapon that YOU ARE USING. Smallswords, colichemardes and rapiers cannot score with the cut, only the thrust.


Exchange Outline

Before the bout begins, the fighters will agree which weapons the bout shall be conducted with. Keep in mind that cut & thrust weapons score differently from thrusting weapons.

Any weapon may fence against any other weapon in your “historical” time period. For example, if the event starts with the “medieval” period, arming swords can fence against longswords. Longswords can fence against messer and buckler. Smallswords can fight against broadswords… At your own risk! (If your smallsword finishes with a wicked bend in it that’s at your own risk).

Each exchange will begin with the fencers in their corners and the referee and (if one is available) assistant referee in the other two corners. The referee will confirm that they are ready to begin, then call “Fence!”​ to begin the exchange. Upon observing a scoring hit, other scoring technique, or other reason to halt the match, the referee will call “Halt!”​or “Hit!”​. Both fencers must then cease offensive actions, parrying late attacks from the opponent is permitted but continuing to attack the opponent after halt is called is a foul. Continued attacks that occur after the bout can result in immediate dismissal from the event, please keep in mind that after the bout is halted consent is considered to have been removed and any offensive actions towards another fencer could arguably be considered assault, battery or actual bodily harm and can result in legal action being taken against any offending parties.

A fencer or their coach may also call “Halt!”​ if there is equipment failure or injury. These are the only reasons for calling “Halt!”​ by someone who is not a referee.

The referee will then consider the exchange. If unclear, he will consult the assistant referee, if still unclear he may consult the fencers for their recollection. He will then describe ​the scoring exchange, and the score ​resulting.  Examples:

  • “Cut to hand, no return. 2 points.”
  • “Attacked with thrust, fell short, hit to head, parry failed, afterblow late. 3 points.”
  • “Attack to hand, parried with thrust to mask, afterblow cut to leg. 3 points to 2, overall 1 point.”

Whilst we most certainly do not encourage matches to be silent (the aim of Ecky Thump! is for everyone to have fun) we take a dim view of people abusing the notion of “cornering” and using it as an excuse to berate, chastise, insult or intimidate fencers from opposing clubs. Offenders will be asked to leave the event immediately. We also will not tolerate Muay Thai style hissing/exhaling/audibily “scoring” your own clubmates “hits” on an opposing fencer in order to maximise the chances that referees pick up on your clubmates strikes and ignore your opponents.

Anything that aims to intimidate fencers, spectactors, or referees at the event will result in immediate dismissal. Anything that attempts to distort a referees perception of the bout will result in immediate dismissal. Anyone who steps up to compete is worthy of respect and we expect the fencing AND spectating to be friendly, inclusive and good natured.

If in doubt, replay the point! Remember that Ecky Thump is likely to be a first experience at refereeing for many as well as competing. There should be at a minimum three pairs of eyes on each bout (two fencers and a referee), usually four (two fighters, a referee and assistant referee). If no clear concensus can be reached, simply ignore the point and play it again. Please be polite at all times. No-one should be bullying, nagging or browbeating anyone, be they referees or fencers. A head referee is available who will be walking the hall throughout the tournament, they can step in to help out if required. Please, under no circumstances, listen to what spectators have to say about the bout, even if they were watching from the sidelines. Unless you are fencing or refereeing please keep your opinions and observations to yourself, unless you see something dangerous occuring.


Grappling

In order to score in a grappling situation, fencer needs to perform a hit with a blade or pommel, disarm or ring out. Due to the nature of the fencing environment (a wooden floor), throws and trips are not allowed. Kicks, joint attacks, joint locks and other submissions are forbidden. Wraps, grabs and actions that control the blade do not score in themselves, so be sure to follow on with a good cut or thrust. Deliberate kicks, punches, elbows, knees, and headbutts are banned and will result in immediate disqualification.

If grappling action lasts for a long time (roughly three seconds without clear dominance) without any of the opponents scoring a hit, or if either of the opponents end up on the ground (defined as having one knee on the floor in an uncontrolled fashion), the referee will call “Halt” and reset the exchange. The referee may also interrupt grappling at any time if they deem that it is becoming dangerous.


Scoring in the exchange

Only attacks with the edge or point of the sword score points, with the exception of smallswords, colichemardes and rapiers, where they only score with the point of the sword. Don’t punch with the guard, or hilt! Pommel strikes must be performed gently. All strikes must be executed in a controlled fashion. Incidental strikes, cuts with questionable edge alignment, very light cuts with the point and cuts made with a very small arc do not score. It is up to fencers to demonstrate “good” hits. Slicing cuts​ require the edge of the sword to move across the target area (pushed or pulled), with positive pressure onto the target. Thrusts must fix the point​ onto the target with positive pressure.

All swords except smallswords, colichemardes and rapiers score by cut, thrust, or slice with the blade. (Please note, we are aware that historically these weapons can cut to varying degrees, however the rules exist to make the tournament fun and provide a variety of different approaches to fencing). The referee may disallow hits they consider too minor to have any significant effect, but the goal of the rules is to discourage harder (and therefore more dangerous) hits as unnecessary and these may also be penalised at the referees discretion. Blade hits will score:

“Cut and thrust” weapons:

  • 3 points for a cut, slice or thrust made to the head
  • 3 points for a thrust to the torso.
  • 1 point for other valid hits (any cut/slice/thrust to a limb​ or cut/slice to torso).

“Thrusting” weapons:

  • 3 points for a thrust made to the head or torso.
  • 1 point for other valid hits (any thrust to a limb)​.

Other ways to score points:

  • 3 points for disarm. Disarming ​an opponent will score if the opponent’s control of the weapon is removed and control of one’s own weapon is kept, and grappling distance is broken.
  • 1 point for ring out. It ​will be scored when one fencer leaves the ring with both feet, and the other remains within the ring. If both fencers leave then both will lose 1 point.

The following targets are illegal, and are worth no points:

  • Back of the head
  • Spine
  • Groin
  • Back of the knee
  • Feet


After­blows and Doubles

All hits count as scores. Clean hits will score full points. In terms of doubles and after blows, they all score fully. But remember, this is a test of keeping lives as well as making points.

​
Fouls

Fouls may be incurred by:

  • Failing to obey ​or ignoring a referee’s instructions, including continuing to attack after a halt is called.
  • Hitting without control or with a level of force that is greater than is safe for your opponent.
  • Deliberately or negligently injuring an opponent (or dangerous actions ​likely to do so) ­ this covers not just banned techniques such as joint locks, but also uncontrolled strikes with the weapon.
  • Deliberately hitting illegal targets.
  • Throws, punches, kicks, heatbutts, elbows and knees.
  • Interfering with the conduct of the bout​­, calling halts without reason, repeated protests against referee’s calls without reason etc.
  • Unsportspersonlike conduct,​­ verbal abuse of opponents or officials, displays of disrespect etc.
  • Attempting to intimidate another fencer, whether you are fencing or spectacting.
  • Using vocal cues and noises in order to maximise the chances that referees pick up on yours or your clubmates strikes and ignore your opponents. This is relevant when spectating as well as when fencing.
  • Attempting to manipulate scoring by judging your teammates/friends/best buddies bouts and deliberately ignoring hits against them or excessively scoring against their opponent.

Referees are given wide powers of discretion​ in both deciding what is a foul and what punishment is appropriate. A more severe infraction (whether accidential or deliberate) will incur more severe repercussions. As a rough guide: accidental or procedural fouls (prolonged delays due to kit failures, repeated unfounded protests, a severe strike that was not intentionally so) will be given a warning, potentially dangerous or unsportspersonlike conduct will be punished by deduction of a point, and fouls resulting in actual or near­ miss injuries or obvious malice will be punished by forfeit of the bout (and potential expulsion from the tournament and event). Referee and event organisers powers range from minor warnings through to immediate expulsion, banning from future events, circulating information regarding poor behavior and potentially the involvement of the police should a severe, potentially criminal action occur. We ask that referees use their good judgement when deciding on fouls and punishments, and keep in mind that there is a difference between an honest mistake and malicious intent. If you are in doubt call the head referee for the day who will be walking the hall.


Protests and Discussions

If a referee has given their verdict after an exchange and a fencer disagrees with it materially, they may protest by raising a hand. They will then be given a chance to explain their version of events to the referee, who may in consequence discuss with the assistant and the opponent if they judge it necessary. A referee may also, of course, initiate such discussions on their own initiative. Note that abusing this to raise spurious objections to every point scored against oneself is very likely to be considered a foul as unsportspersonlike, disruptive or both.

Although we encourage conversation amongst fencers and referees, ultimately the referees decision is final. If the referee is in doubt and no clear consensus can be reached please go ahead and replay the point at your discretion, or call for the head referee.


Post Fight

If you run out of points, you’ll go into negative equity, but you will still fight your bouts. (We refer to this as you becoming a zombie fencer).

After 5 (possibly more timing dependent) fights, the main competition ends.

The top 4 fighters in each competition will then go into a semi final and final. 1st will play 4th and 2nd will play 3rd.


Awards

At the end of the tournament, awards will be given out for:

The fencer with the highest number of points remaining. I.e. the least dead.

Also, as with all of the above the tournament organisers have the final say in all things regarding the tournament.