Approved Strikes & Prohibitions

1. Weapon Strikes
   1. A Strike is any contact to your opponent with a weapon including wrap shots to the back of the head and body.
2. A blow is a counted based on the calibration rules and counting blows rules.
3. A strike with a weapon to the face is counted whether open or closed face.
4. Punches, Kicks, Headbutts, and Sheild Punches (Disruption blows only and does not count as a point).
   1. Only metal on metal striking is allowed for metal gauntlets or basket hilts. Strikes should not be given with a metal pommel.
   1. Kydex ® or heavy plastic gauntlets or basket hilts may strike any legal target area.
   1. Shields / bucklers with proper edging may be used for striking an opponent but should not be substantial blows.
5. Prohibited Strikes
   1. No punches to the back of the head, neck, or groin.
   1. Intentional excessive force all areas of the body.
   1. Strikes against a helpless opponent (helm dislodged, armor break, after a hold or yield.)
   1. Striking any fighter on the ground if a non-grappling competition.
   1. Hammer fists/elbow strikes to the face plate of any fighter on the ground.
   1. Headbutts that come up under the faceplate/grill of the helm and could potentially contact skin.
   1. Archers may not be struck but must be a “soft kill” by laying the tip of your sword at the archer and declaring their death.

Face Thrust

1. A thrust with a weapon to the face is counted whether open or closed face.
2. A killing thrust should be a push enough to register.

Unarmored Combat	Light Armored Combat	Synthetic Weapons	Cut & Thrust Combat	Rattan Combat	Steel Combat
Not allowed	Light touch only	Allowed	Allowed	Allowed	Not allowed

Kicks

1. A kick is a disruptive strike and does not count as a blow.
2. Knee strikes are allowed to the legs and torso.
3. Front kicks to the torso are allowed.
4. Kicks to the legs (with the exception of intentionally targeting the knees) are allowed including kicks to the back of the legs from front facing or side only).

Unarmored Combat	Light Armored Combat	Synthetic Weapons	Cut & Thrust Combat	Rattan Combat	Steel Combat
Not allowed	Not allowed	Allowed	Not allowed	Allowed	Allowed

• Prohibited Kicks
  • Kicks to the back of the head, neck, back/spine, knees, and groin.
  • Kicks to a person on the ground.
  • Kicking up from a ground position.
  • At no time, may any combatant grab the head of another combatant for a Muay Tai style knee strike.

Death from Behind

1. Engagement is defined as eye contact between two combatants. Once engagement has occurred, a strike to the back or back of the helm is not considered a “death from behind”.
   1. If you engage by sight and pass your opponent, you may strike them upon the back within a reasonable time.
   1. Death from Behind does not include wrap shots during the course of a fight.
2. Fighters should be aware of all opponents on the field and understand that they may be approached from behind without warning. 
3. Death from behind shall be allowed by laying your weapon upon the opponent’s shoulder or placing your blade in front of their face and loudly declaring “Death from behind”.
   1. If your opponent does not respond to this declaration, you must declare again.
   1. If after the second declaration, your opponent does not respond, you may give a telling blow to the back below the shoulders and above the kidneys, or upon the buttocks.
   1. No substantial strikes may be given from behind.
   1. A response is given when the fighter disengages / yields by declaring loudly “dead”.
4. Fighters are prohibited from blind-siding an opponent and may not tackle from behind.
5. Death from the side must be a telling only blow at the maximum. Fighters are to be aware of their surroundings and from where enemy combatants may approach and therefore may be struck from the side, but not from behind.

Grappling / Assisted Take Downs

1. Grappling, strikes, and take downs are allowed upon the agreement of both fighters in a tournament list or as stated for melee combat in the Field Rules of the event.
2. The intent of this rule is to unbalance, disorient, or interfere with their ability to do battle.
3. Minors under the age of 16 may not participate in any of the following styles.

Unarmored Combat	Light Armored Combat	Synthetic Weapons	Cut & Thrust Combat	Rattan Combat	Steel Combat
Not allowed	Not allowed	Allowed	Standing Only	Allowed	Allowed

Grappling (Standing)

1. Grappling may be initiated and maintained against any weapon or any legal target with the exception of torsions involving any joint or the neck/head.
2. Submission locks and torsion holds are strictly prohibited.
   1. A full, half, or side mounted position is not considered a hold for the purpose of this rule.
3. There may never be more than three (3) combatants involved in a grapple.
4. Pushing with the shield is not considered grappling.
5. Trapping a weapon is allowed.

Grappling – Assisted Take Downs

1. In the event of grappling and an individual falls, this is not considered a take down.
2. You must guide your opponent down in a safe manner for a take down.
3. Once they are on the ground, any strike is elevated to the next level in the count (minor = telling, telling = substantial).
4. Take downs must be engaged face to face only.

Grabbing / Trapping Weapons

1. Fighters in full hand gauntlets may trap or grab an opponent’s weapon (exception Cut & Thrust allow longsword only). This is not considered a counted strike.

Prohibited in Grappling

1. No grappling / take downs in a non-grappling competition.
2. Neck holds, or pressure on the neck.
3. Torsion / twisting limbs/joints against the natural direction and other painful holds.
4. No hip throws, Supplex, torsion, or body slam/lift throws.
5. No take downs from the side of behind.
6. When your opponent is on the ground, the following is prohibited:
   1. Substantial strikes
   1. Shield strikes
   1. Strikes under the helm (upper cut)
   1. Strikes to the back of the head or neck