winter ring
Steel Ring Academy LLC hosts the annual Winter Ring tournament in January or February each year at Bethel Church.
Winter Ring 2022 will be held on January 29th and 30th.
This two day event will include longsword and mixed weapon.
January 29th - 11 AM Steel Longsword OPEN
Registration and Gear Check 10 AM
January 30th - 2:30 PM Mixed Weapons
Registration and Gear Check 1:30 PM
STEEL LONGSWORD OPEN PRIZES:
Medals for 1st - 3rd Place Fighters
1st Place $200 Gift Certificate to Purpleheart Armoury
2nd Place $100 Gift Certificate to Purpleheart Armoury
3rd Place $50 Gift Certificate to Purpleheart Armoury
MIXED WEAPONS PRIZES:
Medals for 1st - 3rd Place Fighters
1st Place $200 Gift Certificate to Purpleheart Armoury
2nd Place $100 Gift Certificate to Purpleheart Armoury
3rd Place $50 Gift Certificate to Purpleheart Armoury
Cost:
Now through Jan 28th:
Choice of One Tournament $49 per fighter
Both Tournaments $59 per fighter
Day of:
Choice of One Tournament $59 per fighter
Both Tournaments $69 per fighter
18 AND OVER ONLY PLEASE
Registration is non-refundable, however a paid registration may be transferred to another fighter.
Signed waiver required for participation.
To register, please fill out the form below and include your telephone number, school/club affiliation (if any), and tournament choice (LS, MW, or BOTH). Payment instructions will be sent to the email address provided.
Winter Ring 2022 will be held on January 29th and 30th.
This two day event will include longsword and mixed weapon.
January 29th - 11 AM Steel Longsword OPEN
Registration and Gear Check 10 AM
January 30th - 2:30 PM Mixed Weapons
Registration and Gear Check 1:30 PM
STEEL LONGSWORD OPEN PRIZES:
Medals for 1st - 3rd Place Fighters
1st Place $200 Gift Certificate to Purpleheart Armoury
2nd Place $100 Gift Certificate to Purpleheart Armoury
3rd Place $50 Gift Certificate to Purpleheart Armoury
MIXED WEAPONS PRIZES:
Medals for 1st - 3rd Place Fighters
1st Place $200 Gift Certificate to Purpleheart Armoury
2nd Place $100 Gift Certificate to Purpleheart Armoury
3rd Place $50 Gift Certificate to Purpleheart Armoury
Cost:
Now through Jan 28th:
Choice of One Tournament $49 per fighter
Both Tournaments $59 per fighter
Day of:
Choice of One Tournament $59 per fighter
Both Tournaments $69 per fighter
18 AND OVER ONLY PLEASE
Registration is non-refundable, however a paid registration may be transferred to another fighter.
Signed waiver required for participation.
To register, please fill out the form below and include your telephone number, school/club affiliation (if any), and tournament choice (LS, MW, or BOTH). Payment instructions will be sent to the email address provided.
WINTER RING RULESET
The following are the procedures and rules we will be using for the combative tournament events for Winter Ring 2020
Fighters, Blue and Red
Arbiters
Judges - 3 - provided by us
Table - Point tally and timer, and track engagements, appointed
Proctor - 1 - specifically appointed.
Pit boss - 1 - specifically appointed.
Open Steel Longsword will be run in double elimination brackets for the entire event.
Mixed/Mismatched Weapon will be run in a double elimination bracket for the entire event.
General Applicable Rules and Terms
Fighters’ names will be called “on deck” and “in the hole”, they should make their way to the “on deck” area to wait for their bout. You must be fully geared while “On deck”. If you are called to the ring and you are not prepared you have 30 seconds to be in your place or you forfeit the match.
The Double-kill
The Double-kill occurs when combatants choose to strike simultaneously in such a manner that harm comes to both of them, the result is a Double-Kill. Judges determine a Double-kill based on the instant in which the fencers started their actions without regard for their opponent’s actions. It is irrelevant if there is a hair’s breadth difference in the timing of the landing of these strikes. The Double-Kill is characterized by the fencers’ shared decision to commit to unsafe actions. No points will be awarded for exchanges resulting in Double-Kills. Three Double-Kills in a match will end that match with zero points awarded to both fighters for the match.
A Ring Out - a forced ejection of a combatant across the ring boundary. Both feet must leave the circumference of the ring. Like a Double-Kill a ring out shows a lack of skill of swordplay in the bout. Where using intimidation out of the ring through force is a valid fight skill, in our tournament events we want to see more well executed use of swords rather than just people able to win bouts. No points will be awarded for exchanges resulting in Ring Outs. Three Ring Outs in a match will end that match with zero points awarded to both fighters for the match.
Failure to Withdraw (Successfully)
In the context of a tournament procedure, the withdrawal is only of concern after a scoring strike has been made. A fighter who strikes against an opponent, but then is struck during the tempo for his withdrawal may not score for the exchange. This is referred to as Failure to Withdraw.
ScoringMatch Scoring is conducted in a three-level evaluation pyramid, described as such to indicate that the score builds up as each level of the pyramid is awarded. Thus if the middle tier - Quality is not awarded, the Control point cannot be considered. The levels of the evaluation follow :
Contact Quality Control
If any judge sees an appropriate action (Contact, Ring-out, or Disarm), “hit” is called. The ring proctor orders hold, the scoring begins. As each level is evaluated the scoring builds. Scoring is conducted after each exchange.
Contact
Contact is defined by one fighter successfully connecting with his sword’s wounding edges or tip to his opponent fighter. There are multiple scoring actions:
Insufficient contact can be identified as contacting only the clothing of the target without the depth or momentum to effect an injurious strike, thrust, or slice against an opponent. Flat strikes may be used to position the blade for another attack, or to harass the opponent, but are not themselves sufficient strikes and should neither stop the motion of the fight, nor receive points.
Quality
Quality is defined by a deliberate edge strike, Pommel strike, slice or thrust connecting with an opponent in a clearly targeted and technically sound way.
Quality points can only be gained if the hit was made in the defined target areas, these areas are from the fencer’s mid-upper arm and up to the shoulders, the head, the torso, and the leg above the knee.
One-Handed Technique and QualityOne-handed techniques which are executed without control of the opponent's weapon, e.g. geisling and flying thrust, are capable of scoring the contact point, but not the quality point.
Note that there is a subjective nature to the quality point. The term “Technically Sound” should be considered by the fencers as an encouragement to conduct themselves with sound form.
Control
These bonus points are awarded when the scoring action is performed on an opponent who is unable to immediately respond due to intentional techniques performed by the scoring fighter. Control can include attacks from swords in the bind which trap or frustrate the opponent’s weapon, off-hand grapples which allow for an undefended strike, and slicing or pushing actions which unbalance an opponent prior to striking (the follow-on strike must still be performed).
Control is not awarded for striking an opponent who has missed wildly, fallen down, voluntarily turned their back, or has otherwise become ineffective through their own actions
The Judges must rule that the scoring fighter has actively controlled his opponent’s ability to immediately respond or defend himself with his weapon.
Examples of Control
Special Exception Points - Worth 3 points
Permissible, but non-scoring techniques
Control with multiple weaponsDue to the nature of two-weapon fencing, judges will not score Control points for exchanges where one weapon is used to pin the opponent’s weapon or weapons while another weapon strikes the opponent unless the pin is clean, decisive, and smartly executed.
Warnings/Penalties
If any Proctor or judge perceives that a fighter is acting unfairly, they will call a foul (indicated by a flag on head) on that fighter. Examples of unsporting behavior include:
Any fighter to receive three formal warnings over the course of the tournament will be eliminated from the tournament. Any warning issued to a coach is applied to that coach’s fighter.
Fighters, Blue and Red
Arbiters
Judges - 3 - provided by us
Table - Point tally and timer, and track engagements, appointed
Proctor - 1 - specifically appointed.
Pit boss - 1 - specifically appointed.
Open Steel Longsword will be run in double elimination brackets for the entire event.
Mixed/Mismatched Weapon will be run in a double elimination bracket for the entire event.
General Applicable Rules and Terms
- All fighters must register and pay for the events in which they are participating
- All fighters must have signed our liability waivers
- All participants will follow any rules or restrictions imposed by the Venue
- Park on south side of asphalt
- No alcohol on the premises
- Anyone at any time can call out to stop a dangerous or harmful activity
Fighters’ names will be called “on deck” and “in the hole”, they should make their way to the “on deck” area to wait for their bout. You must be fully geared while “On deck”. If you are called to the ring and you are not prepared you have 30 seconds to be in your place or you forfeit the match.
- The Bouts will be timed and have a limit of engagements
- 60 seconds, or 10 engagements to engage to attempt to earn points
- If 60 seconds or a tenth engagement passes, Match will be called
- Bouts are won at 7 points or the most points within the limits of time or engagements.
- The Proctor is there to control the ring and the fight
- Maintains safety and expedites point calls and table information
- Makes no engagement calls other than Grapple which will be confirmed by the judges
- Judges make calls for every engagement
- Will rotate positions around the ring between bouts thereby judging 3 consecutive bouts
- There will be a semaphore presented by the judges for each possible scoring tier which will be prompted by the Proctor
- Semaphores are symbols made by position of indicator flags
- Single points, Contact, Quality, and Control - all indicated by the flag extended straight to the appropriate side (red or blue)
- Failure to Abzug - One flag straight out to the side indicating the successful initial hit by the appropriate flag, the other flag straight up from the elbow on the opposite side to indicate the opponents hit that was within the fight tempo
- Double Hit - both flags extended straight out to the side
- No-Call - both flags crossed downward in front of the judge’s face
- Grapple -- Proctor’s call, no semaphore used
- Ring Out - both flags pointed at the fighter who successfully remained inside the ring.
- Disarm - appropriate colored flag pointed at the fighter who took the weapon. The flag of the disarmed fighter touching the shoulder of the extended arm
- Once all calls are made, the next engagement begins
- Semaphores are symbols made by position of indicator flags
The Double-kill
The Double-kill occurs when combatants choose to strike simultaneously in such a manner that harm comes to both of them, the result is a Double-Kill. Judges determine a Double-kill based on the instant in which the fencers started their actions without regard for their opponent’s actions. It is irrelevant if there is a hair’s breadth difference in the timing of the landing of these strikes. The Double-Kill is characterized by the fencers’ shared decision to commit to unsafe actions. No points will be awarded for exchanges resulting in Double-Kills. Three Double-Kills in a match will end that match with zero points awarded to both fighters for the match.
A Ring Out - a forced ejection of a combatant across the ring boundary. Both feet must leave the circumference of the ring. Like a Double-Kill a ring out shows a lack of skill of swordplay in the bout. Where using intimidation out of the ring through force is a valid fight skill, in our tournament events we want to see more well executed use of swords rather than just people able to win bouts. No points will be awarded for exchanges resulting in Ring Outs. Three Ring Outs in a match will end that match with zero points awarded to both fighters for the match.
Failure to Withdraw (Successfully)
In the context of a tournament procedure, the withdrawal is only of concern after a scoring strike has been made. A fighter who strikes against an opponent, but then is struck during the tempo for his withdrawal may not score for the exchange. This is referred to as Failure to Withdraw.
ScoringMatch Scoring is conducted in a three-level evaluation pyramid, described as such to indicate that the score builds up as each level of the pyramid is awarded. Thus if the middle tier - Quality is not awarded, the Control point cannot be considered. The levels of the evaluation follow :
Contact Quality Control
If any judge sees an appropriate action (Contact, Ring-out, or Disarm), “hit” is called. The ring proctor orders hold, the scoring begins. As each level is evaluated the scoring builds. Scoring is conducted after each exchange.
Contact
Contact is defined by one fighter successfully connecting with his sword’s wounding edges or tip to his opponent fighter. There are multiple scoring actions:
- The Three Wounders
- Strike An edge-aligned hew executed with the cutting edge of the blade.
- Thrust A point-first motion in the direction of the blade, normal to the surface of the target. Glancing thrust executed with a resultant bouncing,or carrouming motion away from the target are to be disregarded
- Slice A draw cut in which the blade executes an edge-aligned path over the opponent’s neck or torso.
- A strike deliberately placing the pommel to the opponent’s mask.
- A strike with the buckler, delivered to the mask, is a valid contact strike (as long as it is not done with excessive force i.e bending the shape out of the mask).
Insufficient contact can be identified as contacting only the clothing of the target without the depth or momentum to effect an injurious strike, thrust, or slice against an opponent. Flat strikes may be used to position the blade for another attack, or to harass the opponent, but are not themselves sufficient strikes and should neither stop the motion of the fight, nor receive points.
Quality
Quality is defined by a deliberate edge strike, Pommel strike, slice or thrust connecting with an opponent in a clearly targeted and technically sound way.
Quality points can only be gained if the hit was made in the defined target areas, these areas are from the fencer’s mid-upper arm and up to the shoulders, the head, the torso, and the leg above the knee.
One-Handed Technique and QualityOne-handed techniques which are executed without control of the opponent's weapon, e.g. geisling and flying thrust, are capable of scoring the contact point, but not the quality point.
Note that there is a subjective nature to the quality point. The term “Technically Sound” should be considered by the fencers as an encouragement to conduct themselves with sound form.
Control
These bonus points are awarded when the scoring action is performed on an opponent who is unable to immediately respond due to intentional techniques performed by the scoring fighter. Control can include attacks from swords in the bind which trap or frustrate the opponent’s weapon, off-hand grapples which allow for an undefended strike, and slicing or pushing actions which unbalance an opponent prior to striking (the follow-on strike must still be performed).
Control is not awarded for striking an opponent who has missed wildly, fallen down, voluntarily turned their back, or has otherwise become ineffective through their own actions
The Judges must rule that the scoring fighter has actively controlled his opponent’s ability to immediately respond or defend himself with his weapon.
Examples of Control
- Red binds Blue sword-on-sword, then thrusts down along Blue’s blade. Blue’s weapon is momentarily trapped in the action and cannot be used for defense or offense.
- Red kicks Blue in the chest and strikes at his head while Blue staggers back. In this example, the kick gains no extra points, but allows Red to earn points for Control.
- Red wraps his left arm around Blue’s weapon and strikes blue in the side or with the pommel or buckler to the mask.
- Red uses a “slice” to push Blue’s arms back or to the ground, then follows up with a strike to the mask or chest.
Special Exception Points - Worth 3 points
- A Grapple - The unbalancing of an opponent in a controlled grapple. The Proctor will conduct a silent count to four when a grapple begins. When that count concludes he will call “Hold” and ask the judges for the call. DO NOT THROW AN OPPONENT WITHOUT CONTROLLING THEIR FALL. Dropping an opponent without constraining the force of the fall is not permitted. No points will be awarded if your sword is released from your grip while trying to grapple your opponent.
- Disarm - Disarming an opponent by knocking or seizing his or her weapon out of his hands.
Permissible, but non-scoring techniques
- Kicks - Only "straight" kicks above the waist and below the neck are allowed. Kicks are not scoring techniques, but may be used to set up follow-on techniques (e.g., to gain a Control point), to create space, or to push an opponent out of bounds.
- Blade grabbing - is allowed provided the weapon’s energy has dissipated or the weapon is generally static.
- grabbing a blade immediately upon parrying is acceptable, but as it executes a cut is not acceptable.
- Grabbing a thrusting blade is acceptable provided the grab is performed in a fashion consistent with the thrust.
- Judges have discretion in determining whether a blade-grab has been performed or whether to score a hit against the grabber for the blade contact.
Control with multiple weaponsDue to the nature of two-weapon fencing, judges will not score Control points for exchanges where one weapon is used to pin the opponent’s weapon or weapons while another weapon strikes the opponent unless the pin is clean, decisive, and smartly executed.
Warnings/Penalties
If any Proctor or judge perceives that a fighter is acting unfairly, they will call a foul (indicated by a flag on head) on that fighter. Examples of unsporting behavior include:
- Excessive force, generally defined by a deliberate strike strong enough to cause actual bodily harm requiring medical attention (we understand that this is difficult, with overly light blows not being seen or scored by judges).
- Striking well out of tempo to land an “afterblow”.
- Continuing to engage after “Hold” has been called
- Failure to engage the opponent in fencing action, by judges’ discretion. If it is clear that one’s actions are clearly just intended to Dodge and run the timer out it may be deemed unsportsmanlike.
- Executing any Forbidden Action
- Deliberate attack to the back of the head, neck, groin, spine
- Pressure, strikes, or thrusts against the spine or larynx
- In Ringen am Schwert, grabbing only the neck or head or releasing your sword
- Throwing, pushing down or dropping your opponent
- Strikes or pressure on joints against their natural direction (i.e. joint locks at full extension, breaks, or strikes)
- Any strike deliberately made which prevents an opponent from continuing to participate in the tournament
- Closed-fist punches are forbidden. Open-palm strikes, "straight-arms," traps, are allowed (though non-scoring) hand/arm-based techniques. Fighters wearing metal gauntlets may not strike with their hands in any fashion; violators will be penalized.
- Striking with the cross of the sword is forbidden, including punching with the cross and “mortschlag” type techniques.
- Throwing the sword, buckler, or other equipment is forbidden.
- Intentionally striking a fallen or incapacitated opponent is forbidden. A fighter demonstrating that he/she is capable of striking a fallen opponent, however, may be awarded points at the Proctor’s discretion.
Any fighter to receive three formal warnings over the course of the tournament will be eliminated from the tournament. Any warning issued to a coach is applied to that coach’s fighter.