Ansteorra HR Rules

[James Crouchet]

Here are the new rules. Have fun and be careful out there.

Don Savein, HR Marshal, Ansteorra

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ANSTEORRAN RULES FOR HEAVY RAPIER COMBAT

I. WEAPONS

A. BLADES - Rapier blades shall be practice schlager blades
with an oval cross section, hereafter H.R. blades. The blade end
must be blunt, the blade length must be at least 33" from base
to tip (not including the tang) and all blades must be at least
moderately flexible. Blades with a diamond cross section are
not allowed. No other rapier blades (foil, epee, etc.) may be
used against H.R. blades.

B. GUARDS/HILTS - The minimum guard for a rapier shall be a
simple crossguard. Swept and cage hilts are allowed.

C. TIPS - Approved tips are soft rubber rabbit or bird blunts
and test tube stoppers (size 00). A constructed leather tip may
also be approved for use by the marshalate on an individual
basis. A tip may not be made entirely of tool dip or tape,
though either may be used to attach a tip.

D. SECONDARIES - Secondary weapons allowed in H.R. shall
include ring daggers and those secondaries allowed in Ansteorran
Rapier Combat.

E. NON-STANDARD SECONDARIES - Non-standard secondaries shall be
governed by the Ansteorran Rules For Rapier Combat concerning
Non-standard secondaries.

II. ARMOR

A. STANDARD ARMOR - Armor as required by the Ansteorran Rules
For Rapier Combat shall be worn for H.R. Combat with the
addition of a gorget. The minimum gorget for H.R. Combat shall
cover the neck from above the adam's apple to below the sternal
notch, shall have no gaps that will admit an untipped schlager
blade and must otherwise meet the standards for a heavy weapons
leather gorget (see Participants'/Fighters' Handbook).

B. ADDITIONAL PROTECTION - Additional protective gear such as
elbow and knee pads may be worn if it does not impair the
fighter's ability to call a blow. Items that replace standard
protective gear, such as helms worn in place of a standard
fencing mask, must be approved by the marshals on an individual
basis.

III. VALID BLOWS

A. CALIBRATION - Calibration will be offered before each bout.
During calibration the fighters shall agree on the minimum
pressure required for a valid blow and the maximum amount of
pressure that may be used. Pressure should be sufficient to
allow fighters to easily feel a blow but should not cause undue
discomfort and may be limited at the discretion of the
marshals.

B. VALID TARGET AREAS - The entire body is a legal target with
one exception; thrusts that go through a cage or swept hilt to
hit a hand are not legal. It is legal to hit the hand if it can
be done without thrusting through the cage or swept hilt. This
prohibition against thrusting through the guard may be waived
if both fighters agree to do so.

C. CUTS - Draw cuts are the same as those allowed in Ansteorran
Rapier Combat except that only 3 inches of draw is required.
Push cuts and/or tip cuts are valid if agreed to by both
combatants during calibration.

IV. AUTHORIZATION

A. FIGHTER - A fighter must demonstrate the ability to fight
with H.R. blades in accordance with the Ansteorran Rules for
Heavy Rapier Combat to the satisfaction of two different
authorizing marshals on two different days.

B. MARSHALS - Marshals will be required to complete the H.R.
marshal training course before they are authorized to marshal
this type of combat.