Thank you for the info. The confusion in the past was some people thought it provided to much protection. Twenty so years ago we took it out to stress the fact that the face took a much lighter blow. I have always gone with the open face, but I need a blow that makes it past my grill and I think has the force to cut and blind me. When I was fighting in Merdiris some 20 years ago a gentleman called me out because I didn't take a blow to my middle. When the Marshal talked to me it seems the individual pulled it back because I was a woman. He declared I should take it because he could of hit me. The Merdiris Marshall pulled me. I argued that could of is a Zen shot. How do I know someone "could of hit me hard enough". I am very good at dodging. I think I should have the chance to defect the blow or escape or do something to steal the force. Getting away is a skill of fighting as much as throwing a blow. 
Willow de Wisp