Longsword Tournament

Longsword Tournament Rules 2025

Information’s about the tournament

Dear attendees, welcome to the event and at the Longsword tournament. The Semi-Finals will be at Saturday, at 16-17.00 in the sparring hall. Please be ready at this time. WE CAN’T WAIT.
Also, we will not wait for visitors. The tournament will start exactly at 16 o’clock. If attendees of the tournament are too late, they will be removed from the tournament.

1. Registration 

Register for the tournament when you register for the event, AT THE EVENT. Just tell us that you would like to participate in the tournament and you will be handed a numbered gadget for you to wear. This will make it easier for you to find you opponents, so please do wear it.

Registration for the Tournament will be able until Saturday 10 o clock a.m.
After the registration we will create a flipchart, where you can see who will fight who. This Flipchart will be at the windows before the sparring hall. Also, keep in mind that you are responsible for finding your own opponent and your own judges.

Feel free, to use the halls that are free. After your fight, write the winner on the flipchart. Continue this process until you get to the semi-finals. We will check the flipchart and keep it updated. The Flipchart will be available on Friday afternoon.

2. What’s allowed, and what isn’t 

Gear 

  • Both fighters need to use a steel Feder. Check the flexibility of your opponent’s Feder before the fight. In case of poorly matched Feder, borrow someone else’s or ask for one at the reception desk. We will gladly lend you a standard Feder, but please keep in mind: You break it, you buy it.  
  • You are required to wear a standard HEMA-mask, gloves and jacket. Everything else is optional. Safety gear must not be made of metal (except for the mask obviously). Forearm/elbow protectors or fencing jackets with included protectors are allowed. 

During the fight 

  • OK: Cuts, thrusts, strikes with blade or pommel.  
  • Punches, kicks etc. may be used in a pinch to open the opponent up for grappling or other follow-up attacks or to untangle during a grappling attempt by the opponent. Excessive/brutal punching, kicking etc. may lead to disqualification (judges’ decision!).
  • OK: Grappling and throws. A throw or sweep counts as a solid hit (i.e. three points in the elimination rounds), but ONLY IF the fighter who initiated the technique ends up in dominant position (standing or on the ground – judge’s decision!). If both fighters end up in a tangled heap, the fight is to be stopped by the judge, both fighters return to a standing position and resume from Zufechten. In this case, no points are given in the rounds prior to Semifinals and Finals. 
  • Not OK: Excessive punching, kicking, knee strikes, body blows (judges‘ decision), throwing your sword (no, not the pommel either). Any kind of unsportsmanlike behavior. Arguing with the judges. Not reacting to a stop call by a judge. Any of these may be grounds to be excluded from the tournament.

3. Tournament rounds 

3.1 Elimination Rounds (First Round) 

Elimination rounds start as soon as pairings have been decided. There will be a poster with the pairings on display between Hall 1 and Hall 2, so please keep an eye out!  

The Elimination Rounds are not moderated by Dreynschlag. Participants are required to find their opponents, a judge, and setting up the fight on their own. Please write the winner’s number and name legibly in the appropriate field for the next pairing, directly on the poster. If you can’t find your opponent, consider leaving a message for them on the big message board next to the Tournament roster. 

– Duration: 1 pass 

– Conditions for winning: First to score 3 points (1x head or 1x body or 1 clean throw/sweep or 3x arms/hands/legs) wins. A hit is called by the judge. A break is called after each hit. Double hits count for both contestants in this round – a double hit to the head or body therefore means both fighters get eliminated!  

3.2 Second Round / up to Semi-Finals: 

These rounds are not moderated either: Participants are required to find their opponents, judge (or judges), and setting up the fight on their own. Please write the winner’s number and name legibly in the appropriate field for the next pairing, directly on the poster.  

You will need only one judge, but can ask more than one person if you are so inclined. If there is more than one judge, one person needs to be named head judge. They will have the final say regarding hits, gear etc. Anybody can be asked to be judge. Please pick someone with enough fencing experience! The judge is REQUIRED to wear a silly hat. If you don’t have one, get one at the reception desk. We have …several lying around. 

– Duration: 3 passes  

– A pass lasts until a hit or a double hit, or until the head judge calls a break. 

– A clear hit in the first pass counts 2 points, any clear hit in the second and third pass counts one point, double hits count 0 points. All hits (regardless of where they land) are counted as 1 point. 

– Conditions for winning: The contestant who has scored more points by the end of the 3rd pass wins. If there is no decision after 3 passes, the fight continues until the next clean hit (no double) decides the fight. 

3.3 Semifinals and Finals 

This is where it gets exciting. The semifinals and finals will be fought during a fixed time slot (Saturday, at 16.00 – 17.00 in hall 1). They are moderated by Dreynschlag.

– Duration: The fight consists at least (see below) of two rounds, 2:00 minutes each (2 minutes break in between). 

– Fights do not get interrupted to call a hit, but a stop may be called at any time by any of the judges, for example to readjust safety equipment. Time taking will be stopped during such breaks. 

– Each Round starts from a “Zufechten”-distance (long distance).

– Conditions for winning: The winner is decided upon by a jury of judges (3). The jury, nominated by Dreynschlag, consists of experienced trainers/fencers with a good standing in the community. The judges are required to wear an extremely silly hat.

It is a “Continuing-Fighting-System”, so keep fighting until the time runs out. Your overall performance will be judged. So stay in the fight as long as possible.

Tip: watch your defense and your “Winden”. This will give you some extra credits. (Maybe)

You are encouraged to show off your Winden game, but you are free to use thrusts, strikes, cuts, arm wrestling, wrestling etc. No running away!

– the judges may call for a third round if they are undecided after the second round.
This optional third round can be fought under the rules for round one OR round two, as
to be decided by the judges. Duration: 2 minutes.

To decide upon a winner, the jury will consider: 

  • good distance management and “Zufechten”  
  • effectiveness and precision of a hit with edge or Ort  
  • situational awareness and overall control 
  • proper retreat. This means not getting hit within ONE tempo (one step and one sword movement (thrust, cut)) after one’s own hit. 
  • Overall activity/ dominance (or as a negative factor: inactivity) 
  • Effective use of advanced techniques and plays (disarms, throws, proper Winden, complex maneuvers that require setting up the opponent for the actual attack) 
  • Concerning double hits: The judges may decide that one hit is more effective than the other one (e.g. hit in the head vs. scratch on the arm).  They might also consider frequent double hits as a sign of poor distance & timing on one or both parts. 

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