GUIDELINES FOR INTERCLUB COMBAT
*as agreed by the meeting of combatants at the Sixth Australasian Mediaeval Conference at Cataract, NSW 1991, with amendments from Glenfield, NSW 1993, Brisbane, Queensland 1995, Geelong, Victoria 1997, Bacchus Marsh, Victoria 1999, Macksville, NSW 2001, Porepunkah, Victoria 2003, Nagambie, Victoria 2005, Dunghaven, NSW 2007, Castle Mountain NSW 2009, Dunghaven NSW 2011 and Dunghaven NSW 2013 for use at the biennial conference and other interclub events at the discretion of the host body. They evolved from the discussions started at the Macquarie Conference in 1983.
Other versions of the rules are in the order of last use:
- Current combat rules.
- Annotated version of the current rules including changes made by the Conferention organisers for Dunghaven, NSW 2013.
- Dunghaven, NSW 2013
- Dunghaven, NSW 2011
- Castle Mountain, NSW 2009
- Dunghaven, NSW 2007
- Unused version of the rules including changes from the State of the Movement meeting at Nagambie/Herns Hill, VIC 2005
- Nagambie/Herns Hill, VIC 2005
- Porepunkah, VIC, 2003
- Unused version of the rules from the State of the Movement meeting Bowraville, NSW 2001
- Bowraville, NSW 2001
- Rowsley, VIC 1999
- Sokil, VIC 1997
- Brisbane, QLD 1995
- Glenfield, NSW 1993
- Cataract, NSW 1991
- Castle Mountain, NSW 1987
An alternate set of rules is used by the New Varangian Guard Incorporated at their events. The NVG combat rules can be found on http://www.nvg.org.au/.
These rules have been superseded by the rules at http://www.coppergate.com.au/conferention/combat/combat.shtml.
Table of Sections
Schedule 1 - List of Restricting Acts by State
Addendum A - Guidelines for Projectile Weapons - NSW Rules
Addendum B - Guidelines for Projectile Weapons - Victorian Rules
1 Application
a) Combat will be organised either by the combat sub-committee of the Conference Association or as displays by individual clubs. The former is referred to as "organised combat" and the latter as "display combat" for the purposes of these rules. "Non-organised combat" (impromptu combat organised by individuals or clubs) may also occur and is bound by the same rules as organised combat unless otherwise agreed by the marshals.
b) These Guidelines shall be applicable to all organised and non-organised combat and all combatant displays, and shall be construed subject to the Constitution and By-Laws.
c) In any place where these rules are found to be either insufficient or indistinct, common sense should prevail.
2 Structure
a) Organised combat shall be divided into two types: those with head blows and those without. An announcement will be made regarding the type of combat by the marshals, immediately prior to each combat.
b) Organised combat will occur only in defined areas. Each of these areas will be defined as a "field of combat".
c) A marshal's meeting shall be held with club training personnel prior to combat to clarify any rules in question. The marshal representing each group will then be responsible for answering the questions put forward by the group.
d) A marshal's area will be set aside so that non-organised combat can be reported to and cleared by the marshals. Non-organised combat will occur only with the approval of the marshals.
3 Requirements
a) Only those safe in a weapon may employ that particular weapon in combat.
b) Weapons will be inspected by the marshals from the respective clubs before combat; all sharp edges, hooks, spikes and rust must be removed.
c) No sharp or pointed weapons are permitted on the field of combat.
d) No weapon of any type, such as maces and flails, banned under state legislation shown in Schedule 1, may be used in any capacity in any combat under the auspices of the Association unless a valid permit has been obtained and presented to the marshals for inspection.
e) No combatant will be admitted to the field of combat under the influence of alcohol and/or any other perception changing and/or performance enhancing drug or medication. Further, no alcohol or aforementioned drugs shall be taken prior to or during combat.
f) All combatants should have current tetanus and hepatitis immunity.
g) Any bleeding combatant must leave the field of combat immediately and not return until the wound is covered and the bleeding stopped.
h) No person may join a combat once that combat has commenced.
i) No person is required to give a reason for refusing to fight any other person.
j) At any point during combat, a combatant, marshal or any other participant may call:
"HOLD".
All combat will cease immediately and the combatants shall await instructions from the marshal.
4 Marshalling
a) Marshals will be nominated by each individual club from their most experienced members, and will be easily identified by a distinctive tabard and armbands. Their power will be:
- to start and finish the combat;
- to stop the combat for reasons of safety, or to intervene to stop dangerous action taking place;
- to calm combatants or to request that they modify their behaviour;
- to require that dangerous combatants or equipment be removed from the field.
b) There will be a minimum of four marshals for each organised combat.
c) All combatants will follow the instructions of any marshal. The marshals shall have complete control of all organised combats.
d) Each marshal shall carry a whistle. All combat will cease immediately the whistle is blown and the combatants shall await further instructions from the marshal.
e) All disputes in combat will be resolved by the marshal. Discussion on any decision will be left until after the combat.
f) Marshals are non-combatants and will not be touched or struck with any weapon.
5 Protection
a) Minimum protection of a helmet, gauntlets and period clothing or padding, equal to at least one layer of good wool plus a linen shirt must be worn during organised combat. Protection is left to the participants in display combat.
All combatants will be required to have all target areas covered by the above minimum protection. This excludes the lower leg as it is not a target area but does include the forearm and head. Shoes are also required.
b) There will be two categories of protection for non-display combat:
Non-Armoured - Regarded as wearing no armour.
This category includes combatants wearing gambesons and similar padded armour. A non-armoured combatant shall accept all blows regardless of their potential force.
Armoured - Regarded as wearing mail.
This category includes combatants wearing mail, scale or lamellar. An armoured combatant may only accept blows to the body that have substantial potential force (ie. that are delivered with long sweeping strokes). An armoured combatant need not accept glancing, slicing or flicking blows.
For all other periods of combat, armour will be assumed to protect the wearer from harm exactly as it would in the period in which it was worn.
c) Protection for the chest and mouth is recommended for all warriors. Groin protection such as a cricket box for all combatants and rigid breast protection for female combatants is mandatory.
6 Blows
a) No blows are to be aimed at or below the knees, at the groin, head, spine, joints or hands, except where qualified below. No weapon may be used in a thrusting manner to the shaded areas on Figure 1.
b) All blows connecting with opponent must be fully under control and slowed in such a way that upon striking your opponent you will not injure them. Grappling is permitted only if blows are fully controlled.
c) A blow delivered to the crown of the head shall be deemed the only legal head blow. No stab or thrust may be delivered to this area. Spears and other stabbing weapons may not be used in this manner.
d) Any combatant that receives a "killing" blow shall immediately fall to the ground and shall not participate in further fighting for the duration of that combat. No "dead" or "dying" combatant may be struck with any weapon.
e) Any legitimate blow to a limb shall be deemed as incapacity or loss of the limb, depending on the type of weapon and type of blow. Combatants may continue to fight, but should avoid using the part that has been struck.
f) Loss of helmet due to poor design, breakage or deliberate removal counts as immediate "death".
Prohibited Target Areas
Figure 1
Click on graphic for a larger view.
Melee Weapons Annexure
a) The maximum length for a spear used in combat will be 2.7 metres.
b) All weapons with metal edges shall meet the following requirements:
- metal edges shall be rounded to a minimum diameter of 1.5mm;
- metal points shall be rounded to a minimum of 20mm diameter (same size as a 5 cent piece)
Schedule 1
On advice, I've deleted the table of controlling acts as it was out of date.
Prepared by Wayne Robinson,
Gasmules Society (Formerly The Australasian Mediaeval Conference Association
Incorporated)
Last Updated 21 April 2007
Hosted by Coppergate Technology