BAM 6 RULESET

I. Regulation Weapon Choices

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All weapons are synthetic and will be provided by BAM.

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HEMA

• Sword and Buckler: 26–27 inch arming sword.

• Longsword: 36-inch blade (Two-handed).

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FMA

• Spada e Daga: Sansibar (26-inch) + Cold Steel Laredo Bowie.

• Twin Swords: Dual Sansibar (26-inch).

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JSA

• Katana: 28–29 inch blade.

• Note: Can be used in one or two hands.

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Fighters may change their weapon choice between matches.

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II. Officiating & Terminology

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Officiating Requirements

• Judges: Must actively fight regularly and at high intensity; ideally active or former competitors.

• Lead Judge / Ring Director: Must have extensive tournament judging experience and extensive coaching experience in Historical Fencing, FMA, or JSA.​

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Important Terminology

• Insufficient Contact (IC): A blow landed with no rotation, on the side, or flicked toward the opponent. Does not constitute a fight-ending blow.

• Flat hit / "Flat!": A blow with the flat of the blade (Insufficient contact).

• Tip/Tap: Contact that would not constitute a fight-ending blow (Insufficient contact).

• Weak: Not sufficient contact.

• Revenge Hit: A late afterblow made with excessive force to punish or intimidate.

• Faulted Double: A double hit that occurs when a party drives in with no respect for the opponent's weapon.

• Rule Gaming: Attempting to exploit a loophole in the rules for an advantage.

• Continue: Resume/Continue fighting.

• Hold: All action stops immediately.

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III. Scoring & Point Allocation

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Total points to victory: 9

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The Honor System (Elective)

Fighters may elect to call points FOR their opponent if they feel a valid blow landed on them, or "give back" points if they feel their own hit was not martially valid.

• Note: This is elective. Fighters are strictly prohibited from calling points for themselves or protesting calls.

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Valid Points

• Head: 3 points

• Weapon Arm: 2 points

• Torso: 1 point

• Non-weapon Arm or Legs: 1 point

• Controlled Thrust: 4 points (A thrust landed where the opponent's weapon is fully neutralized).

• Uncovered Thrust: 1 point (To head, torso, thigh, or bicep).

• Note: Thrusts below the knee or elbow are not counted.

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Miscellaneous Scoring

• Disarming an opponent: 3 pts.

• Ring out: 1 pt.

• Hand parry: 1 pt (or full target value if it prevented a cut to a superior target like the head).

• Standard afterblows: -1 pt deduction from the original valid hit.

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IV. Doubles & Penalties​

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Standard Doubles

• Worth -2 points to each fighter.

• After 3 doubles, the match ends (except in elimination rounds).

• In Eliminations: Doubles after the 3rd result in cumulative negative scores for the following round (-1 for each double after 3, -2 after 6).

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Faulted Doubles

Occur when a fighter launches a "suicidal" attack with no attempt to defend. The fighter who ignores the danger receives the penalty.

• Penalty: -6 points per faulted double.

• Limit: 2 faulted doubles result in an automatic match loss.

• Finals: 1st faulted double is -4 pts; 2nd results in Disqualification (DQ).

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V. Specific Rules & Fouls

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Longsword Specifics

• Both edges are valid.

• Two-handed use only, except when grappling.

• Dominant hand must be near the crossguard (no holding the pommel with one hand).

• "Gayslen" attacks are forbidden (Warning + major deduction; 2nd warning = Match loss).

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Forbidden Targets & Actions

• Prohibited Targets: Feet, back of the head, deliberate strikes to the groin.

• Spinning: Moves that deliberately expose the back of the head are prohibited.

• Hazardous Footwork: Desperate actions that leave you dangerously exposed or kneeling. May result in a warning or be scored as a 3-pt award to the opponent.

• Willfully Accepting a Blow: Accepting a hit without defending just to "game" the afterblow rule is a foul.

• Blade Catching: You may only seize a blade that is not moving.

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VI. Gear & Conduct

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Conduct & Uniforms

• Permitted: Club/Affiliation patches, National flags/abbreviations, Name, Rank, and Sub-team logos.

• Prohibited: Political symbolism, flags, or paraphernalia are strictly forbidden at the event and during official dinners.

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Protective Gear Requirements

• No exposed skin: Long pants and high socks are mandatory.

• Required Hard Armor: * Fencing Mask (with hard back-of-head protection).

  • Throat guard (Gorget).

  • Heavy Gloves (Hockey, Lacrosse, or HEMA equivalent).

  • Elbow, Forearm, and Knee protection.

  • Groin protection / Breast protection (women).

  • Mat shoes (Wrestling shoes or low-profile soft shoes with non-aggressive treads).

• Required Jackets: HEMA-specific light/heavy jackets, combat hoodies, or Arnis padded shirts.

• Not Allowed: Metal armor, full helmets (non-mask), LARP/Fantasy armor, sport fencing whites, or heavy combat boots.

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Thank you for reading. Fight at your best and enjoy!

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