Events: Conventions of Combat

Tentative Rules of the Lists
Conduct In Combat
The Use of Weapons and Shields
Acknowledgement of Blows
Major Alterations to SCA Rules

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V. ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF BLOWS

A. Judging Blows

When judging the effect of blows, all fighters are presumed to be fully armored. Special tournaments or combat may be held which may redefine what areas of the body are armored, and to what extent, so long as all the participants are made aware of the special conditions prior to the start of combat. If combatants have questions of blow calling it is often worthwhile to exchange calibrated blows for testing purposes. These calibrated blows should not be taken as an opportunity to put your opponents head in orbit.

1 . All “fully armored” fighters are presumed to be wearing a hauberk over a padded gambeson, with boiled leather arm and leg defenses and an open-faced iron helm with a nasal. The helm is presumed to include a very light chain mail drape, permitting vision and resisting cuts by the mere touch of a bladed weapon.

a) Under this standard, an acceptable cutting blow to the face would be lighter than to other portions of the head or body. Areas deemed illegal for attack (the wrists from 1” above the hands, from 1” above the knees and below) shall be considered safe from all attack.

B. Delivering Blows

Blows must strike properly oriented and with sufficient force, to be considered an effective, or good, blow.

1. An effective blow to the head, neck, or torso shall be judged fatal or totally disabling, rendering the fighter incapable of further combat.

2. An effective blow from an axe, falchion, mace, polearm, greatsword, flail or other mass weapon that lands on the hip above the hip socket, or strikes the shoulder inside the shoulder socket, shall be judged fatal or totally disabling.

3. An effective blow to the arm above the wrist will disable the arm. The arm shall then be considered useless to the fighter, and may not be used for either offense or defense.

4. An effective blow to the leg above the knee will disable the leg. The fighter must then fight kneeling, sitting, or standing upon the foot of the uninjured leg.

5. If a wounded limb blocks an otherwise acceptable blow, the blow shall be counted as though the limb were not there.

6. Intentionally moving a non-legal target into the path of a blow is considered target-substitution and should be counted as a blow to the intended target. Some incidental contact with non-legal targets in inevitable and should not be considered under this rule.

C. Nature of the Weapon

All fighters are expected to take into account the nature of the weapon being used by their opponent and the location of the point of impact of that weapon when judging the outcome of a blow delivered. Fighters are also expected to take into account the timing of the blow and the collision of the weapon with any other object other than the fighter's presumed armor.

1. The fact that a blow struck a shield or another weapon before striking the combatant may be a reason why the blow was not effective. However, a blow that strikes with sufficient force and proper orientation shall be considered effective, regardless of what it hits prior to striking the combatant.

D. Simultaneous Events

Sometimes a blow, which would normally be accepted, occurs at almost the same moment as an event that would cause the fight to be stopped (a “HOLD”, being called, the fighter throwing the blow being killed, etc.). If the blow was begun before the occurrence of the event that would cause the bout to be halted, it shall be deemed a legal blow and acceptable if of sufficient force and not blocked or deflected. If the blow was begun after the occurrence of the event that would cause the bout to be halted, it shall be deemed not legal, and need not be accepted.

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