with Thanks to Matt Galas
adapted for the Historical Boffing Association by Steven Hirsch
These rules were used by a number of Fencing guilds in Belgium and Northern France from at least the 1540s to the 1700s. Matt Galas translated these rules and publicized them. Our thanks to him for his efforts. These rules have been adapted for our purposes. Techniques not allowed but which can be safely done with boffers have been included to allow a greater variety of historical technique to be used. Rules
Attacks
Legal attacks are:
- Cuts - swung attacks with the edge of the lower half (foible/schwech) of the blade which must be made with two hands on hilt
- Thrusts - with the point which cause the sword to bend
- Slices - attacks with the edge pressed against the target and pushed or pulled across the target which must be made with two hands on the sword
- Mortschlag - thrust attacks with the pommel
Attacks that are counted must be palpable hits which cause the weapon to bend or deflect away from the target.
Allowed grappling (corps-a-corps) is limited. Any grappling technique which endangers a players joint(s) or may bear the player to the ground are disallowed i.e. locks, bars, throws, sweeps, trips, and control techniques are not allowed. Any other ringen am schwert (wrestling at the sword) or schwertnehmen (sword taking i.e. disarms) technique is permissible. In the case of uncertainty as to whether a corps-a-corps techniques is allowed the player should assumed that it is not.
Legal targets for attacks are above the waist and above the elbow.
In the event of two hits the higher hit wins.
If a legal target is blocked by a disallowed target the attack is counted as if it hit the blocked target.
Participants are bound by honor conduct themselves appropriately. Players should clearly acknowledge all hits.
Conduct of the tourney
Each bout consists of a single pass played to one hit.
Each player will play until they have played or lost a number of passes as determined by the organizer.
A player who loses their weapon loses the pass. If a player falls to the ground the pass is played over. A player who lays a hand on barrier of the list loses the pass.
The winner of a pass becomes the 'king'. The king possesses the right of the after-stroke; the king may make an attack after being hit within a single tempo. The attack must be made with no more than one step, body and hand action. This attack is scored as usual e.g. a higher strike wins the pass etc. | 