Equestrian:Activity - Rossfechten - Conventions - Acknowledgement of blows

Acknowledgement of blows

Valid blows

1. In judging blows, you are presumed to be wearing thin clothing, such as unpadded linen, and your opponent's weapon is extremely sharp on point and edge. Any blow that would have penetrated the skin, in your judgment, is valid. Kingdoms are not allowed to alter this standard.
2. Your mask or helm represents your unprotected face and head. A blow that strikes your mask or helm must be treated as though it struck your unprotected head.
3. An effective blow (also known as "a valid blow") is defined as a blow or strike which was delivered with effective technique for the particular type of weapon used, with proper orientation of the striking surface.

Calibration (How hard do we hit each other?)

1. You must deliver all blows with control, with the aim of delivering the lightest blow that your opponent judges to have penetrated the skin (a "valid blow").
2. Blows intended to deliver force more than is necessary for acknowledgement are not allowed.

Effects of blows (What happens when you are hit?)

1. A valid blow to the head or body is considered a disabling or killing blow
2. A valid blow to the upper arm renders the arm (including the hand on that side) incapacitated.
   1. You may switch your weapon to the other hand and ride "on the belt" (i.e. no hands) only if the horse can be controlled in this manner. The reins must be looped or secured to ensure they do not fall and become entangled in the horse's legs.
   2. If your horse cannot be safely ridden on the belt, you must yield.
3. A valid blow to the lower arm or hand renders the hand unable to hold a weapon or the reins.
   1. You may choose to ride with the reins in the crook of your elbow or on the belt (i.e. no hands) only if the horse can be controlled in this manner. The reins must be looped or secured to ensure they do not fall and become entangled in the horse’s legs.
   2. If your horse cannot be safely ridden with the reins in the crook of the elbow or on the belt, you must yield.
4. If both hands are incapacitated and you have not been dealt a killing blow, you must yield.

Calling blows

1. When you are struck with a weapon, responsibility for acknowledging a blow as "good" is with the person receiving the blow, not the person delivering the blow.
   1. If you believe that a strike was not valid (e.g. flat of the blade, not on a legal target), you should immediately inform your opponent.
   2. If you are uncertain, you may ask for information from your opponent or the marshal.
2. If you are hit with an effective blow, you must indicate it clearly with words and/or motions. Examples: saying "Good arm!" and putting your arm down by your side or behind your back to show it is disabled, or saying "Dead!" and raising your weapon over your head sideways to indicate death or defeat.
3. For counted blow tournaments, when you receive an effective blow, call out the number. Once the maximum count has been reached, indicate you are defeated clearly with words and raising your weapon over your head sideways.
4. Tournaments use active marshaling.
   1. Combatants are expected to call blows on their own awareness (consistent with standard SCA combat conventions), with clarification by the marshal.
   2. The marshal serves as referee, starting and ending bouts and counting well-struck blows, calling out valid blows as needed.
   3. A marshal calling a blow valid or invalid is not intended to question the honor or chivalry of the combatants. In the moment in combat or due to numerous factors, a marshal may need to step in to provide clarification to ensure the historical focus on techniques used.