Approved Equipment for Rapier Tournaments

Approved Equipment for Tournament Participation at SoCal Swordfight

All of the tournaments are considered to simulate ‘blossfechten’. In the interests of promoting a professional HEMA image, and to encourage fighters to respect the weapon simulators, heavy armor (breast plates, etc.) or fantasy-styled armors are not permitted.

All protective equipment and weapons must be inspected prior to competition. A fighter must show up to gear check wearing their equipment.

The following equipment is required for all sparring tournaments:

• Masks with back of the head protection are required.
• Trachea protection that protects the throat from a direct thrust is required.
• Testicle protection is required.
• Rigid breast protection is recommended but not required.
• Hard elbow protection, that covers the 3 points of the elbow.
• Hard knee protection that covers the knee.
• No exposed skin will be permitted.

The equipment standards for the following are dictated by the weapon tournament:

• Gloves
• Jacket
• Shin/Forearm

All protective equipment and weapons must be inspected prior to competition. A fighter must show up to gear check wearing their equipment.

Protective Equipment - Specific to Rapier (& dagger) Tournaments

All protective equipment and weapons must be inspected prior to competition. A fighter must show up to gear check wearing their equipment.

All equipment from above is required, in addition to the following:

• Leather fencing gloves or equivalent are required for the hands. Padded gloves are recommended for the off-hand. 
• A protective torso garment is required. Examples include HEMA jackets (ie SPES/Lynx), padded gambesons, light fencing jackets, and quality maille (mail). Approval is at the discretion of the director. The garment should be made out of thrust-resistant material.
• Shin protection is not required but recommended.

Approved Weapons