Approved Equipment for Saber 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 Saber
All equipment above is required, in addition to the following:
- Heavy HEMA Gloves (Sparring Gloves, SPES, Koning, ProGauntlets, Superior Fencing, Etc). Lacrosse & Red Dragon Gloves explicitly not allowed.
- Heavy padded HEMA jackets.
- Shin protection is required.
- Forearm protection is recommended but not required.