Tournament Goal

The goal of the Summer Stabbin' Longsword tournament is to both showcase and help develop skill in utilizing the longsword for the purpose of stabbin' Tournament rules and judging standards are meant to advance fundamental skills, focusing on thrusting mechanics into antagonistic sparring. 

Illegal Actions

• All illegal actions from the SoCal Swordfight 2026 General Tournament Rules apply to this tournament, including but not limited to: lack of control/excessive force, high amplitude throws, or anything else that has a high chance to hurt somebody. Refer to the General Tournament Rules for more details.
• Exposing the spine or back of the head to the opponent. Note that if your opponent does expose such targets it is still your responsibility to do what you can to arrest the power of your strike.
• Should a fighter execute one handed blows outside of the grapple they may be awarded an unsporting conduct penalty (-1 pt) at the discretion of the director.
•  No throws/takedowns.
• Cuts in this tournament are not a valid scoring action and should not result in a hold from director or judges. 

Scoring Actions

Matches will be fought until a fighter reaches a score of 9 points.

3 Point Actions:

• Thrust to Upper Opening
• Thrust to Torso

1 Point Actions:

• All other Thrusts

+1 point for Bound Action

NOTE: All other scoring actions will result in a hold, and will be considered no exchange.

Afterblow is -1 from initial score. There will be no doubling out. Don’t double.

One-handed strikes are not permitted except when the hand is removed as part of a grappling technique executed against an opponent.

Bound Action

A Bound Action will award an extra (1) point to the scoring action. If either of the following are true it is a Bound Action:

• The sword is in contact with the opponent’s blade when the scoring action lands.
• The opponent’s sword has been controlled by a grapple before the scoring action lands.

Bound Actions are not about "control"! If the swords are in contact when the hit lands it is a bound strike. You can in theory afterblow a Bound Action if you remove the sword and hit in the same action.

Wrestling and Takedowns

Wrestling

The amount of time permitted for a wrestling action is a 5-count from the director; beginning when both of the swords are inhibited (discarded, entangled, etc). This count may or may not be verbalized at the director's discretion.

Throws/Takedowns

Throws/takedowns are not permitted in Longsword.

A standing takedown is a wrestling action that deliberately and safely puts the opponent on the ground, while the throwing fighter remains standing. Standing requires one foot remain on the ground, dropping to a single knee is acceptable.

For a takedown to qualify as a Bound Action, the throwing fighter must retain control of their weapon and demonstrate the ability to deliver an attack.

Equipment

All protective equipment and weapons must be inspected prior to competition.

Protective Equipment

All equipment from the General Tournament Standards is required, in addition to the following:

• Purpose-built Heavy HEMA Gloves (eg: Thokk or better). Lacrosse / Red Dragon style gloves, regardless of modification, are explicitly not allowed.
• Heavy padded HEMA jacket.
• Shin protection is required.
• Forearm protection is not required but recommended.

Weapons

1. A 'standard' straight bladed longsword feder is expected ("shiltless feders" designed for high intensity sparring are also permitted. Thin edged 'blunts' are not.).
2. The point must have an expanded surface area, or be affixed with a (non-rubber) tip of some sort.
3. Blades must be free of any large burs or hilt protrusions which may cause a risk to an opponent's safety or their equipment.
4. Sword measurements are expected to fall within these ranges:
   • Blade Length: 84 - 102 cm (33 - 40")
   • Overall Length: < 140 cm (55”)
   • Sword Mass: 1.3 - 1.8 kg (2.9 - 3.9 lbs. )
   • Buckling Strength: 10 - 19.5 kg (How is this measured?)
5. Swords must be from a HEMA manufacturer.