HEMA Specific Rules and Guidlines

Commands during classes

  • A call of “HOLD” is a command: if you hear it, stop what you are doing immediately and return to a safe position. Do not “finish the play” or attempt to “score another point” after the “HOLD” has been called – your partner or opponent may be reacting to the call more swiftly than you and may not expect another action from you, which creates a new danger.
  • Whistles may be used during busy classes to call attention to the participants, to provide a stimulus for an exercise, or to declare an emergency. Whistle conventions will be explained by each instructor when they are needed, but usually:
    • 1 short blast: perform the designated action for the game or drill being performed.
    • A modulating trill or short tune: end the current activity, identical to the verbal “HOLD” command.
    • Multiple repeated blasts: there is an emergency in the hall and all participants must stop immediately, move to the side barriers and await further direction.

Intensity and consent

  • Consent is paramount in our training. In every activity, always check in with your training partner regarding the degree of strength, speed, and overall intensity they would like to use in training. If asked to reduce your intensity, do so; failure to do so is a violation of your training partner’s consent, and will be treated as such.
  • Instructor guidance is there for your safety and benefit. Please heed such guidance when offered, and remember that instructors have the final word on matters of safety.
  • Causing safety issues may result in being told to take a break from participation, or removal from the venue and/or event, and a possible ban from the Vanguard Centre.
  • We train together and it is important for us to grow as a community. Make sure that you ask your partners if they would like to receive any critique or feedback before giving it, and make sure that such feedback is related to the drill or training.
  • When discussing the intensity of training or sparring activities, always defer to the lowest level requested by either participant. For example, clarify if you want a slow-speed drilling to experiment with an idea or 100% tournament level sparring.  Note that discussions like this are always relative and your “20% speed” is likely different from your partner’s.  One helpful tool here may be to demonstrate two or three blade actions in open air to show the relative level of intensity you are seeking.

Equipment care and handling

  • While not sharp, training swords do pose risks to health if handled irresponsibly. Ensure that you use safety equipment that is equal to the training you are doing, and take extreme care in cases of low-gear practice.
    • If you are not sure what protective gear you should be wearing for any given activity, please ask an instructor.
  • When carrying training tools to and from training areas, hold them with points down in a safe and secure fashion, to minimise risk of accidents.
  • Personal equipment should be free from burrs, sharp edges, excessive rips or holes, or other risks to other participants. If an instructor finds that your equipment is unsafe, you may not use it for activities at the Vanguard Centre.
  • Vanguard equipment is available to all participants on a first-come-first-served basis. Be polite in using equipment, refrain from deliberate damage to equipment, and report any damaged or otherwise unsafe equipment you find to Vanguard staff immediately.
  • Fencing can be quite an exertion. Please make sure to care for the cleanliness of your kit between sessions.

Equipment care and handling (sharps)

  • Activities at the Vanguard Centre sometimes involve the handling of sharpened swords or other historical arms (“sharps”) for training or educational purposes. In all situations involving sharps, you must retain control of the equipment. At NO point should any sharp be pointed or otherwise directed at another person.
  • Handling sharps at our venue is a privilege, not a right. Even in the case of your own equipment, follow all directions from instructors in the handling of sharps.
  • Transport sharps inside a sheath, scabbard, or other suitable container at all times, unless in active use for a training activity or for cleaning purposes. At our venue, cleaning may only be done at the arming table.
  • Irresponsible, unsafe, or other mishandling of sharps, regardless of owner, is grounds for immediate removal from the venue and/or event, and a possible ban from the Vanguard Centre.

Navigating the hall

  • Use each area for its intended purpose. Don’t fence in the armoury or social area.
  • To cross the hall during group drills or sparring, wait for a pause in fencing activities, call out “BEHIND” at the same volume you would call a safety hold, wait for acknowledgement from other fencers, and then cross in a timely manner. Please allow other fencers to cross when they need to do so.
  • To watch sparring, please remain in the viewing area near the armoury.
  • During sparring, you are expected to be respectful of your partner and other fencers. Be mindful of your space and partner.

Sparring etiquette & safety check

When sparring, freeplay, or open fencing is declared, the following conventions apply:

  • When seeking a sparring partner, please approach another attendee and offer verbal invitation, including agreed sparring discipline (for example, with training longswords,  sabres, or even mutually agreed mixed weapons), and degree of relative intensity as discussed in the above section on “Intensity and Consent.”
  • Check equipment level and condition – visually and verbally confirm what safety gear each participant is using, particularly noting hardened coverings for vulnerable areas.  Make it known what protection you are wearing and what you might be lacking.  If sparring with a reduced level of protective equipment, ensure that intensity, strike force, and targets are adjusted to prevent injury.  Members of HEMA communities often describe themselves as in “full kit.” This will include the following:
    • Suitable Fencing Mask with Back of Head protection
    • Gorget / throat protector
    • Suitable Fencing Jacket (Min. 350n puncture resistant)
    • Hard shell chest protection as needed
    • Suitable Fencing Trousers (Min. 350n puncture resistant)
    • Hard shell forearm protection
    • Hard shell elbow protection
    • Hard shell knee protection
    • Hard shell shin protection
    • Hard shell groin protection as needed
    • Protective gloves suitable for the training sword in use.
  • In sparring scenarios, boundaries for each sparring pair will be described by the instructor.  Please remain within these areas during your sparring bouts. In particular, be conscious of other fencers in the hall and avoid contact with someone other than your sparring partner.
  • It is expressly forbidden to strike an unprotected target (for example the bare skin of a leg below shin protection) with non-padded training swords. It is also forbidden to strike the back of the head, spine, back of the knees, feet, or groin regardless of protection.  
  • No strike should be made with sufficient power to cause injury through the level of protective gear in use.  For example, overpowered attacks to the torso can bruise or break ribs despite “full kit” as described above.  Be mindful of the degree of power you are using at all times.
  • If not already accounted for by the instructor or host of the sparring session, fencers should agree on a time limit or end-point of the sparring bout. Agreeing to fight until you are too tired to continue is not appropriate. Instead, use an obvious amount of time (“3 minutes!”) or a count of scoring exchanges or scored points/hits (“10 exchanges!”, “Head and body worth 3, limbs worth 1, first to 20 points wins!”). If there is a set time limit or metric for ending bouts set by the instructor or host, obey that metric with your partner – do not keep fencing beyond that point.
  • Call your hits. If you are struck by your opponent, attempt to make your afterblow or development of the technique if allowed, and then retreat from the exchange to your start position, while verbally and/or physically indicating the hit. (Something like “Yup, you got me on the head”).  Please keep lengthy (over 20 seconds) discussions about scoring, quality, or other aspects of your fencing bout to the social areas of the hall, reserving the fencing area for sparring.