From 06af2fc982c8254c9aa040e7fd300934d27e6bf0 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Anton Kohutovic Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2026 16:54:25 +0200 Subject: [PATCH 1/2] feat(rules): forbid diving attacks; scope ground action to all weapons New article G.44 forbids attacks performed by jumping, diving or otherwise throwing the body in a manner that does not end with the fencer on both feet and in control. Penalised under 1.10 (first group, hit annulled), or as a dangerous action under 2.4 where it endangers the opponent. An involuntary loss of balance is excluded. The ground-action rule and the rule on falls and dropped weapons (previously G.47 and G.49) move out of the longsword-only close-quarter section into a new "Falls and ground action (all weapons)" section, closing a gap where sabre, rapier and sword & buckler had no article covering a fencer going to the ground. This completes the promotion of universal rules begun in 2.0.0-draft. Articles G.45-G.51 renumbered; penalty table rows 1.10 and 4.1 updated. --- 03-general.md | 37 +++++++++++++++--------- CHANGELOG.md | 16 ++++++++++ appendices/02-penalties.md | 4 +-- appendices/04-referee-quick-reference.md | 4 +++ 4 files changed, 45 insertions(+), 16 deletions(-) diff --git a/03-general.md b/03-general.md index 934721a..4d2cceb 100644 --- a/03-general.md +++ b/03-general.md @@ -244,40 +244,49 @@ the opponent's interactions, accidental touches, and touching the floor after having hit the opponent, may be disregarded by the Referee). +**G.44** A fencer must not attack by jumping, diving, or otherwise throwing the + body in a manner that does not end with the fencer on both feet and in + control. The Referee must call 'Halt!' and annul any hit scored by the + fencer at fault (see penalty 1.10). Where such an action endangers the + opponent, it is penalised as a dangerous action instead (see penalty 2.4). + An involuntary loss of balance is not an offence under this article. + +## Falls and ground action (all weapons) + +**G.45** Ground action is not allowed, the Referee must call 'Halt!' when one of the fencers falls to + the ground, or whenever the Referee is unable to judge the action any more, or when a reasonable + time has passed for dominance to apply. + +**G.46** If a fencer accidentally drops the weapon, or falls without the opponent's interaction, the + Referee must call 'Halt!'. A hit that started before the fencer obviously lost the weapon should + be counted as valid even if it arrives afterwards, but in the spirit of sportsmanship, no + intentional new attack should be initiated if the opponent has fallen or lost the weapon. + ## Close quarter combat Close quarter combat and grappling are allowed only where the weapon-specific rules permit them (currently only in the Longsword category), with the following regulations: -**G.44** The Referee may call 'Halt!' after an unsuccessful period of grappling. +**G.47** The Referee may call 'Halt!' after an unsuccessful period of grappling. -**G.45** Grappling on the opponent's blade is allowed, if the blade is controlled. Seizing of the blade +**G.48** Grappling on the opponent's blade is allowed, if the blade is controlled. Seizing of the blade needs to be momentary, and followed by an immediate 'clean' hit to score a point. If the fencer can not achieve a hit consequently to seizing the blade, the Referee calls 'Halt!' and awards no points. Failing to control the blade is counted as a point against the fencer who attempted to enter grappling. -**G.46** Grappling actions that score a point are: +**G.49** Grappling actions that score a point are: - a) take-downs and throws followed/accompanied by a simple and immediate hit with the weapon (within a period of fencing time) - b) controlling the opponent via grappling with or without the weapon, until the Referee calls 'Halt!' -**G.47** Ground action is not allowed, the Referee must call 'Halt!' when one of the fencers falls to the - ground, or whenever the Referee is unable to judge the action any more, or when a reasonable time - has passed for dominance to apply. - -**G.48** Disarming is allowed and scores a point, unless the disarmed fencer immediately (before the +**G.50** Disarming is allowed and scores a point, unless the disarmed fencer immediately (before the Referee calls 'Halt!') controls the opponent's weapon and enters grappling. -**G.49** If a fencer accidentally drops the weapon, or falls without the opponent's interaction, the - Referee must call 'Halt!'. A hit that started before the fencer obviously lost the weapon should - be counted as valid even if it arrives afterwards, but in the spirit of sportsmanship, no - intentional new attack should be initiated if the opponent has fallen or lost the weapon. - ### Forbidden actions in close quarter combat -**G.50** Neck-wrenching, lifting the opponent off the ground, full application of +**G.51** Neck-wrenching, lifting the opponent off the ground, full application of joint locks, small-joint manipulation, or other potentially dangerous wrestling techniques are strictly forbidden. diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md index e5e5d4a..5e7707b 100644 --- a/CHANGELOG.md +++ b/CHANGELOG.md @@ -2,6 +2,22 @@ ## 2.0.0-draft (2026) +Rule changes: + +- New article G.44: a fencer must not attack by jumping, diving or otherwise + throwing the body in a manner that does not end with the fencer on both feet + and in control. Applies to every weapon category; added to penalty 1.10 + (first group, hit annulled). Where such an action endangers the opponent it + is penalised as a dangerous action (penalty 2.4). An involuntary loss of + balance is not an offence under this article. +- The ground-action rule and the rule on falls and dropped weapons (previously + G.47 and G.49) were moved out of the longsword-only close-quarter section + into a new "Falls and ground action (all weapons)" section. They now apply to + every weapon category, which closes a gap where sabre, rapier and sword & + buckler had no article covering a fencer going to the ground. This completes + the promotion of universal rules begun in this release; articles G.45–G.51 + are renumbered accordingly. + Readability refactor — no intended changes to the meaning of the rules: - Chapters renamed to the canonical reading order; README, PDF and file diff --git a/appendices/02-penalties.md b/appendices/02-penalties.md index d9beeb6..da1165d 100644 --- a/appendices/02-penalties.md +++ b/appendices/02-penalties.md @@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ offence of this group. | 1.7 | Hitting the arena floor with an uncontrolled action | G.43 | | 1.8 | Refusal to obey the Referee (including actions before 'Fence!' or after 'Halt!') | G.10 | | 1.9 | Disorderly fencing \*; taking off the mask before the Referee calls 'Halt!'; dressing or undressing in the arena | D.11, D.13 | -| 1.10 | Irregular movements in the arena \*; throwing the opponent by lifting both of their feet off the ground \* | D.13, G.50 | +| 1.10 | Irregular movements in the arena \*; attacking by jumping or diving without landing on both feet \*; throwing the opponent by lifting both of their feet off the ground \* | D.13, G.44, G.51 | | 1.11 | Unjustified appeal | D.19 | | 1.12 | Hitting with the fists, kicking \* | G.38 | | 1.13 | Removing the opponent's mask or any other protective equipment \* | — | @@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ Penalty: **BLACK** for the first offence. | No. | Offence | Art. | |-----|---------|------| -| 4.1 | Deliberate brutality; throwing the opponent onto their head \*; neck-wrenching and small-joint manipulation \*; failing to stop dangerous submission holds before full application (both fencers may be penalised, the victim as well if they did not submit) \*; throwing the dagger at the opponent in Rapier bouts \* | G.50, R.16 | +| 4.1 | Deliberate brutality; throwing the opponent onto their head \*; neck-wrenching and small-joint manipulation \*; failing to stop dangerous submission holds before full application (both fencers may be penalised, the victim as well if they did not submit) \*; throwing the dagger at the opponent in Rapier bouts \* | G.51, R.16 | | 4.2 | Causing injury or threat of injury with equipment non-conforming to the Rules, or with imitated/transferred weapon control marks | E.5 | | 4.3 | Offence against sportsmanship (e.g. refusal to salute or shake hands after the bout) | G.21, D.14 | | 4.4 | Refusal of a fencer to fence another fencer properly entered | D.6 | diff --git a/appendices/04-referee-quick-reference.md b/appendices/04-referee-quick-reference.md index 93e4a32..47d3703 100644 --- a/appendices/04-referee-quick-reference.md +++ b/appendices/04-referee-quick-reference.md @@ -12,6 +12,10 @@ a valid hit lands · an invalid hit complicates further evaluation · a fencer leaves the arena with both feet · end of time · dangerous or confused fencing · equipment failure · injury · a fencer requests a break (raised arm) (see G.8) +Also, in every weapon category: a fencer goes to the ground · a fencer falls or +drops the weapon without the opponent's interaction · an attack by jumping or +diving that does not end with the fencer on both feet (see G.44–G.46). + ## Arena boundaries - Both feet out → stop immediately; annul everything after the crossing (G.13–G.14). From 9a5f0d9550c076c14d626b0b70c579576beb2c9b Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Anton Kohutovic Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2026 16:55:16 +0200 Subject: [PATCH 2/2] docs(intro): bind identifier stability to published versions The renumbering of G.45-G.51 contradicted the introduction's claim that an identifier never changes once assigned. Those identifiers were introduced in 2.0.0-draft and have never been published, so the guarantee protected nothing while forbidding structural fixes to an unreleased draft. The clause now binds from the first published version, and the CHANGELOG records that this renumbering is the last one permitted. --- 01-intro.md | 4 ++-- CHANGELOG.md | 4 ++++ 2 files changed, 6 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-) diff --git a/01-intro.md b/01-intro.md index 6a8eb4e..70b1c9a 100644 --- a/01-intro.md +++ b/01-intro.md @@ -22,5 +22,5 @@ recommendation. Terms in *italics* are defined in the Rules are numbered with a chapter prefix (E = Equipment, G = General, RoW = Right of Way, LS = Longsword, R = Rapier, S = Sabre, SB = Sword & Buckler, O = Organisational, D = Disciplinary) and are cited by these -identifiers, e.g. "G.16" or "RoW.12(a)". Once assigned, an identifier -never changes. +identifiers, e.g. "G.16" or "RoW.12(a)". Once assigned in a published +version, an identifier never changes. diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md index 5e7707b..3a45b17 100644 --- a/CHANGELOG.md +++ b/CHANGELOG.md @@ -17,6 +17,10 @@ Rule changes: buckler had no article covering a fencer going to the ground. This completes the promotion of universal rules begun in this release; articles G.45–G.51 are renumbered accordingly. +- The identifier stability clause in the introduction now binds from the first + published version. The renumbering above is therefore the last time article + identifiers may move: from 2.0.0 onward an identifier, once published, never + changes. Readability refactor — no intended changes to the meaning of the rules: