SMAF Sample Tournament Rules

*Please be aware that these rules are subject to change

EQUIPMENT SCREENING

*See SMAF Weapons Glossary for legal saber types.
All competition weaponry and safety equipment must be submitted for approval by a SMAF Head Judge/Director prior to each match, unless otherwise noted by a SMAF Head Judge/Director (HJ/D). Any SMAF HJ/D may omit your weapon from competition for failure to meet criteria, intentional or otherwise, with the approval of at least one other SMAF HJ/D. No fighter is permitted to legalize a competition saber for any reason or anyone.
Failure to meet any safety requirements may be grounds for immediate dismissal from competition at the discretion of a SMAF HJ/D, with the approval of at least one other SMAF HJ/D.

We really do want this to be fun and exciting from an MMA standpoint, so please pay attention to the equipment requirements and your gear will likely meet approval. We welcome all inquiries regarding competition-legal sabers and protection, so if you’re not sure whether your gear meets requirements, please just ask! Bring backups for anything you are unsure of.

MATCH REGULATION

All Qualifying and Elimination sparring matches (with the exception of the Semifinals and Finals) will have a score limit of 5 to win, and a time limit of 5 minutes. If a score of 5 has not been achieved by either combatant by the end of 5 minutes, the combatant with the higher score wins.

In the event of a tie, there will be a 1-minute Sudden Death Overtime tiebreaker. If a winner is not decided during the first overtime, a 30-second corner break will follow, then a 30-second overtime. If no winner is decided after two overtime tiebreakers, the match will alternate between a 10-second corner break and 30-second overtime until a winner is called.

All Semifinal sparring matches will have a score limit of 7, with a 7-minute time limit. Overtime rounds will follow the same format as previous matches.

All Final sparring matches will have a score limit of 10, with a time limit of 12 minutes. Overtime rounds will follow the same format as previous matches.

The clock will run during the entire match, kata, cut/deflection sequence, or self-defense routine, including breaks. Only a SMAF HJ/D or can call a stoppage of time, for reasons including but not limited to: safety or equipment concerns, injury, unsportsmanlike conduct, point-call review. Every match, without exception, must be presided over by a SMAF HJ/D, 2 approved Side Judges (SJ), a Scorekeeper (SK), and a Timekeeper (TK). The roles of SK and TK are compoundable and interchangeable, but not during a match. In the event of shorthanded staffing, no competitor will be permitted to officiate a division in which they are entered, but may be asked in a last resort to act as SJ for other divisions

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT

Head: 350n fencing mask or higher
Saber: Blades may only be 1” or ⅞” heavy-grades, with blunt/rounded tips only. Hilts must be made of metal and have no tactile claws, spikes, teeth, or sharpening. All other saber requirements and restrictions are outlined in the Official SMAF Weapons Glossary.
Hands: Lacrosse, hockey, or weapon-martial-arts grade gloves (e.g. rapier & singlestick gloves from Purpleheart Armory, Red Dragon HEMA gloves, or comparable).
Feet: Closed-toe athletic shoes or martial arts shoes/grippers (no bare feet, flip-flops, crocs, sandals, etc.) when outdoors. Indoor footwear regulations will depend on the hosting facility’s rules and must be clarified (in writing as well as verbally) prior to allowing participants onto the competition floor, but a safe assumption is that only bare feet or martial arts/wrestling shoes will be approved for use on mats and similar surfaces.
Torso: Hard foam, plastic, or coated-metal chest protection that covers the solar plexus, sternum, front and sides of the ribs, and both clavicles. The addition of back protection is highly recommended, but not required.

RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT

Head: Rubber mouthguard, back-of-head protection
Neck: Dense/hard foam, plastic, or coated-metal gorget, or goalie-style neck protection (e.g. heavy cloth/leather/polycarbonate chin hangers, or comparable) *NIMAN sparring will REQUIRE dedicated neck protection
Torso: contact-sports protective bra (females), complete-coverage (base of neck to top of hips/pelvis) protection in the materials listed above
Arms: Dense/hard foam, plastic, or coated-metal elbow and shoulder protection
Legs: Dense/hard foam, plastic, or coated-metal knee, thigh, and shin protection
Groin: Athletic support cup, or harness-style integrated groin & hip protection for contact sports (i.e. codpiece)

TARGET AREAS

Front of body, excluding groin and feet
Rear of body, excluding back of head/neck, and direct hits to the spine or kidneys
Entire saber hilt (attacks that land on the upper portion of the emitter will be counted, but incidental or “weak” hits to this area may be discounted at the HJ’s discretion, on a call-by-call basis).
*When legal in competition, tsuba & other guards, emitter portions between crossguards, extensions, grips, or any alterations to standard hilt configurations ARE legal target areas.

NON-COMBATIVE/INCIDENTAL SCORING

Any fighter who is called by the Judges for contacting their own body with any illuminated part of a saber (blade, quillion, etc.) after the start of a match will cause their opponent to be awarded 1 point.

Any fighter who intentionally deactivates an illuminated saber during combat action (not including breaks and corner time) will receive one warning. Subsequent intentional deactivations will cause their opponent to be awarded 1 point, and 2 or more intentional deactivations will disqualify the infringing fighter from a match and their opponent will win the match by default.

Any fighter who targets an opponent’s saber with the perceived intention of damaging their equipment/property beyond the reasonable power limits of martial sport, will receive one warning. Subsequent infractions will cause their opponent to be awarded 1 point, and 2 or more will disqualify the infringing fighter from a match and their opponent will win the match by
default. Additionally, fighters who are unable to replace a saber that has been purposefully damaged by infringing opponents will be permitted to compete with that saber (as long as safe to wield) for the remainder of the sparring divisions with approval by at least two SMAF HJ/D’s. They will be permitted to use it in other divisions with the same approval.

Accidental deactivations of an illuminated saber will be tolerated up to 3 times during combat action, at which point the fighter will have 3 minutes to submit a replacement saber. If the fighter fails to submit a replacement saber after 3 minutes, or the saber is malfunctioning beyond its capacity to stay illuminated, the opponent will receive 1 point and win the match by default. Any fighter who is disqualified from a single match due to malfunctioning equipment will be given the opportunity to submit a new saber for their next match, but their consequential loss will stand in the rankings.

Any behavior that could be construed as intentionally harmful or disrespectful to other participants will be grounds for immediate dismissal from competition, with approval by at least 2 SMAF HJ/D’s. Examples include, but are not limited to: throwing weapons or equipment, arguing with the Judges, striking an opponent after a break has been called or in frustration, trash-talking other participants or saber clubs, damage to property outside of normal martial activity, or uncontrolled striking and similar unsportsmanlike conduct.

DIVISIONS

  • Open Sparring
    • Single Saber (Point)
      • Ages 12-15
      • Ages 16-Senior
    • Niman (Mixed Sabers) (Point)
      • Ages 12-15
      • Ages 16-Senior
    • Juyo (Continuous) (10-Point Must scoring system)
      • Ages 12-15
      • Ages 16-Senior
  • Kata/Dulon
    • Individual
      • Ages 12-15
      • Ages 16-Senior
    • Group
      • Ages 12-Senior
  • Self-Defense & Theory
    • Pairs (Single Attacker-Single Defender, Defender will be scored; OR Single Defender w/Multiple Attackers, Defender will be scored)
      • Ages 12-15
      • Ages 16-Senior
  • Bladework
    • Individual Cutting; may use pre-registered assistant for setup only
      • Ages 12-Senior
    • Individual Deflection, may not use pre-registered assistant; an official SJ will “blast” competitors
      • Ages 12-Senior

OPEN SPARRING RULES

Single Saber

  • No competitor may argue with an official for any point-call, break, or warning during tournament regulation.
  • Only single-bladed sabers as outlined in the SMAF Weapons Glossary will be allowed. quillons may not be present on your saber in this particular Division. If your hilt has quillion emitters, they must be plugged flush for screening and during the fight.
  • Non-saber striking (i.e. kicks, takedowns, joint-locking, elbows, etc.) will not be permitted in sparring divisions, except for minimal offhand-control (hand-to-hilt checking, no grabs). Strikes with the pommel of the saber will not be permitted.
  • The winner will be the combatant who reaches the score limit before time runs out, or the combatant who has the highest score when time runs out. Please read the “Match Regulation” section above for tiebreaker rules and score/time limitations, and conditions for time stoppage.
  • Fighters may allow 1 noncombatant instructor, or teammate, to be their Corner Coach (CC) if desired. CC’s will not be permitted to enter the Dueling Rings at any point during regulation combat, unless their fighter is injured and the clock has been stopped. Any CC who infracts this rule will receive 1 warning, and their fighter will be docked 1 point for each subsequent infraction. After 2 deductions, their fighter will forfeit the match for unsportsmanlike conduct.
  • Only controlled strikes, or strikes that are perceived by the majority of spectators to be within reasonable power levels and exhibit quality sportsmanship and technique, to legal target areas will be counted as points.

Niman (Mixed Sabers)
*All rules from Single Saber as listed above will apply to the Niman Division, with the following exceptions:

  • No competitor may argue with an official for any point-call, break, or warning during tournament regulation.
  • All participants in this Division must submit 2 or more sabers for the Chance Cube
    drawings, but may compound saber types that cross parameters (i.e. Fighter submits Jar’Kai, brings coupler and can also submit Double-Bladed, keeps blade(s) below 24” and can also submit Shoto, brings extenders and can also submit Spear…all using the same 2 base hilts) to maximize variety in weapon selection. Chance Cube drawings will be done prior to each match, based on the participants’ personal submissions.
  • No “standard” single-saber submissions will be allowed, unless one or more of these criteria are met:
    • The blade is longer (i.e. Greatsaber, blade 40”+) or shorter (i.e. Shoto, blade 24”-) than standard range (about 26-38”)
    • Legal-length quillons are present, regardless of blade length (unbladed quillion emitters must be plugged flush during combat)
    • The “standard” saber in question is paired with a second saber of legal variety
  • All “nonstandard” or “exotic” saber types as listed on the SMAF Weapons Glossary will be allowed, and must follow the size parameters specified thereon. Saber Whips, nunchaku, and other nonlinear blades (i.e. Battleaxe blade mods) will not be permitted in Open Sparring. Tournament-legal varieties include but are not limited to:
    • Jar’Kai/Paired Sabers
    • Double-Bladed Saber
    • Saber Pike/Spear
    • Crossguard Saber
    • Shoto/Dagger Saber
    • Tonfa Saber
    • Saber Scythe (linear blade)
    • Saber Kama (linear blades)
    • Saber Sai
    • Saber Trident/Polearms (linear blades)

*If you do not see a saber type listed above that you would like to submit for
screening, we would be happy to consider it with prior notice of measurements
and pictures/video of usage. We can’t promise we’ll clear it, but we’re totally into
checking out innovative saber designs and will take even your wacky ideas as
seriously as we can.
**All varieties of sabers are subject to the hazards of use. As such, incidental or
accidental self-scoring (i.e. quillion hits wielder’s wrist, blocking with the unlit
shaft of a polearm, etc.) that is caught by the Judges will be called against the
user.

Juyo (Continuous)
*All rules from Single Saber as listed above will apply to the Juyo Division, with the
following exceptions:

  • The winner will be the combatant who earns the highest score when time runs out.
    Rounds are 1min each with a 30sec break in between. Elimination matches will be 3 rounds with breaks after rounds 1 and 2, while Championship/Trophy matches will be 5 rounds with breaks after rounds 1, 2, 3, and 4.
  • The 10-Point Must scoring system in the Juyo Division is largely subjective, and will
    require highly experienced judges, who will score each fighter by overall performance in each round. The superior performer in each round will earn a score of 10, while the fighter who the judges believe to have been bested will earn a score of 9 for a strong performance, or 8 for a clearly inferior performance, at the judges’ personal discretion. Scores will be totalled after all rounds have been fought. In a three-round fight, the maximum allowable score is 30. In a five-round fight, the maximum allowable score is 50 (a competitively-fought match should generally score 30-27 or 50-45 for the victor)
  • If the fight has been completed but a tie results, the Head Judge/Director will conduct a sudden-death tiebreaking round. The first fighter to score a hit to a legal target will cause the HJ/D to call a Break, thus winning the match by 1 point.
  • Fighters may allow 1 noncombatant instructor, or teammate, to be their Corner Coach (CC) if desired. CC’s must stay on the immediate outside of their fighter’s designated corner, except during breaks between rounds when they may enter the ring immediately within their fighter’s corner to fulfill coaching duties (must not exceed the 30sec time limit before returning to the outside of the ring). CCs will not be permitted to enter the Dueling Rings at any point during regulation combat rounds, unless their fighter is injured and the clock has been stopped. Any CC who infracts this rule will receive 1 warning, and their fighter will be docked 1 point for each subsequent infraction. After 2 deductions, their fighter will forfeit the match for unsportsmanlike conduct by their CC.
  • Only controlled strikes, or strikes that are perceived by the majority of spectators to be within reasonable power levels and exhibit quality sportsmanship and technique, to legal target areas will be counted as points.
  • Judges will be expected to take overall “damage” attrition, ring control, technique,
    sportsmanship, competitiveness, warrior spirit (aka “heart”), self-defense, and lethal vs. nonlethal hits, into account while weighting their scores. If a fighter earns any deductions during a round, they are ineligible to win that round; even if they have a superior performance, the highest score they can earn for that round is a tie of 9-9.

KATA/DULON RULES

Individual (rules apply to both age categories)

  • No competitor may argue with an official for any point-call, break, or warning during tournament regulation.
  • Competitors may use any of the legal saber types from Single Saber or Niman sparring, but may only compete in kata using one type (paired weaponry counts as a single “type”). Whips are permitted for competition in the Kata Divisions, as no contact is legal.
  • Music will be permitted, but not required. Please screen your music for profanity and other mature language (keep it PG-13). Competitors are responsible for bringing their own audio players to the tournament, and discussing cues or edits with the person who will operate audio during their kata. No competitor may operate their own audio player. If music is inoperable after 2 attempts, the competitor will be asked to perform without music. This will not affect your overall score, but refusal to perform due to technical difficulty is grounds for disqualification.
  • Each kata must be a minimum of 40 seconds in duration, but no kata may exceed 90 seconds in duration, including music, salutations, and pausing. Any competitor who exceeds 90 seconds from the first movement will be cut off at 90 seconds and scored only on that portion of the kata. Failure to stop performing at the end of the time limit will dock 1 point from the competitor’s total score.
  • Non-saber striking (i.e. kicks, punches, etc.) will be permitted in this division.
  • When a competitor is called to perform their kata, they will be expected to salute the Judges and announce their name, the type of saber they will use, and which saber club they represent (if applicable); if they are unaffiliated with a saber group, they will announce “representing myself”. After announcing themselves, they must ask for “permission to begin” from the HJ/D who will acknowledge the readiness of all three Judges, or give further instructions to the competitor if need be. The HJ/D will nod or say “begin”, and the competitor will perform right away.
  • At the end of each kata, or 90 seconds from the first movement, the SK will ask the
    competitor to stand at “ready position” and await their scores from the HJ/D and SJ’s. All 3 scores will be announced aloud by the SK as he/she records them, then they will be averaged out on the spot and an overall score will be announced for that competitor. He/she will then move out of the ring, and allow the next competitor to enter.
  • In the event of a tie in overall scores, the competitors in question will perform again, re-doing Step 4 above. They may not alter their original kata in any way, but will be given the chance to out-perform their tying compatriot. Scoring of tiebreakers follows the same procedures as listed above.

Groups
*All rules from Individual Kata as listed above will apply to Group Kata, with the following exceptions:

  • No competitor may argue with an official for any point-call, break, or warning during tournament regulation.
  • Any striking contact that is part of the choreography of the kata will be permitted, but all performances must be done without safety gear, as teams will be judged on the entirety of showmanship, as well as overall martial quality and originality. Injuries that result from choreography will negatively impact scoring, and may be grounds for disqualification.
  • The duration of each group’s kata must be a minimum of 90 seconds, but may not
    exceed 2.5 minutes (150 seconds), from the first movement and including all
    choreographed accoutrement.

SELF-DEFENSE & THEORY RULES

  • No competitor may argue with an official for any point-call, break, or warning during tournament regulation.
  • Competitors may use any of the legal saber types from Single Saber or Niman sparring, but may only compete in kata using one type (paired weaponry counts as a single “type”). Whips are permitted for competition in the Self-Defense & Theory Divisions, but injuries that result from choreography will negatively impact scoring, and may be grounds for disqualification
  • Competitors are responsible for demonstrating no fewer than 3, and no greater than 5, distinct self-defense technique sequences with distinct attack(s) for each. Up to 3 attackers may be used for each distinct technique. Competitors who exceed 5 technique sequences will be cut off by the TK or HJ/D after the 5th sequence, and judged exclusively on the prior portion of their performance. Attackers will not be scored

BLADEWORK RULES

Individual Cutting

  • No competitor may argue with an official for any point-call, break, or warning during tournament regulation.
  • Competitors may use any of the legal saber types from Single Saber or Niman sparring, but may only compete in Cutting using one type (paired weaponry counts as a single “type”). Whips are only permitted in the Cutting subdivision of Bladework.
  • In Round 1, competitors will be responsible for demonstrating 5 distinct cuts on a
    life-sized target with humanoid anatomy. Each performance may not exceed 2 minutes in length, from the bow-in to the final cut. Competitors who exceed either the 2-minute limit, or the 5-cut limit, will be cut off by the TK or the HJ/D at the instance of infraction, and judged exclusively on the prior portion of their performance.
  • All cuts must be performed at optimum speed and power, without sacrificing overall proficiency or compromising the integrity of your saber. Stances are taken into account regarding your physical demeanor before, during, and after each cut.
  • Each cut in Round 1 must be executed distinctly (no combo cuts). All cuts will fall under the following 3 categories for this competition, regardless of saber type or the terminology used by your saber group:
    • “Chop” refers to any cut that finishes its arc at or near the intended target area, but does not follow completely through, OR finishes its arc at or near the target’s center of mass. A chop rarely spans additional target zones within that same arc.
    • “Slash” refers to any cut that finishes its arc by following completely through the intended target area, equilateral to the arc’s beginning. A slash almost always spans 1 or more additional target zones within that same arc.
    • “Thrust” refers to any cut that applies the tip of the blade to a single point on the intended target, at or near the center of that target zone, and have little-to-no perceived arc (linear tip strikes). A thrust almost never spans additional target zones.
  • All intended cuts (using the vocabulary trifecta in #5 above), and their associated target zones, must be submitted to the Judges in written form with the competitor’s name and the order of execution. This is known as your “Cut List”. All competitors must submit their written Cut List before the Round 1 bow-in. Submissions after this will not be accepted. Be as specific as possible with your targets so the Judges can clearly interpret your physicality and score you accurately. Each cut’s arc-direction will be left to Judges’ interpretation based on your Cut List.
    • EXAMPLE of a “Cut List”: (Name: Darth Jones – Saber Type: Shoto)
      • Slash to opponent’s right collarbone
      • Thrust to opponent’s right knee
      • Slash to opponent’s left hand
      • Thrust to opponent’s nose
      • Chop to opponent’s left cheek
  • Non-saber striking (i.e. kicks, elbows, etc.) and pommel strikes will not be permitted. All strikes must utilize an illuminated blade. Blade deactivation during your cut demonstration will negatively impact your score.
  • Competitors will be scored based on the following: adherence to time criteria, technical precision and martial realism/quality, cut variance and overall creativity, pace and intensity of performance, appropriate martial applications for chosen saber type, perceived difficulty.
  • In Round 2, competitors will be responsible for demonstrating 5 distinct combinations on a life-sized target with humanoid anatomy. Each performance may not exceed 2 minutes in length, from the bow-in to the final combination. Competitors who exceed either the 2-minute limit, or the 5-combo limit, will be cut off by the TK or the HJ/D at the instance of infraction, and judged exclusively on the prior portion of their performance.
  • A “Combination” is defined in this tournament as: a sequence of 2+ visually distinct arcs that are executed in rapid succession without pause.
  • All intended combinations (using the cut-vocabulary trifecta in #5 above), and their associated target zones, must be submitted to the Judges in written form with the competitor’s name and the order of execution. This is known as your “Combo List”. All competitors must submit their written Combo List before the Round 2 bow-in. Submissions after this will not be accepted. Be as specific as possible with your targets so the Judges can clearly interpret your physicality and score you accurately. Each combo’s fluidity will be left to Judges’ interpretation based on your Combo List.
    • EXAMPLE of a “Combo List”: (Name: Kylie Kenobi – Saber Type: Standard)
      • Slash to right collarbone, chop to left knee
      • Thrust to right knee, thrust to right ribs, slash through forehead
      • Slash to left hand, slash through both knees, thrust to sternum
      • Thrust to nose, chop to forehead, slash through groin
      • Chop to left cheek, slash through both hips
  • Scoring of Round 2 is identical to #8 above, but Judges will take the entire combination into account with greater weight than the individual cuts within it. The individual cuts are still considered, but only in how they affected the combination’s overall execution and fluidity.

Individual Deflection

  • No competitor may argue with an official for any point-call, break, or warning during tournament regulation.
  • Competitors may use any of the legal saber types from Single Saber or Niman sparring, but may only compete in Deflection using one type (paired weaponry counts as a single “type”). Whips are not permitted in the Deflection subdivision of Bladework.
  • In Round 1, competitors will be responsible for deflecting 10 foam balls, shot
    one-at-a-time from a foam-ball blaster (e.g. NERF-brand or comparable). Competitors will request each shot with the word “Pull!”, and the shooter (a non-judging SMAF SJ or SK/TK). Each performance may not exceed 90 seconds in length, from the bow-in to the final “Pull!”. Competitors who exceed either the 90-second limit, or get hit by all 10 balls, will be cut off by the TK or the HJ/D at that moment; exceeding time limits will cause competitors to be judged exclusively on the prior portion of their performance, while 0 successful deflections will cause competitors to be eliminated (in the instance of a 0-0 tie between two or more competitors, those competitors will face off for the last-place spot
    going into Round 2. All other ties will stand through Round 1).
  • Successful deflections earn 1 point, getting hit awards no points, and redirecting a ball back at the shooter will award 2 points (must hit the shooter or come within a couple inches of doing so). Only deflections that contact with the illuminated blade of the saber will count as points. Balls that hit the competitor after being contacted by the blade will not count against the competitor and will award them a point for successful blade-to-ball interception.
  • Target zones will include: 4 shots to the upper body, 3 shots to the midsection (includes arms), and 3 shots to the lower body. The order of targeting will be: Upper, middle, lower (x3) and the tenth shot will be to the upper body. Shots that fall grossly outside the competitor’s target zones due to poor shooting will award a point to the competitor (similar to a “Ball” in baseball).
  • Competitors will be scored on the following: adherence to time criteria, number of
    successful deflections and/or redirections, lowest time needed for highest score.
  • In Round 2, competitors will execute 10 deflections rapidly. The shooter will re-fire as soon as the previous shot has cleared the competitor’s zone, without stoppage. There is no time limit in this round; scoring is otherwise identical to Round 1, and ties will be faced off at every score in Round 2 (not just 0-0 ties).