To join the Broadsword League, just sign up for this forum or send us an e-mail at gilbride100@hotmail.com with the following information:

Name:

Style of Fencing:

School or Club (if applicable):

Contact Info (e-mail/phone):

Location:

In the body of the email, please include the following statement:

I wish to participate in fencing competition under the rules of the Broadsword League, and to accept challenges from other members of the League. I understand that this activity involves inherent dangers, and I participate entirely at my own risk.

Signing up for this forum constitutes signing up for the Broadsword League!

Broadsword League 2011 Season

Champion for 2011: T “Ricky” Rickert of the Cateran Society's Broadsword Academy Germany.

Congratulations to Ricky and the BAG!

Final Rankings For The Year, Among Competitors Eligible For The Championship

1- Rickert, T “Ricky” - 24 average in 6 bouts

2- Mungall, James- 22.83 average in 6 bouts

3- Grosse, Heiko- 21.53 average in 15 bouts

4- Park, Matt- 20.62 average in 8 bouts

5- Fray, Peter- 19.83 average in 6 bouts

6- MacKay, Elmo- 19.42 average in 7 bouts

7- Grosse, Alex- 19.3 average in 10 bouts

8- Lorenian, Max- 19 average in 5 bouts

9- Massinter, Stanley- 18.6 average in 5 bouts

Top Ten For The Year, Among All Competitors

1- Thompson, Christopher Scott- 25.1 average in 10 bouts

2- Maes, Javan- 25 average in 2 bouts

3- Lorenian, T- 25 average in 2 bouts

4- Rickert, T “Ricky” - 24 average in 6 bouts

5- Mungall, James- 22.83 average in 6 bouts

6- Grosse, Heiko- 21.53 average in 15 bouts

7- Alford, Jonathan- 21.33 average in 3 bouts

8- Park, Matt- 20.62 average in 8 bouts

9- Hildebrand, Myles- 20 average in 2 bouts

10- Fray, Peter- 19.83 average in 6 bouts

Watch The Bouts

This year, for the first time in the history of the Broadsword League, every bout is available on Youtube for you to watch and enjoy! Here they are, in the order in which they were fought:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGoBRxuqet4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4e1u2xyILJg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7tEAELWx2U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwcmQGBMYes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KEPCWiF8qY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qxUrTdO1R8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eHafS3MQI8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hgy6ltoCK4A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1joBecYc4rs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oISFipaJucE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgF3Yx59grU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22OI-I7EelM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swF7mY1cH20&list=UUsFKIpvBTOmBwo7ImYNMk1Q&index=9&feature=plcp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LX25QVrmz8s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dy5DV7f5XfM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7bYRrsNVRc&list=UUsFKIpvBTOmBwo7ImYNMk1Q&index=6&feature=plcp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJmqjmwbLKc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKp9ijQoxcM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoJwFJ4MjFA&feature=youtube_gdata

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASWfbK6SpGQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tb0WHDy6dLs&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNySGM_sqAY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uI-ForlCCVw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAK9pjkbF9M&lr=1&feature=mhee

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7sBJlfPRTg&list=UUElglyXDwH2mh7EhjhmdbfA&index=20&feature=plcp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rtPJBTDGtY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-36pauBhRk&list=UU2qz5ttZ9Neoelrt36swRWQ&index=58&feature=plcp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sWSAXwHlvY&list=UU2qz5ttZ9Neoelrt36swRWQ&index=49&feature=plcp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGReZ1oz5Uo&list=UU2qz5ttZ9Neoelrt36swRWQ&index=42&feature=plcp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JR_1i7UTu1Y&list=UU2qz5ttZ9Neoelrt36swRWQ&index=39&feature=plcp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOxJyr_Wm14&list=UU2qz5ttZ9Neoelrt36swRWQ&index=38&feature=plcp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFGZbEV1v88&list=UU2qz5ttZ9Neoelrt36swRWQ&index=37&feature=plcp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0iRkhSu7rA&list=UU2qz5ttZ9Neoelrt36swRWQ&index=36&feature=plcp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5YC_ArPZ1I&list=UU2qz5ttZ9Neoelrt36swRWQ&index=35&feature=plcp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFzNydegI10&list=UUElglyXDwH2mh7EhjhmdbfA&index=10&feature=plcp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t49HUdp4qIs&list=UUElglyXDwH2mh7EhjhmdbfA&index=12&feature=plcp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVlSXSJJ50w&list=UUElglyXDwH2mh7EhjhmdbfA&index=11&feature=plcp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coBNp2yp6bk&list=UU2qz5ttZ9Neoelrt36swRWQ&index=28&feature=plcp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eEFjPoC6u4&list=UU2qz5ttZ9Neoelrt36swRWQ&index=27&feature=plcp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKFueG6aBUI&list=UUElglyXDwH2mh7EhjhmdbfA&index=7&feature=plcp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WF3yRDeCCs&list=UUElglyXDwH2mh7EhjhmdbfA&index=6&feature=plcp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_dicxaQMsE&list=UUElglyXDwH2mh7EhjhmdbfA&index=5&feature=plcp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lryx0muDIso&list=UU2qz5ttZ9Neoelrt36swRWQ&index=13&feature=plcp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_BFIgkyhHs&list=UU2qz5ttZ9Neoelrt36swRWQ&index=12&feature=plcp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sXhr-6Pr8g&list=UU2qz5ttZ9Neoelrt36swRWQ&index=8&feature=plcp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUCHs4x7_eU&list=UU2qz5ttZ9Neoelrt36swRWQ&index=7&feature=plcp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xI2ZiwgmHH4&list=UU2qz5ttZ9Neoelrt36swRWQ&index=6&feature=plcp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPxy05I9OKk&list=UU2qz5ttZ9Neoelrt36swRWQ&index=5&feature=plcp

The Broadsword League Database

https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=16a9a6b125b42466#!/view.aspx?cid=16A9A6B125B42466&resid=16A9A6B125B42466%21190

We’re making some exciting changes to the Broadsword League in 2011. First, the rules have been simplified- it may look like there are just as many rules as ever, but if you read them over they pretty much boil down to “fight to five touches, everything else is up to you.” More importantly, from now on all Broadsword League bouts will be on video for the world to see. No longer will the bouts simply be numbers in a database once they’re done- you’ll be able to watch them and enjoy the action. Broadsword fencing may not be on ESPN yet, but this is a start!

Some people might be disappointed that we’re dropping the original five-minute scoring format, but almost no one was using that format anymore and it added too much complexity to calculating the averages. The five-touch format became standard in most forms of Western fencing in the 19^th century, and we’ve concluded that this happened for a very good reason. Five-touch bouts are exciting and fast-paced, there’s no element of “waiting out the clock” and they are long enough to provide an accurate test of the fencers’ skills. The other rules we dropped were unnecessary barriers to participation or were needlessly complicated, or required a level of participation that would be very hard to accomplish without more League members.

It isn’t always easy to get bouts on video, so rather than trying to schedule as many bouts as possible, League fencers should make a point of arranging a minimum of five bouts for the year. This is enough to qualify for the championships, and five bouts preserved on video for everyone to enjoy is better than a long list of bouts in a database that no one can see. Competitors are also encouraged to post video of interviews with the combatants, broadsword training in preparation for League competition, etc. Broadsword fencing will grow when people start to follow the League and the fortunes of individual fencers, so let’s make that a reality.

1- The weapons to be used in Broadsword League bouts include any blunt broadsword or backsword, heavy sabre, wooden, aluminum or otherwise appropriate waster, modified shinai or singlestick. An off-hand weapon may also be used if agreed by both fencers.

2- Any aspect of the bout that is not specified by the rules may be a matter of agreement between the fencers, such as what will constitute a valid touch, whether to fight on a fencing strip or in an open area, whether to count double touches against both fencers or to disregard them, whether to allow thrusts or only cuts, and any other aspects of the fight that are not spelled out in the current rules. The default rule is that a touch is valid if it would have drawn blood with sharps, but some fencers may wish to count only touches that would have ended the fight immediately, or only touches to the mask, or some other variation.

3- Whatever type of weapon is used, the fencers must wear sufficient safety gear to avoid injury. A three-weapon fencing mask and jacket or equivalent is the bare minimum, but additional back-of-head protection is highly recommended.

4- Fencers must consider themselves honor-bound to acknowledge any touch anywhere on the body that may plausibly have been valid. The fencer who first receives five touches has lost the bout. If the score is 5-0, the winner earns 26 points and the loser 16. If the score is 5-1, the winner earns 25 points and the loser 17. If the score is 5-2, the winner earns 24 points and the loser 18. If the score is 5-3, the winner earns 23 points and the loser 19. If the score is 5-4, the winner earns 22 points and the loser 20. In the event of a 5-5 bout, both fencers will earn 21 points.

5- No two members of the League may fight more than one official bout with each other per calendar week.

6- In the event of any disagreement or dispute, the match is to be considered void.

7- All bouts are to be videotaped, and the videos are to be posted on Youtube, with no more than one bout per video. The description of the video on Youtube must include the full first and last names of both fencers, as well as the final score. The League should then be contacted with the URL of the video. No bout will be counted as official if it is not recorded and reported in this way.

8- The Broadsword League awards the title of "Broadsword Champion" at the end of each year to the fencer with the best year-to-date average who has fought at least 5 Broadsword League bouts for the year. The title of “Broadsword Champion” will also be awarded to the winner of any Prize Playing tournament, or to any League fencer who can remain undefeated for ten consecutive bouts. The League will also award the traditional ranks of Western swordsmanship on the following basis- one-time Broadsword Champions will earn the rank of “scholar,” two-time Champions the rank of “free scholar,” and three-time Champions the rank of “provost.”

9- The Broadsword League will award an annual "Wandering Swordsman" certificate, in honor of the League member who travels the greatest distance to fight a Broadsword League bout. Unranked League fencers who win this prize will be awarded the rank of “scholar.”

10- A "Prize Playing" is a public tournament of challenge matches for Broadsword League fencers, the goal of which is to earn the title of “Broadsword Champion” by fighting and defeating all challengers. A Prize Playing may be organized by any member of the Broadsword League. Members hosting a Prize Playing are strongly advised to carry insurance that will cover the event. The entire event must be videotaped and the videos must be recorded and reported in the same way as regular League bouts. A Prize Playing must have a minimum of 5 competitors. Every competitor must challenge every other competitor present. The public must be informed of the event and invited to attend. The fencer with the highest average at the end of the day is the winner of the Prize Playing, and will receive the title of “Broadsword Champion.”