General Considerations
This tournament is meant to be a gentlemen’s event, everyone should behave as such and is strongly encouraged not to take things too seriously.
Lack of self-control and displays of aggressiveness as well as any form of disrespect, towards an opponent or referee will result in one unique warning and then a disqualification.
In order to not turn this tournament into a contest between a small number of experts, those rules have been adapted to allow most people to participate. If the event is renewed in the following years, athletes will have more time to prepare and we will adjust the rules accordingly.
Women, if enough of them are willing to compete, will have their own ranking.
Please note that this version of the rules will evolve in the future events and this is a friendly tournament. Use the opportunity to have a good time and bond over shared passion.
Hoplomachia
- Ruling
- Opponents salute each other respectfully before each point by lightly striking their spear shafts against each other, this is a sign for each other that they are ready to start.
- A match will be decided in 3 points, the opponent with the most points wins.
- A point is given to a fighter when he touches his opponent in a valid zone without being touched at the same time.
- Valid zones for scoring a point : all body except the part of the leg under the knee. Since only heavily blunted spears will be allowed, hits to the face are authorized. However everyone should attack with caution and keep in mind his opponent’s safety.
- Body armor hit : a point is scored when a body armor is hit 2 times
- A fighter has the possibility to not wear a body armor if they cannot find one (though it should be avoided) accepting the fact that they will compensate the lack of body protection by a little extra mobility
- A simultaneous hit from both opponents results in the point being invalidated for both of them
- After the duration of the fight if both fighters have the same amount of points, the sudden-death rule will be applied, victory for the match being granted to the next opponent to score a valid point.
- A movement cutting back (or draw cut) with the spearhead after a ‘passed’ hit against the unarmoured neck, inner thigh, under arm is considered as a slice and counts a point
- Return to position : If the opponents during the fight move too much towards the public, or the limits of the fighting zone the referees can decide to stop the fight, Ideally at the end of an exchange, to replace the fighters at the center. Opponents also return to position each time a point is scored.
- Wrestling moves : Wrestling and grappling will not be authorized
- Shield attacks : Front percussion and shield pushes to the opponent’s shield will be tolerated. Shield punches to the body and face will be forbidden. Generally speaking, shield attacks should be used as a way to bait an opponent into an attack or to hide your own attack, not harming him. Aggressive shield use to intimidate will not be tolerated.
- Equipment
- Spears
The opponents will use spears using the following characteristics :
- Possesses a blunted head and Saurotere
- The Blunt should be wide enough so it cannot go into the eye in case of a hit to the head, the foam soft enough to prevent injuring the opponent, and sturdy enough to not feel the wooden shaft behind it in case of hard blow.
- Fighters should try to control as much as possible the force applied when landing a hit to the head.
- The shaft of the spear should have a length 2m to 2,50m, It will be inspected before each match to check for the presence of cracks or splinters. The opponent can choose to have a slightly shorter one if it’s validated by judges acknowledging that this could be a disadvantage for them.
- The judges will have full authority to rule out a spear if they deem it unsafe, providing a standardized spear so they can fight anyway
- Protective Equipment
- Body armor
A body armor of Linothorax or Bronze thorax or a leather Spolas type can be used and will provide a degree of protection to the fighter
- Greaves/Knêmis
Wearing greaves is strongly encouraged. Though acknowledging the fact that not every fighter has the means to get well adjusted ones, the part of the leg under the knee will be considered protected anyway.
- Aspis Koile
The shield should be of standard dimensions for a functional Aspis (Around 90cm depending on the figher’s size).
The standard’s Aspis should weight between 5 and 8 kilos. If a fighter has a preference for a heavier shield, they can follow their preference acknowledging the disadvantage it might give them and taking full responsibility for it.
- Helmet
Fighters should wear a padded battle ready helmet, judges will have authority to rule out a helmet if they estimate it poses a threat on the fighter’s safety. The choice of helmet type is left to the fighters.
- Additional protections
A fighter can choose to wear additional pieces of armor granting same protection as body armor (2 hits to score 1 point)
- Modern protections
If no suitable helmet can be found by the fighter, modern HEMA masks will be tolerated until quarter-finals.
After this point the number of opponents should have shrunk enough to be lending equipment to each other so all opponents can look nice for pictures 🙂
Two Stadia Race – Men
- The signal for departure will be : PODA, PARAPODA, APITE (Literally : Feet parallels, Go). The opponents wait for the TE of APITE to start running. Starting before that will result in a disqualification for the race.
- All opponents start with feet parallels and behind the start line
- Whether the opponents run with or without shoes will be decided on site depending of the quality of the running field we will have at disposal
- The recommended attire for running is a Perizoma. But if opponents feel more comfortable keeping their Exomid or Chiton, they can choose to do so
1 or 2 Stadia Race – Women
- The signal for departure will be : PODA, PARAPODA, APITE (Literally : Feet parallels, Go). The opponents wait for the TE of APITE to start running. Starting before that will result in a disqualification for the race.
- All opponents start with feet parallels and behind the start line
- Whether the opponents run with or without shoes will be decided on site depending of the quality of the running field we will have at disposal
- The recommended attire for women running is a chitoniskos but we’re open to other attire choices n(like running in a peplos or long chiton with the hem held in one hand, a la Spartan statuettes)
Weighted Long Jump
- The signal for departure will be : PODA, PARAPODA, APITE (Literally : Feet parallels, Go)
- All opponents start with feet parallels and behind the start line
- The opponents must make 5 jumps using the weights to build momentum and go as far as possible.
- The distance is counted from the starting line to the nearest point the jumper touched last with his feet.
- To be valid, the serie of jumps should end on both feet
Discus
- The thrower may not leave the designated throwing circle of 2.5 meters during the throw
- The thrower may have two throws in competition.
- The thrower may rotate as much as they like; however, if the thrower leaves the circle before the discus strikes the ground, the throw is foul.
- To be valid and measured, the throw must land between the boundaries (side lines)
Archery
- Volley of 3 arrows
- After the volley the total points of each contestant is counted
- The contestant with the most points will win
- If two or more contestants end with the same score, another volley with them is performed
- This discipline will occur only if we can provide range safety
Javelin Throw
- For this first edition, we do not want to turn this tournament into a competition between a few people who had the opportunity to practice. The short delays making it difficult for people to train adequately in time. Therefore the Ankylé (leather propeller) will not be used so everyone can try
- A point is counted only is the javelin is planted in the ground
- The distance is calculated from the starting line to the planted tip of the javelin
- Rebounds are not valid even if the javelin is planted afterwards
- The opponent’s score is taken amongst the best of 2 throws
- In case of a tie, another round is taken between the opponents
- The thrower starts in the throwing position, the front foot must not move from its position. The back foot can take off the ground but must land behind the front foot
- There are no run-up steps
Orthepale wrestling
- The signal for departure will be : KATESTETE, MAKHESASTE ! (Literally : In position, Fight !)
- This occurrence of this contest will be confirmed on site when we have the opportunity to ensure we can provide a safe zone to practice.
- Both opponents salute each other and start in wrestling posture (That will be demonstrated)
- The fight is decided in 3 points
- For a point to be counted : One of the fighters has to make any part of his opponent’s body touch the ground (Except the feet)
- For a point to be counted only one of the fighters has to touch the ground, if both do the point is canceled.
- When one or both the opponents touch the ground (or a point is granted) the judges stop the fight and replace the fighters at the center
- Finger torsion techniques are forbidden (as well as breaking them)
- To prevent injury, if a locking technique is maintained for 3 seconds the judges will grant a point. It is important that each opponent keep their opponent’s safety when using a locking technique, and to tap out when a fighter locks you.
Hoplitodromos 1 Stadion Armoured Race
- The signal for departure will be : PODA, PARAPODA, APITE (Literally : Feet parallels, Go). The opponents wait for the TE of APITE to start running. Starting before that will result in a disqualification for the race.
- The opponents must run until the pole and run back to the starting line
- Touching the pole result in a elimination
- The total length of the race will be 1 Stadium (A bit less than 200m)
- Mandatory Equipment : Helmet, Bronze Greaves/Knemids, Shield
- Pushes without hit are authorized (This rule will be adjusted on site depending on the safety of the terrain
- Tripping your opponents is forbidden
- The shield should be of standard dimensions and weight for a functional Aspis (Around 90cm depending on the fighter’s size).