Bring the storm indoors.

You are cordially invited to FROSTFECHT 2024 ❄️⚔️

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Frostfecht is Ironwood’s year-end open house & open sparring day. Hosted in the beautiful sanctuary space of The Spire, the goal is to bring together local clubs & combatants to share our knowledge and enthusiasm for our martial arts, in the spirit of the season of storms.

All are welcome, no matter your weapon or system. Our doors are open to all those from HEMA, HAMA, SCA, Amtgard, Vikings, Eastern Martial Artists, and any other practicing combat communities.

Attendance is free, and loaner gear/weapons will be available. There is space for informal sparring, and general socializing.

There will also be an optional mini tournament using “fechtschule” rules, allowing for everyone to participate regardless of equipment or experience, with a prize provided for the winner. But the emphasis of the day is on camaraderie, not competition.

After the event itself, we will be going out for food and drinks at the Kingston Brewing Company, and would love for you to join the feast if you can!

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⏳ December 1st, 2024 | 1:00 – 3:00pm

🗺️ The Spire |  82 Sydenham St, Kingston

🅿️ Street parking only

🚪 Enter through the blue door next to the alley/parking lot and turn left once inside

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FECHTSCHULE RULES 📜

The tournament is based on historical fechtschules, which were gatherings of fencers from various guilds intended to demonstrate ability with an emphasis on safety and sporting spirit. Unlike typical elimination or round-robin tournaments, they often followed a “bear pit” approach, a competitive format where one player stays in a “pit” or central position, taking on multiple challengers one after another until they are replaced. The Frostfecht tourney will likewise be a bear pit variant.

All competitors will receive 3 tokens, and form a line. 2 fighters will be chosen at random to begin “in the pit”.

⚔️ Weapons/Gear:

The fighters “in the pit” must use weapons which suit the fighter with the least amount of protective equipment. Gear requirements in the order of most to least are: STEEL > NYLON > FOAM, and judges will have final say on what constitutes appropriate equipment.

All fighters must wear at least a mask and light gloves to be eligible for foam combat, and we heavily suggest that all fighters wear a cup as needed. Masks and gloves will be available to borrow.

Fighters may use differently shaped weapons, as long as the material is the same for both fighters. Sidearms, such as a dagger on the belt, may be equipped if both fighters agree and their gear allows for its use.

📈 Point System:

Match victories will be determined by best 2 out of 3 exchanges.

Fighters must reset to their starting positions between exchanges and wait until the judge tells them to begin.

Upon losing a match, a fighter must give up 1 token and return to the back of the line. Once a competitor has no tokens left, they are out of the tournament. The tournament goes until only one competitor remains.

Upon winning a match, a fighter does not give up a token but must remain “in the pit”. No fighter may remain “in the pit” for more than 3 consecutive matches, so upon their third win they must also return to the back of the line.

Fighters at the front of the line will fill any empty spaces “in the pit”.

Matches will be judged, though we welcome fighters to call any hits against themselves which the judges may have missed.

⚖️ Doubles/Afterblows:

An exchange can be won by striking any valid target, without receiving a counterblow before the judge calls a halt.

Any “doubles”, exchanges in which both fighters strike each other simultaneously and/or before the judge calls halt, will not be counted towards the points of a match. However, if the fighters double 3 times during their match, it will be counted as a loss for both, and both must forfeit a token and return to the back of the line.

Ultimately, it will be up to the judge’s discretion, who may defer to the fighters as needed. It is also possible to discard an exchange entirely, aka “when in doubt, throw it out”.

🎯 Target Zones:

Valid targets include the front and sides of the head and torso, as well as the entirety of the arm (including hands). 

Invalid targets include the groin, the spine/back, and the back of the head.

Legs are only valid targets when using foam weapons, or if both fighters have rigid knee and shin protection.

Hews, slices, and thrusts are allowed as scoring actions.

Grappling may be allowed, by fighter’s choice. But under no circumstance do we allow throws, joint locks, or strikes with the body (i.e. punching or kicking).

For this tournament, pommel and crossguard strikes are both illegal moves.

👋 Special Considerations:

To give consideration to the diverse club cultures of those who may attend, the judge will confirm the following before each match.

• “Do both fighters agree to grappling?”
• If no: “Do both fighters agree to arm-to-arm contact?”
• “Does either fighter have any special restrictions or requests?”
• Confirm verbally if legs are a valid target for this match or not.

Fighters may request rules for the match at this time, such as “no head hits allowed” or “no thrusts allowed”, or simply voice a general request such as “25% speed” or “reduced force”. 

In the spirit of camaraderie, we are hoping to not have to enforce a card/warning system. But a judge or fighter may halt and end a match at any time if safety becomes a concern.

🎲 Gambling Tokens:

To make things more fun, competitors may gamble tokens as they see fit, whether they are the active fighters or not. This is the only way to accrue new tokens, but beware: it’s also the fastest way to lose them…