Pit Fighting Pre-Combat post may be given in any form however, they should include the following elements: Height, Weight, Placement of weapons, stance, distance from foe and weapons. The limit is 6 weapons, 2 defensive and 4 attacking weapons.
Each Warrior MUST post pre-Combat posts in the room simultaneously. Both fighters will be given five minutes to write and HOLD their pre fight posts, only posting them when the Judges or timekeeper calls for them.
The Pit is a 21ft circle, fighter’s starting distance is determined by the distance posted in both prepost’s divided by 2.
- eg: Fighter 1 posts 10ft Fighter 2 posts 4ft. The starting distance will be 7ft both are 3.5 ft from the centre of the pit and 7ft from the pit wall.
Weapons must be from the books.
A coin toss will decide the order of turns. The challenged getting choice of heads or tails, the winner of the coin toss will chose first or second post.
A simple, alternating post system is used 12, 21, 12, 21. "DONE" will be posted in a separate post and in caps to show the post is completed.
Each fighter is allowed four actions per round, two attacks and two defenses, any extra will be void.
There is no need to state which hand your weapon is in as long as you use the weapons stated in pre post, unless you have two of the same weapons in both hands. If you take another weapon you must state where you got it from and with which hand, and it must have been stated in your pre post.
A "tries" or "attempts" must accompany each attack and defense, the words to, at, etc are allowed as long as the action is attempted or tried. If you do not try or attempt your post will be forced. A voided forced post does not void or alter the opponents attack / defense.
You may move, take, draw or drop weapons without the word try or attempt.
The word towards will not replace a try or attempt.
All other maneuvers such as trying to keep a distance should be tried and an explanation of how you are maintaining the distance.
- eg: moves with Him trying to make and keep the distance to 3ft.
No conclusion to any attack can be posted or the whole attack will be deemed void
- eg: tries to thrust at His neck with sword cutting off his head would be deemed void.
Tries to thrust at His neck with sword trying to cut off his head is valid.
The only abbreviations allowed are lbs (pounds) ft (feet) rt (right) and lft (left)
One post by each Warrior is considered a turn. If your post is “cut off” the words not on the screen for the Judges will not be allowed.
At the conclusion of the turn, the Judge will determine wounds delivered to each Warrior. The Judge's decision may not be disputed. Any arguing with judgment will not be tolerated, a warning may be given and if ignored the Judge may deem to disqualify (See Judging Rules)
A 5-minute time limit will be imposed in which to post, every opponent will adhere to this. Judge will impose a penalty for each minute of late posting and allow the next fighter an extra minute or take a minute off the late posters next post. Once a man posts late the timer will continue to post the time in one min lots.
Time keepers must be experienced and accurate in timekeeping showing the amount of time passed in minutes.
Rules for Judging
Judges in Honour or Death . Matches are chosen by the fighters.....thats the old way
They chose one judge each who then chose a neutral or third judge.
Usually a separate "judging room" is opened and as the fighters post each mans judge gives his verdict. If after 30 mins they cannot agree on an outcome the neutral judge calls the verdict.
He may deem to give advice during the discussion but only if he’s asked by the other two judges. He should let the other two judges try to come to an agreement first and only if it is obvious they are not going to agree should he step in and call the match.
Neutral judge should be totally unbiased and should have had a lot of experience judging and fighting. Even if his judgment isn’t agreed on by everyone, he should be shown respect and his word taken as law by everyone involved, and that’s why its important to use a neutral judge who has shown to be fair and unbiased in previous judging.
I have found this way of judging dosnt work.It may take hours not minutes to come to an agrement if any. Therefoe there will be no honour or death matches held here in VLS to be judged by anyone not of the home.
No one will judge if they don't know the rules.
Tips for Sparring and Judging
When making your posts be clear who you are talking about a typical confusing post is:
moves his sword rt to lft towards his leg
Use I, Me, Mine dont post in third person even though its an action
What is circling?
Circling is moving in a circle keeping to the same distance from your foe. If your foe is the centre in a clock face 4ft away and your at 6 o’ clock both facing. If you circle rt to 3o’clock (that’s directly to his left) you have circled rt 6ft, but are still 4ft away from Him. Circumference of a circle is 31/7th x Radius x 2(round 31/7th to 3 for ease)
e.g.
3x 4 x 2 is 24 …….moving to 3o’clock is ¼ the way around so is 6ft
Judges need to remember circling isn’t moving nearer. And if you circle you really do need to turn to face your foe.
Turning to Face
When we are sparring we as Warriors attack the way we are facing so if we move sideways no matter how far we have to turn and face the foe. This doesn’t mean to say He is turned to face you unless He states in His post that He has. If you move sideways it is presumed you are sidestepping unless stated otherwise.
E.g. circles to My rt 6ft and turns to face
If the foe is 4ft away I am now on His left turned to face Him but He is still looking to where I was……..He also has to turn and face…..so If He throws a quiva or tries to stab With spear etc He will miss as He isn’t turned to face Me……but I can do those same attacks to Him and hit as I’m turned to face Him all being its His left side
Facing or tracking is moving your head to watch you need to turn your body to face. try to keep facing isn’t moving your body to face its just moving your head so be clear on this.
Moving
You do not need to try or attempt to take a weapon, drop a weapon or move unless you are attempting to keep a distance.
Be aware of your movements if you drop to one knee or fall to the ground and roll over make sure you remember to stand up. If you move out of the way of an attack or feint using a legitimate move stating distance and direction then the evasion must be allowed. .
i.e. drops to rt kee...stands and moves back 3ft
i.e. bends rt knee to 6inches from ground......lunges forwards 3ft
i.e. rolls to My rt 6ft..stands and turn to face
Trying to keep a distance
Its not good enough when moving in a spar to say keeps the distance to 6ft or whatever the distance……have to say how you did this and as it not given that this actually happens as he may move too you need to try otherwise its forced. The appointed judges would judge the actual move.
An example of this is moves with him trying to get and keep at 8ft or follows his moves trying to get and maintain 8ft
Pre posting
Pre posting is one of the most neglected parts of fighting. Know your weapons and post a clear picture of how you are holding a weapon and where it is aimed. Use weapons from the books don’t try to invent magic weapons that maybe could have been manufactured in Gor. If you can’t find a quote for a weapon don’t use it.
Also prepost distances, the height and size of the man have to be taken into account when using weapons. If someone is swinging a bola over his head with five ft straps and you end up 2ft from him your probably going to get hit unless the other man is 7ft tall. You can’t be on one knee swinging a bola downwards with five ft straps or it would hit the ground. A seven foot spear held one foot from the base pointed towards the foe wouldn’t work if you are 4ft apart. All these things need to be taken into account when pre posting.
There seems to be some confusion with pre post and weapons in what hands. The rule is if you say you have a sword in rt hand in pre post and you use right hand in the post without having changed the weapon it is assumed the sword is in your right hand. The problem I see that has occurred lately is the use of the weapon or the lack of use
E.g. moves to within 3ft and tries to slash with rt hand towards his left side of neck from rt to left……the post is incomplete and incorrect …………………and slashing with the hand wont do anything it’s the sword that does the damage
We know from pre post that the sword is in the rt hand so don’t have to say so, but you do have to say what weapon you are attacking with in your post. This only really applies if your using one sword, In the case of using a sword in both hands the hand and weapon should be named.
Just the same as when you have a dagger or a throwing weapon its not good enough just to say "takes the dagger
Moves to within 3ft slashes with sword towards the left side of his neck from rt to left… correct as in your prepost you have said the sword is in your rt hand.
Moves to within 3ft slashes with rt hand towards the left side of his neck from rt to left… wrong your slashing with your hand not the sword.
Might seem a bit pedantic but making it crystal clear for judging saves any arguments later.
The Feint
A Feint is another word for pretend. A feint is not an attack its a distraction, however it needs to be tried and acknowledged as in reality if your foe came towards you feinting an attack to your shoulder you wouldn’t realise it until the last second. if the foe feints with one weapon and then simultaneously attacks with the same or different weapon the defence can be done on both weapons at the same time. When using a feint then attacking with the same weapon you must state how you do it
i.e. tries to feint rt sword thrust towards foes lft knee re aims rt sword try to thrust sword towards foes lft shoulder.....If have only one sword dont have to say rt or lft as long as its in pre post
.
Attacks/ Defences don’t only come with weapons If someone kicks sand in your face or spits to blur your vision its or a grab or hold to stop you moving can be used as your attack or defence.
Defending
thrusts rt sword towards Foes left knee simultaneously thrusting lft sword thrust towards foes lft shoulder .......moving back from either is good as they are thrust simultaneosly (same time) It is up to the judges to decide if in fact you moved enough distance to evade the attack so again watch your distances let the judge decide which one of the attacks isn’t valid ( of course if one attack is a valid feint it works the same way)
Zig Zag
When moving forward in a zig zag motion you are still moving forward towards your opponent from one side to the other and if the foe moves to the side you don’t automatically follow unless you state it and when you get to your stated distance if the foe has moved for example side ways you are also not facing.
Learn your weapons and remember the length of the weapon your using. A short sword is 20 to 24 inches a long sword 36 - 50 inches long and most the time needs two hands to use.
How would a three ft shield cover from neck to ankle?
How would you thrust a long sword from a one ft distance?
Would you thrust with a 7ft spear from 2ft?
Would you launch a bola with five ft straps from one foot away?
Most of this is common sense, which we need to use when judging a fight
When throwing a dagger ,cahnpi spear etc it must be done properly.
i.e. takes weapon to rt hand pulls weapon in rt hand over rt shoulder into throwing position aims weapon and tries to throw weapon towards foes body part whatever it is.. saying all this will give the judges no doubt to what was trying to be achieved. Also make it clear what you are throwing no use just saying "it" 'takes dagger in rt hand pulling rt arm back and tries to throw it.....have to say throws dagger.'
Holding a spear.
a) If you hold a spear underhand your thumb is on top of the fist and is used for thrusting and jabbing and the use of the full extent of your arm can be used..
B) If you hold the spear over hand your thumb will be at the bottom of your fist. ..this is usually in throwing position with hand holding spear is over said shoulder ,your arm cannot be fully extened as the spear will start to point downwards( talking within the confines of a pit) .....mechanics of the body.
Distances
If your facing someone from 10ft away and He moves 4ft rt and turns to face You are now facing where he was. He is facing you diagonally from a distance of aprox 10 3/4ft. (10.77 to be pecise) If you move four ft forward without turning to face you move forward 4ft to where he was before he moved. I have found the easiest way to work out distances is to draw it measuring the distances in cm on a ruler.
Glossary Dictionary Terms
Feint .... A movement made in order to deceive an adversary; an attack aimed at one place or point merely as a distraction from the real place or point of attack: military feints; the feints of a skilled fencer.
Lunge ..... a sudden forward thrust with body , as with a sword or knife: stab
Thrust .....To push forcibly: shove: put or drive with force: He thrust his way through the crowd, He thrust a dagger into his back
Slash....... To cut with a violent sweeping stroke or by striking violently and at random as with a knife or sword.
Parry ...... To ward off ( a thrust, stroke, weapon, etc) as in fencing, avert
Swing...To cause to move in alternate directions or in either direction around a fixed point on an axis, or on a line of support, as a door on hinges.
Circle... A closed plane curve consisting of all points at a given distance from a point within it called the centre.
What I have found is that if You dont practice everyday You will forget what You have already learned.
