• Safety Is Paramount: Hastiludia is a controlled martial arts event, not a free-for-all. All participants must follow the event rules, use approved sparring equipment, respect the referee's decisions, and maintain control throughout the bout. No sharp weapons are permitted. All weapons must be approved by the organizer and meet the event's safety requirements.

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• Fight With Martial Quality: Although Hastartes Tactical and my own edged weapons training advocate this very same philosophy, this actual phrase was coined by Lee Smith from Blood & Iron Martial Arts during the Short Blades Symposium of 2017; in blade-fighting, all attacks ought to be delivered with tactical intent and clean technique, just as one has (presumably) trained in their respective edged weapons systems. This includes strategic footwork and maneuvering, cuts with follow through and deliberate thrusts to vital targets, clear distance management, etc.
   

• Sparring Is As Much Intellectual As It Is Physical: Brute force is the strategy of the unskilled. Control your weapons and yourselves at all times. Utilize the skills you've learned in your chosen combat system to the best of your abilities. Blade-fighting is a higher art; swinging like a cave man and charging in recklessly while absorbing hits do very little to validate your training and your system.
   

• No Mutual Destructions: All fighters must acknowledge every strike is LETHAL. However, "dying" men flail and fighters must understand to get out of range and prevent receiving after blows. If mutual destructions, doubles, etc. persists then the fight will be discontinued. It doesn't matter whether you're fighting as Mr. Tough Guy in a t-shirt or wearing your cute protective fencing jacket - you get hit, you're dead. Period.
   

• Acknowledge And Respect All Hits: Pretty self-explanatory; if you get hit first, have enough sense to recognize it and back away instead of delivering an after blow. You're not impressing anyone by engaging in mutual destruction. Reset from a safe range and resume the fight until the end of the round.
   

• Playing "Tag": Due to lack of experience or ability, some fighters just don't have any martial skills behind their attacks and resort to what I refer to as playing "tag." In the event that either fighter is observed to be engaging in a game of "tag," the bout will be ended immediately. If the same fighter(s) continue to engage in "tagging" in their next bout(s), resulting in the same premature end of the bout and the offending fighter(s) may not be allowed to fight again that day.

Rule Of Thirds: These are somewhat inspired by the Pekiti-Tirsia Kali strategy of thirds and one that I’ve used in past gatherings for experienced fighters;

• 3-Hit Rule: The first fighter who lands 3 consecutive and unanswered strikes wins the bout and the fight is over, regardless how much time remains on the clock. ALL strikes must have martial quality. If the fighter attempting to score three consecutive and unanswered hits gets hit in the process, NONE of his strikes will count.
   

• 3-Count Rule: In the event of a bind, clinch, or stand up grappling, you have up to 3 counts to execute a disarm, takedown and/or throw or to break free of such attempts by your opponent. Referee will step in and separate the fighters if none of these actions are performed successfully after the 3 counts have elapsed. The defender may employ any means necessary to prevent being disarmed or taken down, which includes punching and kicking, or attempt his own takedown/throw.
   

• 3-Second Non-Engagement Rule: Fights must be continuous. Strategizing is fine but the arena is not a place for contemplation. Fighters will be given a warning if the fight stalls or there are no engagements after 3 seconds. If non-engagement persists, the fight will be discontinued since clearly neither fighter wants to engage.

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