How do we fence?
Sofia CrossSwords 2024 is a competitive sporting event, created to give fencers the opportunity to test their abilities in a controlled environment.
The goal of this ruleset is neither the reconstruction of a historical competitive system, nor the simulation of historical combat.
Instead, we aim to be a competitive ground for evaluating key skills needed for developing an understanding of historical fencing techniques and tactics.
The 2024 Weapon categories
For the 2024 edition of Sofia CrossSwords we are keeping all the previous weapon categories and adding one more.
Namely, this year you can compete in:
Open Longsword - our classic tourney category, open for all, full of fighting, with a special caveat - fencers fight and judge in the pools in a special rotation.
Ladies Longsword - the second edition of our main Women’s tourney, fighting to be the most popular tourney of it’s type on the Balkans.
Open Light Longsword - the new category, with the SIGI Light feder provided, more accessible and with potentially less trauma than regular longsword.
Open Arming Sword - our local love, the fundamental one-handed sword. A decade or two more and we will have enough matches for a separate rating. Arming swords provided.
Ladies Arming Sword - the second edition of the only such tournament in HEMA in the world, arming swords provided.
Open Sword & Buckler - ask around about Bulgarians and s&b and you will get why this is a key part of Sofia CrossSwords. Arming swords AND bucklers provided.