spt rules | REQUIRED TECHNIQUES | training | q&a | do's & don'ts

Required Techniques
Each individual weapon (such as rapier and dagger), or stage combat style (such as unarmed) requires that the student be tested in several required techniques. These techniques have been carefully chosen to make sure the performer receives a well-rounded approach to each style. It also insures that a test judge, or adjudicator, sees enough techniques on the test day to be able to fairly decide who has passed the SPT. It is up to the teacher of the class to instruct the students in all of these basic techniques, and then link them into a fight sequence. This becomes the test fight, which all students learn.

Each teacher creates a unique piece of fight choreography for the students to learn. There is no "national standard" fight test. The standard is in the list of required techniques, which all students must master.

Below are the required techniques for each weapon style the SAFD currently recognizes.

1. Rapier & Dagger
   Attacks:
   Rapier attacks in all lines [high, low, inside, & outside] (per combatant): Two Cuts, Two Thrusts, One Punto Reverso.
   Two Dagger Attacks in different lines (per combatant): One Cut, One Thrust
   One Feint Attack
   One Kill or non-debilitating Wound
   Two of Three Slashing Attacks (with either weapon): Horizontal cut across head (duck), Horizontal cut across the mid-line (stomach, back or side) with avoidance, Diagonal swipe (ascending or descending) with avoidance
   Two of Three Prise de Fer (with either weapon): Croisé, Bind, Envelopment
   One of Three Attacks on the Blade (with either weapon): Beat, Press, Glissade
   Two of Four Point Work Techniques (per combatant): Deception of Parry, Coupé, Doublé, and Disengage
   One Corps-à-corps (per fight)
   One Disarm: (per fight)
   One Moulinet (per combatant)
   
   
   
   Defense:
   Rapier parries in all lines (per combatant). These may include: Opposition Parry, Circular Parry, Beat Parry, Reinforced Parry, Hanging Parry and Yield Parry
   Dagger parries in two lines (per combatant). These may be Opposition or Beat Parries (one across the body)
   Three of Four Double Fence Parries (per combatant): Cross Parry, Dagger Reinforced Parry, Parallel Parry, and Transfer/Replace Parry
   
   
   
   Footwork:
   Linear Techniques: advance, retreat, pass forward, pass back, lunge
   Either One Circular Sequence on the floor or One Volte
   One Off-Line sequence (traverse, thwart, etc.)
   
   back to top
   
   
2. Single Sword
   Attacks:
   Attacks in all lines [high, low, inside, & outside] (per combatant): Two Cuts, Two Thrusts - one Punto Reverso
   One Feint Attack
   One Kill or non-debilitating Wound
   Two of Three Slashing Attacks: Horizontal cut across head (duck), Horizontal cut across the mid-line (stomach, back or side) with avoidance, Diagonal swipe (ascending or descending) with avoidance
   Two of Three Prise de Fer: Croisé, Bind and Envelopment
   Two of Three Attacks on the Blade: Beat, Press, Glissade
   Two of Four Point Work Techniques (per combatant): Deception of Parry, Coupé, Doublé, and Disengage
   One Corps-a-corps (per fight)
   One Disarm (per fight)
   One Moulinet (per combatant)
   
   
   
   Defense:
   Rapier parries in all lines (per combatant). These may include: Opposition Parry, Circular Parry, Beat Parry, Reinforced Parry, Hanging Parry and Yield Parry
   
   
   
   Free Hand Techniques:
   Two of Six techniques (per combatant): Grasp of partner's sword arm, Grasp of partner's blade, Two Parries with the hand (one across the body), Attack (i.e. punch, slap or backhand), Double hand sword techniques, Switch sword to free hand and fight.
   
   
   
   Footwork:
   Linear Techniques: advance, retreat, pass forward, pass back, patinando and lunge
   Either One Circular Sequence on the floor or One Volte
   One Off-Line line sequence (traverse, thwart, etc.)
   One Running Attack
   
   back to top
3. Small Sword
   Attacks:
   Attacks in all lines [high, low, inside, & outside] (per combatant)
   One Feint Attack
   One Change beat
   One of Three Slashing Attacks: Horizontal cut across head (duck), Horizontal cut across the mid-line (stomach, back or side) with avoidance, Diagonal swipe (ascending or descending) with avoidance
   Three Prise de Fer: Croisé, Bind and Envelopment
   Three Attacks on the Blade: Beat, Press, and Glissade
   Four Point Work Techniques: Deception of Parry, Coupé, Doublé, and Disengage
   One Corps-a-corps (per fight)
   One Disarm (per fight)
   
   
   
   Defense:
   Parries in all lines (per combatant).
   One Circular Parry
   One Yield Parry
   One Parry with the hand (per combatant)
   
   
   
   Footwork:
   Linear Techniques: advance, retreat, pass forward, pass back, balestra and lunge.
   One Circular Sequence on the floor
   One Demi Volte or Grand Volte
   
   back to top
   
   
4. Unarmed
   Attacks:
   Three Punches (one contact, two non-contact per combatant): These may include the Cross, Hammer, Hook, Jab, Rabbit, Roundhouse, Straight or Uppercut
   One Stomach Punch
   One Slap
   One Elbow Attack
   One Kick (per combatant): This may include an Ax Kick, Back Kick, Crescent Kick, Front Kick, Heel Hook, Roundhouse Kick, Side Kick, or a Snap Kick
   One Knee Attack
   
   
   
   Defense:
   One Block -either punch or kick (per combatant): These may include a Forearm Block, Open Hand Block, Wing Block and X/Cross Block
   
   
   
   Floor Work:
   One Fall or Roll (per combatant)
   
   
   
   Grappling:
   One Strangle/Choke hold
   One Hair Pull
   One Throw or Flip
   
   
   
   Knap Techniques:
   Two Knap Techniques (per combatant): These may include a Cage Knap, Clap Knap, Partnered/Shared Knap, Self/Body Knap or Slip-Hand Knap.
   
   back to top
   
   
5. Broadsword
   Attacks:
   Attacks in all lines [high, low, inside, & outside] (per combatant): Two Cuts, Two Thrusts
   One Bind
   One Pommel or attempted Pommel Attack
   Two of Three Slashing Attacks: Horizontal cut across head (duck), Horizontal cut across the mid-line (stomach, back or side) with avoidance, Diagonal slash (ascending or descending) with avoidance
   One Corps-à-corps (per fight)
   One Moulinet (per combatant)
   
   
   
   Defense:
   Parries in all lines (per combatant). These should include: Opposition Parry, Beat Parry, Reinforced Parry, and Hanging Parry
   
   
   
   Footwork:
   Linear Techniques: pass forward and pass back
   Either One Circular Sequence on the floor or One Volte
   One off-line line sequence (traverse, thwart, etc.)
   One Running Attack
   
   back to top
   
   
6. Quarterstaff
   Attacks:
   Short Form attacks in all lines [high, low, inside & outside] (per combatant)
   Long Form attacks in all lines (per combatant)
   One Thrusting Attack (with fore or butt end)
   One Bind (with fore or butt end)
   One Contact Strike
   One Non-Contact Strike to the head or face
   One Feint Attack
   Two of Four Slashing Attacks: Horizontal cut across head (duck), Horizontal cut across the mid-line (stomach, back or side) with avoidance, Diagonal swipe (ascending or descending) with avoidance, Horizontal cut under the feet (jumping up or back to avoid)
   Moulinet (One 360 degree Moulinet)
   One Disarm (per fight)
   
   
   
   Defense:
   Parries in all lines in both Long and Short Form (per combatant).
   
   
   
   Footwork:
   Linear Techniques: pass forward and pass back
   Either One Circular Sequence on the floor or One Volte
   One off-line line sequence (traverse, thwart, etc.)
   
   back to top
   
   
7. Broadsword and Shield
   Attacks:
   Sword attacks in all lines [high, low, inside, & outside] (per combatant): Two Cuts, Two Thrusts
   One attempted (non contact) attack with shield (per combatant)
   One Bind
   Three Slashing Attacks (with either weapon): Horizontal cut across head (duck), Horizontal cut across the mid-line (stomach, back or side) with avoidance, Diagonal swipe (ascending or descending) with avoidance
   One Moulinet (per combatant)
   
   
   
   Defense:
   Sword parries in low and mid lines. These may include: Opposition Parry, Beat Parry, Reinforced Parry, Hanging Parry and Yield Parry
   Shield parries in high and mid lines. These may be Opposition, Beat, Flat or Edge Parries (one across the body)
   One of Three Joined Parries (per combatant): Shield Reinforced Parry, Parallel Parry, and Transfer/Replace Parry
   
   
   
   Footwork:
   Linear Techniques: (such as a pass forward, pass back or lunge)
   One Off-Line line sequence (such as a traverse, thwart, cross or slip)
   One Running Attack
   
   back to top
   
   
8. Knife
   Attacks:
   Attacks in all lines: [high, low, inside, outside] Two Cuts, Two Thrusts (per combatant)
   One Feint Attack
   One Pommel/Butt or attempted Pommel/Butt Attack
   One Kill or non-debilitating Wound
   Two of Three Slashing Attacks: Horizontal swipe across head (duck), Horizontal swipe across the mid-line (stomach, back or side) with avoidance, Diagonal swipe (ascending or descending) with avoidance
   Two of Three Controlling/Checking Techniques: Transport, Bind and Envelopment
   One Corps-a-corps (per fight)
   One Disarm (per fight)
   
   
   
   Defense:
   Counter Attacks (cut or thrust) in all lines [high, low, inside, outside] (per combatant).
   Blocks/Parries in all lines [high, low, inside, outside] (per combatant). These may be opposition, deflection or redirection techniques and may include: Opposition Block/Parry, Circular Block/Parry, Parallel Block/Parry or Replacement Block/Parry
   
   
   
   Locks and Holds:
   One of Four techniques (per combatant): A lock or trap of the opposing knife hand or arm with the blade; A lock or trap of the opposing knife hand or arm with the free hand; A lock, trap or hold made with both hands/arms; A lock, trap or hold made against the body of the opponent.
   
   
   
   Free Hand Techniques:
   One of Two techniques (per combatant): Attack (i.e. punch, slap or backhand), Switch knife to free hand and fight (per combatant)
   One Knapped attack
   
   
   
   Knife Hand Techniques:
   Grip reversal [overhand to underhand or vice versa] (One per fight)
   
   
   
   Footwork:
   Linear Techniques: (such as an advance, retreat, pass forward or pass back)
   One Off-Line line sequence (such as a traverse, thwart, cross or slip)
   
   back to top

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