MARS Musketeers Old School Open

MARS Musketeers Open 2013 will be an unsanctioned 1974 rules tournament. $5 registration, $5 per event. A's fence for $10 off, B's fence for $5 off. Remember the days before most fencing rule changes were dictated by the IOC and FIE almost entirely in order to make fencing more "audience friendly," at least in theory? Whether you do or don't, the MARS Musketeers "Back in the Day" Tournament hearkens back to this time. With some exceptions, the 1974 Amateur Fencers League of America Rule Book will be in use. (The AFLA was the USFA's predecessor.) In brief summary: Bouts are of five touches with a time limit of six minutes. There is no direct elimination: the tournament is composed of round robin pools or roughly six fencers to a final of six. (For what it's worth, this format was in use fencing-wide for roughly a century, and was devised by epee fencers.) Double defeats apply: in other words, if the score is 5-5 or is tied when time is up, both fencers are counted as defeated. Corps à corps is not called, nor the bout halted, unless there is jostling or brutality, in which case normal penalties apply. There is no ridiculous non-combativity rule, although fencers must fence to the best of their abilities as usual. Coaching in any form is not permitted during bouts. One may neither coach nor encourage a fencer during a bout, although applause is allowed. Please note that ratings cannot be earned in this format. Proof of USFA membership is required for insurance, but it need not be competitive membership. Preregistration opens on 09/27/2012. Preregistration closes on 10/19/2012.