Rules are here: The Thrown Gauntlet Rules

***PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN CHANGES TO THE RULES. THEY ARE SHOWN IN RED***

Gear Requirements:

• Pleasesee the rules, as gear level depends on weapon type.
  

Allowed weapon types::

• Please see the rules for allowed weapon types.

Rules are here: Path to the Elite Four Rules

***PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN CHANGES TO THE RULES. THEY ARE SHOWN IN RED***

Gear Requirements:

• Required: 

  • Steel mesh fencing mask rated to 350N or above

  • Back of head protection

  • Hard gorget for throat protection

• Fencing jacket rated to 350N 

• Medium-weight gloves designed for HEMA

  • Rapier gloves without hard sections on the back of hand are not permitted

  • Lacrosse/hockey gloves are not permitted

• Hard joint protectors (knees and elbows)

• Athletic supporter/cup as needed

• Hard shin protectors

• Closed toe shoes

• Recommended:

  • Chest protectors/plastrons recommended

  • Forearm protectors recommended

Weapon Requirements:

• All weapons are subject to examination for safety and condition for use. Noticeable damage and burrs on the blade edge will be rejected. 

• Sharps, blunts (not designed for sparring), technical, and buhurt swords will not be approved for safety reasons. 

• Modern Olympic fencing weapons, smallswords, longswords, and polearms are not allowed in this tournament. 

• All steel swords must have a thickened tip with rubber, plastic, or leather. Plastic (like polymorph plastic) is preferred.

• Fighters may fight with only a single weapon or may choose to combine it with an offhand weapon/parrying device in their other hand. If they do so, the off-hand weapon/parrying device must be something that they can safely control.

  • Fighters may use a single off-hand weapon as their main weapon with or without another off-hand weapon/parrying device in their other hand.  

    • A fighter can attempt to fight with two daggers (no sneak attack bonus)

    • A fighter may choose to fight with a dagger in their main hand, and parrying device in their off-hand

Allowed weapon types::

• Steel single-hand sword 

  • Includes rapier, sabre, broadsword, arming sword, sidesword, messer, rapier, spadroon, and transitional weapons similar to these.

  • Swords must be designed for sparring, and have appropriate weight and flex.

  • Swords may be disallowed for concerns of weight, balance, flex, or dangerous features by Steel Jam.

  • Blades up to 45 inches.

  • Must have a thickened tip with rubber, plastic, or leather. 

• Bucklers/Targes/Rotellas (steel, wood, or synthetic)

  • Steel, synthetic, or wood bucklers/targes/rotellas that will not splinter or chip at the edges or face

  • Bucklers/targes/rotellas not to be used for striking.

  • No buckler/targe/rotella may exceed 25” in any direction.

• Other offhand and parrying devices

  • Cloaks for parrying are allowed 

    • Thrusts to the cloak that apply pressure through the cloak to a valid target are considered scoring hits. The fabric will not stop a thrust. 

    • Cuts to the cloak, even if wrapped around a valid target, are not considered a scoring hit. 

    • Cloaks must be held in the hand or wrapped around a limb. 

  • Fencing-safe daggers are permitted of any style up to 20.5” (must adhere to steel single-sword safety rules)

  • Using a second steel single-hand sword from this list  in a fighter’s off hand is allowed.

  • Fighters must be able to safely control the weapons or devices they’re using in their off-hand. Inability to do so will result in a penalty. Do not use an offhand weapon you cannot control.

  • Offhand and parrying devices may be disallowed for concerns of weight, balance, flex, or dangerous features by Steel Jam.

  • Any weapon or implement not explicitly listed here must be approved on a case-by-case basis

Steel Jam VIII will be held on February 7th, 2026, at the Clermont City Center. the address is 620 W Montrose St, Clermont, FL.

Doors open at 8am for set up. The event will run from 9am-6pm. Breakdown is from 6pm-7pm. Help is always appreciated for set up and break down, if attendees have time.

After breakdown, we usually go to Suncreek Brewery, which is very nearby.