Agenda of the L’Esercisio Della Spada
Introductions
Two minutes to arm and stand ready
The Opening exercise - a Single Sword Grand Melee
All combatants start in a circle, armed with Single sword only. When the melee starts you may only first attack the person directly across the circle form you, not the man on either side of You. The melee ends with the last man standing. No death from behind, no tip cuts. No resurrection. This is a warm up for the challenges.
Two minutes to arm and stand ready
The First exercise – Venans will challenge
After the Melee, everyone will then go back into their sides as they lined up as before. The Venans will make their challenges to the Tenans. Each Venan will step forward and make their challenge to a Tenan. After the agreed combat the Venan will then visit the lists to make sure that the challenge is put on the list and then make themselves ready for their bout.
Two minutes to arm and stand ready
The Second exercise – Tenans will challenge
Now The Tenans will make their challenges to the Venans. Each Venan will step forward and make their challenge to a Tenan. After the agreed combat the Tenan will then visit the lists to make sure that the challenge is put on the list and then make themselves ready for their bout.
Two minutes to arm and stand ready
Final Grand Melee
All combatants are armed with whatever weapons they choose to take to the field. All combatants will gather in the center of the tournament field and the Knight of honor will have a basket with markers of different colors inside the basket. Each combatant will draw one marker from the basket and will be assigned to be on that team. They will be divided evenly into 3 groups. Each group will stand in a “corner” equal distance from the other’s opposing corner, ready to start. The melee ends with the last team standing. No death from behind, no tip cuts. Each combatant has 2 resurrections. When each combatant is killed, they will go to their Resurrection point, touch their post and come out to rejoin the battle until they run out of lives.
Ten minutes to break and then combatants will arm and stand ready when called to assemble
The Exercise of Honor – The Gallery’s choice of combat
After a ten minute break for the gallery to confer and discuss their choices. All combatants will come and kneel before the main gallery and a representative from tehe galery will choose the three Venans that they feel have fought with the best of the virtues today. The Venan will then ask a Tenan to share in the honor of combat with. Each couple selected will then fight with the weapon or weapons of choice selected by the gallery. Each of these bouts will only be to a single touch to the quarters. All other combatants will attend and surround the fighting field, with a sword in hand to show honor of their chosen comrades.
The Closing words and Salute
All fighters will gather in a circle, with their sword in hand and closing words will be said and all will salute.