The Referee Committee
The Referee Committee
The fairness of tournaments, the safety of bouts, and professional standards are guaranteed by our Referees’ Committee. Our goal is not merely to enforce rules, but to create a supportive competition culture where respect and performance are inseparable.
Head of the Committee
Krisztina has been a prominent figure in international refereeing, training, and rule-making for over a decade.
She has gained extensive experience across both conventional and “combat” oriented HEMA events. As a co-founder of the Tyrnhaw ruleset and competition model, she has been responsible for training referees across multiple countries. Her professional authority is rooted in an elite competitive background: she is a multi-time international medalist and a two-time Swordfish champion. Currently an active sabre fencer (FIE), she possesses a deep understanding of both sides of the piste—from the perspective of both the competitor and the official.
Her goal is to elevate refereeing to a professional level and to foster a competition culture where technical excellence and mutual respect are inseparable.
Referee Training & Community
Good refereeing practice is inseparable from active fencing; therefore, the Committee is not merely an administrative body, but a living professional workshop.
Regular Training: We organize central referee training days four times a year (quarterly).
Diverse Knowledge Base: Sessions are led by Nagy Krisztina alongside other MHS experts and invited guest lecturers.
Practice on the Strip: These occasions also serve as free fencing days, where rules are immediately tested in action, strengthening friendships between clubs.
Vision: Our goal is to develop our own recognized licensing system for qualified referees over time.
Under Development:
The Modular Rule System
Currently, the MHS Board, the Referees’ Committee, and experienced competitors are collaborating on a gap-filling, unified system. The project is also supported by several other organisers like András Berki (Head Instructor of KR ViSE) and the former head of the Referee Committee. The foundation of this work is the first Hungarian conventional ruleset from 2022, followed by the “combat” type expansion in 2025.
The core concept: One common foundation, multiple possible paths.
The Common Framework
These chapters remain constant at every tournament, guaranteeing safety and predictability:
Equipment: Unified protective gear standards for every weapon.
Organization & Refereeing: Protocols for running tournaments, referee hand signals, and communication.
Etiquette & Discipline: Basics of sportsmanship and the penalty system (cards).
The 3 Scoring Modules (Longsword)
Organizers can attach three types of scoring systems to this common base, depending on the tournament’s objective:
Right of Way / VOR (Priority): A conventional system rewarding clean hits and initiative.
COMBAT: A perspective prioritizing the reality of the fight and physical performance.
Afterblow: A system built on the dynamics of simultaneous hits and subsequent defense.
Future Plans & Transparency
The system is currently most developed for Longsword, but drafts for Rapier and Padded Weapons are already available on the development platform.
We believe in transparency, so the development of the rule system is open. The workflow, version history, and current status are viewable by anyone on the project’s GitHub page.