Achievement Levels
Announcing the Optional Jack of Swords ranking system.
Much like eastern martial arts has belts our western martial arts will have a system to show how much you’ve achieved. A ranking system will provide goals to fencers who wish to continue challenging themselves beyond the classes.
Ranks will be specific by weapon type. The ranks are beginner, novice, tyro, and journeyman with an additional special rank of scholar. Once you complete the beginner or introductory class in your weapon type you will automatically be listed as a beginner. Further ranks are achieved by passing performance review and a written test. At no time is ranking meant to become a competitive contest. Ranks are a personal measure of achievement. Civility and decorum must be demonstrated at all times.
How do you continue to advance after a class? By participating in free fencing time as designated by The Jack of Swords. An instructor must be present during free fencing time in order for your bouts to accumulate. In complete bouts no more than 25% may be fought against the same person. All bouts are specific to weapon type.


Foil | Smallsword | Sabre | French Rapier | Italian Rapier | Spanish Rapier | Teaching Levels

Foil
French or Italian (as taught by The Jack of Swords)
BeginnerAutomaticAutomatic
Novice
Awarded single red ribbon to be worn on non weapon arm.		 Pass Written Test
Complete 50 bouts		 Performance:
Etude 1
Guards (parry & counter parry): quarte, sixte, septime, octave;
Attacks: 1-2 attack, Double, Beat & Go, Beat Disengage.
Tyro
Awarded second red ribbon to be worn on non weapon arm.		 Pass Written Test
Complete an additional 100 bouts
(or 150 bouts total with foil)		 Performance:
Etude 2
Guards (parry & counter parry): tierce, seconde, prime;
Direct and indirect reposts (from quarte, sixte, septime, and octave).
Attacks: coupe, croise, bind.
Use of compound attacks
Journeyman
Awarded patch to be worn on non weapon arm with double red ribbon.		 Pass Written Test
Complete an additional 150 bouts
(or 300 bouts total with foil)		 Performance:
envelopment, crossover, ballistra, glide/transverse, volt, slip, passata sotto.
Direct and indirect reposts (from prime, seconde, and tierce).
Use of second intention attacks.
Scholar
May display singe goldribbon to be worn on non weapon arm with patch.		 Pass Written Test
Complete an additional 200 bouts
(or 500 bouts total with foil)		 Achieve Journeyman in one additional weapon.
Top
Smallsword
BeginnerAutomaticAutomatic
Novice
Awarded single blue ribbon to be worn on non weapon arm.		 Pass Written Test
Complete 50 bouts		 Performance:
Etude 1
Guards (parry & counter parry): prime, seconde, tierce, quarte, quinte, sixte, septime and octave.
Attacks: 1-2 attack, double, beat & go, beat disengage, coupe.
Tyro
Awarded second blue ribbon to be worn on non weapon arm.		 Pass Written Test
Complete an additional 100 bouts
(or 150 total bouts with smallsword)		 Performance:
Etude 2
Offhand parries.
Direct and indirect reposts (from prime, seconde, tierce, quarte, sixte, septime and octave).
Attacks: croise, bind, crossover, ballistra glide/transverse.
Journeyman
Awarded patch to be worn on non weapon arm with double ribbon.		 Pass Written Test
Complete an additional 150 bouts
(or 300 total bouts with smallsword)		 Performance:
envelopment, volt, slip, passata sotto, blade disarms.
Use of second intention attacks.
Scholar
May display singe gold ribbon to be worn on non weapon arm with patch.		 Pass Written Test Complete an additional 200 bouts
(or 500 total bouts with smallsword)		 Achieve Journeyman in one additional weapon.
Top
Sabre
BeginnerAutomaticAutomatic
Novice
Awarded single green ribbon to be worn on non weapon arm.		 Pass Written Test
Complete 50 bouts		 Performance:
Guards (parry & counter parry) of prime, seconde, tierce, quarte, and quinte.
Simple cuts, direct reposts, indirect riposte.
Tyro
Awarded second green ribbon to be worn on non weapon arm.		 Pass Written Test
Complete an additional 100 bouts
(or 150 total bouts with sabre)		 Performance:
Etude 1
Beat, Beat with attack, moulinet, thrust attack, thrust repost, stop-hit/cut, time-hit/cut.Use of compound attacks.
Journeyman
Awarded patch to be worn on non weapon arm with double green ribbon.		 Pass Written Test
Complete an additional 150 bouts
(or 300 total bouts with sabre)		 Performance:
Stop-hit/thrust, time-hit/thrust, successive parries, cross-over, ballistra. Use of second intention attacks.
Scholar
May display singe gold ribbon to be worn on non weapon arm with patch.		 Pass Written Test
Complete an additional 200 bouts
(or 500 total bouts with sabre)		 Achieve Journeyman in one additional weapon.
Top
French Rapier
BeginnerAutomaticAutomatic
Novice
Awarded single yellow ribbon to be worn on non weapon arm.		 Pass Written Test
Complete 50 bouts, using the French style.		 Performance:
Stand in correct guard position for school.
Footwork: step forward/backward, step right/left, pass forward/backword, transverse (fr, fl, br, bl), angle.
Guards (parries & counter parries): prime, seconde, tierce, high tierce, quarte, high quarte, septime and octave.
Tyro
Awarded second yellow ribbon to be worn on non weapon arm.		 Pass Written Test
Complete an additional 100 bouts, using the French style.
(or 150 total bouts with rapier, using the French style.)		 Performance:
Push and pull cuts, target control (wrist and inner elbow), cuts through eye, beat, volte and passata sotto.
Footwork: stutter step, serpentine.
Journeyman
Awarded patch to be worn on non weapon arm with double yellow ribbon.		 Pass Written Test
Complete an additional 150 bouts, using the French style.
(or 300 total bouts with rapier, using the French style.)		 Performance (French):
Guards: Incorporating dagger postions: prime, seconde, tierce, high tierce, quarte, high quarte, septime, octave.
Hamstring cuts, cuts & thrusts with dagger, binds, crosie, and envelopment.
Scholar
May display single gold ribbon to be worn on non weapon arm with patch.		 Pass Written Test
Complete an additional 200 bouts, using the French style.
(or 500 total bouts with rapier, using the French style.)		 Performance (French):
Utilization of third intention attacks, compound attacks, weapon disarms, and stop hits/cuts.
Adapt
May display double gold ribbon to be worn on non weapon arm with patch.		 Pass Written Test Achieve Journeyman in one additional school of rapier.
Top
Italian Rapier
BeginnerAutomaticAutomatic
Novice
Awarded single yellow ribbon to be worn on non weapon arm.		 Pass Written Test
Complete 50 bouts, using the Italian style.		 Performance:
Stand in correct guard position for school.
Footwork: step forward/backward, step right/left, pass forward/backword, transverse (fr, fl, br, bl), angle.
Guards: prima, seconda, terza, quarta, and mixta.
Parries: parta de prima (3), seconda, terza, quarta.
Contra Guardia; measure: Stretta (3) and Larga;
Lunge/Thursts: Imbroccatta, Stoccatta, Punta Dritta, Punta Riversa, (ordinare & passa)
Tyro
Awarded second yellow ribbon to be worn on non weapon arm.		 Pass Written Test
Complete an additional 100 bouts, using the Italian style.
(or 150 total bouts with rapier, using the Italian style.)		 Performance:
Contra guardia (all) Cavatione, contra cavation, Stringere (terza & quarta).
Cuts: Fendente, squalembrato, mandritto tondo, riverso tondo, montante, falso manco, falso dritto, stamazione
Journeyman
Awarded patch to be worn on non weapon arm with double yellow ribbon.		 Pass Written Test
Complete an additional 150 bouts, using the Italian style.
(or 300 total bouts with rapier, using the Italian style.)		 Performance:
Cavatione di tempo, Battuta, Scanso incartata, scanso della vita, scanso intalinita, del pia dritto, sbasso, sottobatta.
Incorporating dagger and utilization, guards, parries, parrata di croce.
Scholar
May display single gold ribbon to be worn on non weapon arm with patch.		 Pass Written Test
Complete an additional 200 bouts, using the Italian style.
(or 500 total bouts with rapier, using the Italian style.)		 Performance (French):
Utilization of third intention attacks, weapon disarms, check, blade seizures, and take downs.
Adapt
May display double gold ribbon to be worn on non weapon arm with patch.		 Pass Written Test Achieve Journeyman in one additional school of rapier.
Top
Spanish Rapier
BeginnerAutomaticAutomatic
Novice
Awarded single yellow ribbon to be worn on non weapon arm.		 Pass Written Test
Complete 50 bouts, using the Spanish style.		 Performance:
Stand in correct guard position for school.
Tyro
Awarded second yellow ribbon to be worn on non weapon arm.		 Pass Written Test
Complete an additional 100 bouts, using the Spanish style.
(or 150 total bouts with rapier, using the Spanish style.)		 Performance:
Journeyman
Awarded patch to be worn on non weapon arm with double yellow ribbon.		 Pass Written Test
Complete an additional 150 bouts, using the Spanish style.
(or 300 total bouts with rapier, using the Spanish style.)		 Performance:
Scholar
May display single gold ribbon to be worn on non weapon arm with patch.		 Pass Written Test
Complete an additional 200 bouts, using the Spanish style.
(or 500 total bouts with rapier, using the Spanish style.)		 Performance:
Adapt
May display double gold ribbon to be worn on non weapon arm with patch.		 Pass Written Test Achieve Journeyman in one additional school of rapier.
Top
Teaching levels
Instructor
May display single black ribbon to be worn on non weapon arm with patch.		 Pass Written Test
Judge 30 bouts
Direct 30 bouts		 Achieve Journeyman in weapon. Lead class under supervision.
Disciple
May display double black ribbon and single gold ribbon to be worn on non weapon arm with patch.		 Pass Written Test
Judge 100 bouts
Direct 60 bouts		 Achieve Scholar in one weapon and Journeyman in two different weapons.
Instruct a class.
Design a class for instruction.
Mentor
May display braided blackand gold ribbon to be worn on non weapon arm with patch.		 Pass Written Test
Perform weapon redesign from existing available parts to fit the needs of a student (this skill applies only to smallsword and/or rapier weapons).
Judge 200 bouts
Direct 120 bouts		 Achieve Scholar in two different weapons, achieve Journeyman in all other weapons.
Professor
May display braided double black and gold ribbon to be worn on non weapon arm with patch.		 Judge 300 bouts
Direct 300 bouts		 Establish your own school of fencing instruction.
Master Complete course of instruction through a national organization and achieve Master/Maestro certification.  
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