2.5. The approved protective arms for HMB competitions must be a reconstruction of medieval armor (must have the exact proportions and general appearance of historical analogue) and correspond to such characteristics:
- compliance with scientifically proved originals of the XIII- XVIIth centuries.
- authenticity of used materials (steel, leather, fabric, tow, batting, felt);
- availability of configuration that completely covers the vital organs and joints of the fighter;
- good condition;
- thickness of protective material has to meet the requirements (stated below);
- size and proportions of all the protective elements have to meet the requirements;
- aesthetic appearance.
2.6. All items of armor have to meet the technical and aesthetic requirements, and represent a complete set of one time period within 50 years.
a) Important! Only in rare cases, due to the lack of information concerning the material culture of certain periods and regions, stylized armor elements are allowed. In this situation, a fighter can replace these items with the authentic elements, relating to the neighboring regions and periods, but only if everything looks aesthetically and proportionally. Concepts that require further interpretation and explanation:
Authentic means material or object that corresponds to a certain historical original, found during the research. The use of authentic materials and items, coming from the original, is approved by the community of historical reenactors of the Middle Ages.
Stylized item is an object that has no specific historical analogues, but is made in compliance with the general style of armor, its proportional, aesthetic and operational characteristics.
Scientifically proved original is text and visual material (pictures, sculptures, and other documented archaeological sources or their combination), on the basis of which a belonging of a particular object to the group of authentic ones is determined. Scientifically proved original is needed in case a reenactor has an intention to start usage of anything radically new or little known in the community of HRMA. Only the scientifically proved original can help to determine whether an object is authentic or not, to make a decision about the possibility of its use in the HRMA circles.
2.6.1. The fighter’s head has to be protected with a metal helmet, safety features and specifications of which comply with the same parameters of a helmet made of steel ST3 2 mm thick.
2.6.2. The fighter’s helmet has to be equipped either with a well quilted padded cap, or leather suspension, a “parachute” with a quilted padded cap. The thickness of these elements should be not less than 3 mm for quilted and 5 for padded in a condensed form.
2.6.3. The fighter’s helmet must have a chin strap, which does not allow it to fall off the fighters head.
2.6.4. The fighter’s body, legs and arms are to be covered with at least plate armor. The chainmail can be only used as an extra protection in addition to plate armor or as the linking elements of plate armor.
2.6.5. In addition to body armor, the fighter’s body is to be protected with underarmor padding, which covers the whole torso. The minimum allowed protection is woolen (cloth) and linen material sewn together.
2.6.6. The neck and base of the skull are to be protected with steel plate-armor element, supplemented with damping quilted or padded protection, such as a pelerine of the padded cap, a special collar or a filling. A riveted chain-mail element, with the plate protection and a protective damping layer located under it, is allowed.
2.6.7. The spine and tailbone should have steel plate protection with quilted or padded protection not less than 10 mm thick in a condensed form.
2.6.8. The fighter’s hands are to be protected with gloves or mittens made of steel plates or riveted chainmail. If the hands protection is made of riveted chainmail only, a damping layer not less than 5 mm thick in a condensed form has to be under it.
2.6.9. Hands and forearms of a fighter using a shield with the elbow grip can be protected with steel armor elements. Then, if a fighter loses the shield, he’ll be able to continue the fight. They can be protected minimally (only with underarmor padding and cloth gauntlets), but from all the sides, which may be under attack. The minimum level of underarmor protection includes layers of woolen and linen cloth sewn together.
2.6.10.The fighter’s elbows and knees must have a steel plate protection. If the plate protection doesn’t fit the fighter’s armor, it should be hidden under the authentic element of the set. The minimum level of underarmor protection includes quilted or padded protective layer not less than 10 mm thick in a condensed form.
2.6.11.The fighter’s shins and thighs are recommended to be protected with steel armor elements at each side. The minimum level of underarmor protection includes layers of woolen and linen cloth sewn together.
2.6.12.The fighter’s groin has be protected with armor elements or hidden protection (an athletic supporter for contact sports).
2.6.13.The protective complex has to provide a complete and reliable protection to the head, neck, spine and joints in any body position.
2.6.14.In case a fighter represents a time period, when certain parts of the body weren’t covered with protective elements, these zones are to be safely covered with a hidden protective elements (Eurasia region of the XIII-XVIIth centuries), which aren’t registered visually.
2.6.15.If the level of safety of the authentic protective arms does not meet requirements of these regulations, a fighter should use extra protection made of other kind of materials (worn only under authentic armor and underarmor).
a) Important! Modern protection, having its own fastening system, can be used only as the third protective level.
2.6.16.The fighter needs to be sure of his armor protective characteristics and check the accuracy and safety of any protective parts before a battle.
2.6.17.The fighter is responsible for the offensive and protective arms he uses in battle, monitoring of their authenticity, aesthetics, and compliance with the requirements stated in this regulatory document.
a) Important! The fighter can use in battles only those weapons that are authorized by the authenticity committee.