The Inaugural Sydney Beginner’s Sanjian (散剑) Tournament will be held on Saturday, 11th of July, 2026.

Update

The tournament was a wonderful success. Videos of the tournament is available on Youtube, here

• 1st Place: Anish T.
• 2nd Place: Alice W.
• 3rd Place: Philip N.

Time and Place

• When: Saturday, 11 July 2026, 16:30 (4:30pm) start.
• Where: Ross-Milbourne Sports Hall, Dance Studio (Mezzanine Level)

Regular Class will run from 1430 (2:30pm) to 1600 (4:00pm). From 1600-1630 setting up for the tournament, and can be used for warm up sparring and drills. Spectators are welcome. Free sparring will be possible before and after the tournament.

Sparring training and preparation

In addition to regular class, training sessions for sparring under tournament rules and conditions is being conducted, on Monday 29 June, Saturday 04 July, Monday 06 July (See main page for details), a special sparring specific training session is being held on Wednesday 08 July on the RMSH basketball court 2000-2130 (8:00-9:30pm).

Even if you’re not able to make the tournament, but are interested in sparring practice, people are welcome to attend the sparring sessions.

Rules

Eligibility:

• Beginners: Less than 6 months weapons sparring experience (Sanjian, HEMA, etc.)
• If more than 6 months weapons sparring experience, contact info@wudangsword.com. If enough people are interested, a more experienced division will be possible to be arranged.

Approach:

• Preliminary: Round Robin (Each competitor will have a chance to fight all the other competitors) to seed spots in the elimination rounds.
• Elimination rounds will be conducted via Double Elimination format. (Every competitor must lose twice to be knocked out)
• All rounds will be conducted via best of 9 passes.
• In the case of a draw, additional passes will be conducted until a pass is won to determine a winner of the round

Valid techniques:

• Includes but not limited to sword techniques such as slicing, splitting, thrusting and cutting
• Off Hand Parry is allowed
• Limited grappling less than 10 seconds without take down is allowed

Invalid techniques:

• Striking, kicking, and take down
• Strike with the flat part of the blade
• Use of excessive force or flailing wildly with no concern for one’s safety or the safety of others

Target areas:

• Every part of the body except for crotch area as well as back of the head and neck

Weapon:

• Sparring Safe Steel Jian. See Safety Standards
• Length: Total length is 100 cm. The blade is 80 cm in length.
• Weight: 700g (Beginner’s Course jian allowed)
• Tip: Leather or thermoplastic tip must be used
• If your jian is not safe, a weapon will be provided for use

Protection Gear:

Important! Please make sure you are well protected.

• Fencing helmet, gloves and body protection gear are required.
• See Safety Standards. Limited loaner gear will be available

Scoring System:

• One point for a clean hit to a valid target
• Double Strike: If both competitors strike simultaneously, no point is scored. The pass is counted

Afterblows:

• The competitor who does the Afterblow scores no point

Questions:

• Send questions through to info@wudangsword.com