1. You must come in one solid color and bear your ranks visibly on any WCoS field, class or at any event.

2. The armor requirements: (You MUST wear) helmet, gloves, long sleeves, long pants and groin protection (men). Optional armor: body, forearms, tari, shins and knees. Steel requirements require every item listed above plus a steel Gorget

3. A Kaiden must approve weapons of all types prior to their first use in combat.

4. Wood swords in make, must in length be an exact replica of a (steel) sword within your possession or one you wish to obtain. Beginners and those that train, but do not yet own steel must use the boken they are trained with or provided by a Kaiden.

5. Swords:

A. All bokens must be made out of hickory or another similar light hardwood such as oak or ash. Bokens may be made of any other type of hardwood, but these can only be used for one on one combat and with the other person's approval. Tips must be fairly blunt in both cases.

B. Steel swords must be dull and blunted. They must be kept in good order and approved by a Kaiden prior to their first use.

C. All other types of swords are useable by the student's, but a student should seek a Kaidens advice before simply sparring with a weapon. Different sparring weapons have different lesions. All have some worth. Other weapons acceptable for various type of sparing are; rattan (sca), bamboo (shinai), foam (boffer), foils (fencing).

D. At no time are any alloy or plastic swords allowed in WCoS combat. Plastics included, ABS, polycarbonate, etc. Alloys included aluminum, brass, copper, etc. Titanium and bronze are by Kaidens approval only. This is an issue of respect.

6. Combat rules: All shots are open (except the base of the neck/back of the head-face thrust-hand strike), even back attacks. The lightest head strike is a kill (let the opponent that received the strike call it). Full speed, full contact - okay, control when possible. ("Control" -is not using excessive force or striking in unarmored areas and being aware of the possibility for injury). Do not act with gross negligence to the possibility of serious injury.

7. Areas that are considered to be an instant kill are any full circle cut to the head, body, arms or legs. Any full chop cut to the same areas. Thrusts to the chest and stomach. Any draw cut to the inner leg, stomach or throat. Any short circle cut to the neck. A person receiving a strike can opt to take it as a kill even if the person who struck does not feel it was adequate. In all cases the person who received should call it and the person who struck should decide its validity. Marshals are the final judge and will settle any confusion.

8. Red Ropes and above can strike to the hands and begin fighting with steel, once trained to do so.

9. Silver Chains and above may thrust to the faceguard once trained to do so.

10. All swordsmen will calibrate before combat with a new swordsman.

11. Beware of deadly force. A lack of awareness about a common weak area or a simple mistake; be honorable about wounds taken.

12. Address people by name title if they have one. Teacher, sensei, etc. or their sword name.

13. Never throw your sword.

14. Anything may be used as a weapon on the field (rock, dagger, stick, etc.)

15. Talking is allowed. Battle is one of the few areas in class where you are free to act and speak as you wish (without cursing). Verbal tactics in battle such as taunting, boasting, screaming are allowed. Just remember battle should be treated as reality, this is not a time to joke. Have purpose in all your actions.

16. Fight hard for the purpose of training and knowledge. Treat all swordsman/women equally regardless of size, gender or age.

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Special Events: Melee battles, team combat and scenario battle have special rules that are dictated by the swordsman running the day.