Extreme Pencil Fighting Rules

EXTREME PENCIL FIGHTING RULES:

Two challengers face off, each armed with a regulation wooden pencil taken from a factory-sealed pack.

The only recognized regulation competition pencil is the Dixon/Ticonderoga #2 yellow – graphite core, cedar shaft, latex eraser with aluminum stay.

The pencil may not be sharpened or altered in any way prior to initial combat.

A Pink Pearl Eraser flip determines which fighter strikes first.

The loser of the eraser flip becomes the “Defender” and holds his or her pencil between both hands in a horizontal position.

The winner of the eraser flip becomes the “Striker”, holding their pencil vertically and bringing the pencil down in a strike across the opponent’s pencil with full force, attempting to break it in two.

If the Defender’s pencil does not break from the Striker’s attempt, then it becomes the Defender’s turn to strike.
This repeats until one player’s pencil breaks in two and cannot continue.

If a pencil is cracked, but not fully broken in two, referee determines whether said pencil can continue.

If both pencils break during a strike, victory goes to the striker.

TIME LIMIT RULE – If neither competitor’s pencil breaks before the announcers get bored, the announcers will impose an arbitrary number of strikes before the end of the round. At the end of the round, each player will get one penalty shot with the penalty pencil of their choice, with a pink pearl eraser flip to determine who strikes first.
If by this point neither competition pencil is broken, the referees will declare a winner based on style, aggression and pencil control.

STRIKING RULES:

The striker may position their striking hand as they like, and may hold the eraser end up or down, but the exposed striking area of the pencil must be a minimum of 2 1/2 inches.

(Ex: If the eraser end is pointed up, the striking hand must not cover past the “A” in Ticonderoga.)

Striker must not have more than one hand on their pencil at point of contact. Using more than one hand during a strike is a major penalty (see Offensive Bracing).

The striking pencil must be swung or flicked in an attempt to be horizontal at point of contact. Holding the pencil vertically and pounding,  attempting to make contact with the flat of the eraser or unsharpened end  (aka “The Piledriver”), may result in major penalty or disqualification.

FOULS:

PENALTY STRIKES – If either player commits a FOUL (whether a Major Penalty or a Minor Penalty) during a turn the referee may award a free PENALTY STRIKE.

PENALTY PENCILS:  The free strike may be taken with ANY pencil from the striker’s pencil bag.
These pencils are known as “Penalty Pencils” and are allowed to have ANY alteration the competitor deems necessary, but MUST have originally been and continue to be some manner of working wooden pencil. No pens, mechanical pencils, rubber or plastic-fused pencils allowed.

MAJOR PENALTIES:
Penalty strikes may be awarded for the following fouls at the referee’s discretion:

Dropping the pencil – either defending or striking, don’t ever drop your pencil.

Dipping – Lowering or dropping one end of the defending pencil during the striker’s swing.

Defensive Bracing aka “Bridging” – Using the fingers or thumbs to support the defending pencil within the exposed strike zone during the strike.

Offensive Bracing aka “Chopping” – Using the fingers or thumb to excessively support the attacking pencil during the strike. (see Striking Grip)

Stalling – Only 30 seconds are allowed between strikes.

Grip Shifting – Using the hands to reduce the potential strike zone is allowed, but the strike zone may not be smaller than three pencil widths (approx. 1 inch). You can change your grip from strike to strike, but changing your grip during the upswing of the opponent’s strike is a major penalty.

Illegal use of hands – Touching the opponent’s body in any way other than striking the hands with a pencil during regular match play is a major penalty.

MINOR PENALTIES:

Cumulative Minor Penalties aka The Bloody Knuckle Rule –  A fighter can accumulate up to FIVE minor penalties, one for each knuckle. The FIFTH minor penalty triggers an automatic major penalty and a free penalty strike for the opponent. If the penalized fighter’s pencil survives the penalty strike, his bloody knuckle count restarts at zero and the fight continues.

Knuckle Strikes – The most common minor penalty is the deliberate or accidental striking of  the opponent’s knuckles or hand. If the referee feels the knuckle strike was deliberate or egregious, they may call it a major penalty and assign an automatic penalty strike.

Missing outright aka “Whiffing” – Managing to miss your opponent’s pencil with your strike is a minor penalty, and is added to your cumulative minors.

TOURNAMENT PLAY RULES:

All rules of regular Extreme Pencil Fighting are observed. The pencil the fighter chooses at the start of his first match MUST be the same pencil that is used throughout the entire tournament.

The tournament may contain any number of competitors or rules variations. As of 1/19/2012, the contendership for the WXPFL Championship is determined by The Lottery of Lead Tournament.

Lottery of Lead Match Rules: Two fighters begin the match, each drawing a new pencil from an unopened pack of 24. When one fighter is beaten, a new fighter comes in, until 12 fighters have battled it out. Audience members will compete, as well as eligible stars of the full roster of WXPFL Pro Gra-Fighters. Entry order is determined by random drawing during the match.

Double-break tournament rule: In case of a double break during a strike, victory goes to the striker. However, the victor may only advance in the tournament if their pencil is 3/4 intact or greater, with final decision of pencil’s fighting condition resting with the referee’s discretion.

The Championship Belt: Winner is declared WXPFL Pencil Fighting Champion, the winner’s pencil is placed in the belt, and the belt is kept by the WXPFL champion until his next defense. The same championship pencil stored in the belt must be used to defend the title.

Pencilmania Open Audience Tournament: The Open Audience Tournament contains 8 amateur Gra-Fighters. If competitors don’t bring their own penalty pencil, an arsenal of penalty pencils will be provided to choose from.

All competitors choose a pencil at the start of play and  must use the same pencil throughout the tournament. If you win your matches, you advance  through the tournament to the finals. Winner of the tournament wins a tournament trophy, prizes from WXPFL sponsors, cash prize, and a contract to become a WXPFL Pro Gra-Fighting Megastar and be featured in future WXPFL events.

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