AboutSolForge
SolForge is a multi-day gathering built around combat, craft, and community — bringing together practitioners from The Saber Legion, Saberlight Knights, HEMA, and allied martial disciplines in a shared space designed for learning, competition, and connection.
Rather than focusing on a single rule set or fighting style, SolForge was created as a crossroads event: a place where different systems can coexist, overlap, and inform one another, while still honoring what makes each unique.
Rather than focusing on a single rule set or fighting style, SolForge was created as a crossroads event: a place where different systems can coexist, overlap, and inform one another, while still honoring what makes each unique.
Friday: Arrival, Learning, and Community Building
We encourage participants to arrive on Friday as early in the day as possible, ideally sometime between late morning and early afternoon. Friday is intentionally designed as a low-pressure, high-value day, allowing fighters to settle in, get inspected, and take advantage of learning opportunities before competition begins.
Gear Inspection & Coaching Sign-Ups: Gear inspection will be available throughout the day on Friday to streamline Saturday morning and ensure everyone is ready to compete.
In addition, Friday will feature pre-scheduled one-on-one and small-group coaching sessions, available by advance sign-up via SignUpGenius. These sessions will be approximately 25 minutes each and will be led by a wide range of notable instructors, including:
We are also exploring hands-on craft sessions that give participants opportunities to make or customize items related to the community and event experience. Final offerings will be announced as they are confirmed.
To round out the day, we are working to host a small vendor and maker presence, creating a casual market atmosphere where attendees can browse gear, art, and community-created goods.
Friday is about easing into the weekend — learning, meeting people, and building connections before competition begins.
Gear Inspection & Coaching Sign-Ups: Gear inspection will be available throughout the day on Friday to streamline Saturday morning and ensure everyone is ready to compete.
In addition, Friday will feature pre-scheduled one-on-one and small-group coaching sessions, available by advance sign-up via SignUpGenius. These sessions will be approximately 25 minutes each and will be led by a wide range of notable instructors, including:
- Championship belt holders
- Published authors
- Experienced competitors from The Saber Legion and HEMA
- Cross-disciplinary instructors and community leaders
We are also exploring hands-on craft sessions that give participants opportunities to make or customize items related to the community and event experience. Final offerings will be announced as they are confirmed.
To round out the day, we are working to host a small vendor and maker presence, creating a casual market atmosphere where attendees can browse gear, art, and community-created goods.
Friday is about easing into the weekend — learning, meeting people, and building connections before competition begins.
Saturday: Competition Day – The Saber Legion
Saturday is the primary competition day, and all participants must be present by 8:30 AM sharp.
The Saber Legion tournament structure is methodical and time-intensive, and punctual arrival is essential to keep the day running smoothly.
Equipment & Cross-Participation Notes: Many HEMA practitioners already possess most of the protective equipment required to compete in The Saber Legion. In some cases, participants may need to add:
Tournament Structure. Saturday begins with sorting pools, running from approximately 9:00 AM through early afternoon (exact times reflected in the posted schedule). Fighters are placed into pools to establish seeding.
Following pool play, competitors are divided into:
We are planning an evening get-together in a nearby local market area, featuring a variety of restaurants and gathering spaces. This will be an informal opportunity to relax, share meals, and connect outside of the ring with fighters, instructors, and friends from across multiple communities.
The Saber Legion tournament structure is methodical and time-intensive, and punctual arrival is essential to keep the day running smoothly.
Equipment & Cross-Participation Notes: Many HEMA practitioners already possess most of the protective equipment required to compete in The Saber Legion. In some cases, participants may need to add:
- A rigid throat protector (metal or kydex)
- A plastron worn beneath the jacket (if not already used)
- Knee and lower-leg protection
- Back-of-head protection (required in TSL)
Tournament Structure. Saturday begins with sorting pools, running from approximately 9:00 AM through early afternoon (exact times reflected in the posted schedule). Fighters are placed into pools to establish seeding.
Following pool play, competitors are divided into:
- Primary Brackets
- Redemption Brackets
We are planning an evening get-together in a nearby local market area, featuring a variety of restaurants and gathering spaces. This will be an informal opportunity to relax, share meals, and connect outside of the ring with fighters, instructors, and friends from across multiple communities.
Sunday Evening: Community Beyond the Rings
Sunday: Crossroads of Combat, Community, and Celebration. Sunday at SolForge is designed to be a true crossroads of disciplines. On this full day, multiple combat traditions run side-by-side, inviting participants to explore, compete, and cross-train in a way that’s rarely possible at a single event.
Throughout the day on Sunday, two rings will run simultaneously, each offering a distinct yet complementary experience.
Saberlight Knights – Continuous Combat Ring. One ring will be dedicated to Saberlight Knights–style continuous fighting, with members of Saberlight Knights hosting and facilitating open participation throughout the day. This format focuses on ongoing, high-energy bouts that emphasize endurance, adaptability, and situational awareness.
All fighters are welcome to step into this ring and participate in the continuous, life-based battle format — whether you’re experienced with Saberlight Knights rules or simply curious to try something different. This ring is designed to be dynamic, inclusive, and constantly active, making it a perfect space for fighters who want to stay engaged, learn through repetition, and test themselves in a less stop-start environment.
HEMA Ring – Sponsored by Crossroads Swords. Running alongside the Saberlight Knights ring is a HEMA-focused ring, proudly sponsored by Crossroads Swords. This ring will feature smallsword and saber fencing, blending historical European martial arts with modern competitive structure.
Participants will have the opportunity to fence with steel smallswords and sabers, allowing for a deeper exploration of timing, distance, and blade control. While the fighting style differs from LED saber combat, the protective gear requirements are largely compatible, allowing fighters to move between disciplines with minimal adjustments.
Cross-Participation Encouraged. One unique aspect of Sunday at SolForge is that fighters can participate in both rings throughout the day. While the weapons themselves differ — LED sabers for Saberlight Knights and steel blades for HEMA — the overlap in protective equipment allows for an accessible crossover experience.
This setup encourages learning across systems, respectful comparison of styles, and a deeper appreciation of how different rule sets shape movement, strategy, and decision-making in combat.
Sunday Evening: Community Beyond the RingsAs the fighting winds down, Sunday transitions from competition into community.
To cap off the weekend, Sunday night is shaping up to include an optional group outing to Medieval Times, located approximately 45 minutes away.
A True SolForge Experience. Sunday is more than just another tournament day — it is the embodiment of what SolForge was created to be: a space where multiple combat traditions meet, where fighters are encouraged to explore beyond their usual lanes, and where the community comes together both on and off the field.
Whether you spend the day in continuous saber combat, historical fencing, or moving between both — and whether you end the night sharing a meal or cheering in an arena — Sunday at SolForge is designed to leave you inspired, connected, and already looking forward to the next year.
Throughout the day on Sunday, two rings will run simultaneously, each offering a distinct yet complementary experience.
Saberlight Knights – Continuous Combat Ring. One ring will be dedicated to Saberlight Knights–style continuous fighting, with members of Saberlight Knights hosting and facilitating open participation throughout the day. This format focuses on ongoing, high-energy bouts that emphasize endurance, adaptability, and situational awareness.
All fighters are welcome to step into this ring and participate in the continuous, life-based battle format — whether you’re experienced with Saberlight Knights rules or simply curious to try something different. This ring is designed to be dynamic, inclusive, and constantly active, making it a perfect space for fighters who want to stay engaged, learn through repetition, and test themselves in a less stop-start environment.
HEMA Ring – Sponsored by Crossroads Swords. Running alongside the Saberlight Knights ring is a HEMA-focused ring, proudly sponsored by Crossroads Swords. This ring will feature smallsword and saber fencing, blending historical European martial arts with modern competitive structure.
Participants will have the opportunity to fence with steel smallswords and sabers, allowing for a deeper exploration of timing, distance, and blade control. While the fighting style differs from LED saber combat, the protective gear requirements are largely compatible, allowing fighters to move between disciplines with minimal adjustments.
Cross-Participation Encouraged. One unique aspect of Sunday at SolForge is that fighters can participate in both rings throughout the day. While the weapons themselves differ — LED sabers for Saberlight Knights and steel blades for HEMA — the overlap in protective equipment allows for an accessible crossover experience.
This setup encourages learning across systems, respectful comparison of styles, and a deeper appreciation of how different rule sets shape movement, strategy, and decision-making in combat.
Sunday Evening: Community Beyond the RingsAs the fighting winds down, Sunday transitions from competition into community.
To cap off the weekend, Sunday night is shaping up to include an optional group outing to Medieval Times, located approximately 45 minutes away.
- Arrival time: 6:30 PM
- Show start time: 7:30 PM
A True SolForge Experience. Sunday is more than just another tournament day — it is the embodiment of what SolForge was created to be: a space where multiple combat traditions meet, where fighters are encouraged to explore beyond their usual lanes, and where the community comes together both on and off the field.
Whether you spend the day in continuous saber combat, historical fencing, or moving between both — and whether you end the night sharing a meal or cheering in an arena — Sunday at SolForge is designed to leave you inspired, connected, and already looking forward to the next year.
