Chladnian rules

The Chladnian rules is a list of 24 rules drafted by Pyotr Chladni, 13th Duke of Ubonridge in A.R. 185. The rules were written to govern the conduct and execution of organized puglistic bouts in the Kingdom of Trae Kelsa. The rules were established prior to the first officially sanctioned fight in Trae Kelsa, which was between Hugh Doiseau and T.S. Brummell.

Fights under these rules are typically fought with bare knuckles. The rules also allow for a broad range of fighting including holds and throws of the opponent. Spiked shoes, within limits, are also allowed. Also included are provisions dealing with how wagers are resolved if various events such as interference by the law, darkness, or cancellations occur.

According to the Chladnian rules a round ends when a man is downed by a punch or a throw. He is then given 30 seconds to rest and eight additional seconds to "come to scratch" or return to the center of the roped ring where a "scratch line" was drawn and square off with his opponent once more.

Consequently, there is no round limits to fights. When a man can no longer come to scratch, he is declared the loser and the fight is over, unless broken up beforehand by crowd riot, constabulary interference or chicanery. Fights can also end if both men were willing to accept that the contest was a draw. While fights can have enormous numbers of rounds, the rounds in practice can be quite short with fighters pretending to go down from minor blows to take advantage of the 30-second rest period, however, this is very often met with disdain and booing from lookers-on.

These are some of the Chladnian Rules, although incomplete:

1. That a rope, 20 fathoms in length, be laid in a circle, and a long square of a yard be chalked in the middle of the circle, and on every fresh set-to after a fall, or crossing of the rope boundries.
2. That each Second is to bring his man to the side of the square, and place him opposite to the other, and till they are fairly set-to at the Lines, it shall not be lawful for one to strike at the other.
3. That, in order to prevent any disputes, the time a man lies after a fall, if the Second does not bring his man to the side of the square, within the space of half a minute, he shall be deemed a beaten man.
4. That in every main battle, no person whatever shall be within the circle, except the Principals and their Seconds, the same rule to be observed in bye-battles, except that in the latter, an intermediary is allowed to be upon the circle to keep decorum, and to assist the gentlemen in getting to their places, provided always he does not interfere in the Battle; and whoever pretends to infringe these rules to be turned immediately out of the house. Every body is to quit the circle as soon as the men are stripped, before the set-to.
5. That no man be deemed beaten, unless he fails coming up to the line in the limited time, or that his own Second declares him beaten. No Second is to be allowed to ask his man's adversary any questions, or advise him to give out.
6. That in bye-battles, the winning man to have two-thirds of the money given, which shall be publicly divided upon the circle, notwithstanding any private agreements to the contrary.
7. That to prevent disputes, in every main battle the Principals shall, on coming on the circle, choose from among the gentlemen present two intermediaries, who shall absolutely decide all disputes that may arise about the battle; and if the two intermediaries cannot agree, the said intermediaries are to choose a third, who is to determine it.
8. That no person is to hit his adversary when he is down, or seize him by the ham, the breeches, or any part below the waist a man on his knees to be reckoned down.
9. That no person is to bite, headbutt, fish-hook, or strike his adversary below the belt.