ROK Fighting

[norfolkdick]

Greetings Fellow Kite Flyers,
Can anybody please point me in the right direction. Having been suitably impressed by the Rok fights at the various festivals last year I am about to build a Rok for just that purpose and realise that I do not know the rules (if indeed there are any!) especially in relation to the size of kite.

I noticed that most participants used the standard 'full' sized Rok which is generally 6ft or 6ft 6ins or some similar metric equivilant. I did however notice that some flyers used the smaller sized kite (generally 56ins or a litle less)

Is it the case that there are rules but nobody really concerns themselves too much about them as the whole idea is just to have a huge load of laughs and accept that you wil probably end up throwing away your flying line; or have I misread the situation?

I have surfed the net but am unable to find out much of any great
help and the little I have found out only seems applicable in the USA.

Best Regards
Dick

[greenman]

Dick,
We have 5 Rokaku, they are various sizes from 1 metre upto just over 2 metres.
I have fought them all, except for the the new one I am building for 2008.
I have seen Rok's as small as 1/2 metre fought and have seen a giant 5 metre fought.
I keep different Rok's for different wind conditions but generally find that about 1.5metres is best for most eventualities.
I have no doubt that someone will tell you that a fighting Rok should be a certain size for individual fights & a certain other size for team fights.
But, i have yet to see a sizeist Rok fight.
Bring on 2008 season & may the best Rok win.

All the best

[C2LLN]

Never having participated in a Rok fight (yet!) I have ascertained that choice of 'line' has a lot to do in winning the fight and a lot of skullduggery too! Are there any stipulations as to what line can or cant be used (obviously common sense dictates most of it) but Mr 'Oakie' seems to have his own 'special' line that sees him win most of the time!

[kevr]

Hi Dick
It used to be the big ones were for team rokaku IE.two people one to handle the winder and one to handle the line.
The small ones are for individual.
now most Rok fights you can use either, presumably due to lack of numbers.
IMO
If you are building one go for the small version.
They are a lot easier to fight with.
The big ones pull like a train in high wind.
Don't forget twice the height four times the area.
you can use a four point bridle on a 1M, the 2M need a 6 point
and is a lot harder to set up.
keep all the edges smooth with no sticky out bit to catch on.
As its for fighting keep the design simple as there is a good chance you will loose it one day.

I use ones from Carl Longbottom they are very good
He uses 6mm ramin or carbon tube for the centre spine and 4mm solid for the cross spares.
In my opinion carbon is the best as the wooden ones get broken in a big tangle.
The 4mm cross spars are nice and light for light wind but when its gusty they bend and take up the pull.
The rules for at first seem very simple but there are lots of nuances
you cant use kevlar or Manja
last person flying wins
height is nearly alway an advantage but the higher you go you increase the chance of loosing you kite
fights usually start from the hand were you all launch your kit then they "call the fight" or in light wind you normally get a helper to give you a long launch and the fight get called when everyone is in the air.
now for some of the more subtle rules.
never catch you line round someones ear (unless accidentally)
never trip people up or tread on their feet (unless accidentally)
if someone drops their reel, never kick it up the field (unless accidentally)
If someone called Simon or Dave H is in the fight never go straight for them (unless accidentally)
probably the most important rule is never go for someone that might provide you dinner from their camper (accidentally or not!)

good luck
see you soon

[C2LLN]

c2lln said:

Never having participated in a Rok fight....

kevr said:

Now for some of the more subtle rules.
never catch you line round someones ear (unless accidentally)
never trip people up or tread on their feet (unless accidentally)
if someone drops their reel, never kick it up the field (unless accidentally)
If someone called Simon or Dave H is in the fight never go straight for them (unless accidentally)
probably the most important rule is never go for someone that might provide you dinner from their camper (accidentally or not!)

Once again I stand corrected, I must have been in several Rok fights....just unknowingly and without flying a Rok. Flying next to Kevr I thought was challenging, but now I realise just how skillful he is at tangling, cutting, kicking, ear cutting etc. as he hones his art for Rock fighting on others, using other than 'Rok' kites, very politely and tactfully, always with a smile and if Ive heard it once......followed by "Sorry mate".

[Batchoy]

Bring it on.

Managed my first flying session of the year this morning and the first flight of the Yin-yang Koi Rok, which is now rough trimmed and ready for a fight. ;D