Martial Arts

Traditionally, thoughts about the middle ages don't bring formalized martial arts to mind. Popular images from modern movies and Victorian literature cast medieval warriors more as barbarous crazed maniacs than the trained soldiers they are known to have been. Combatants in some movies, for instance, are often seen swinging their shield arm as much as their sword with constantly off balance and exaggerated motions. These images are usually the result of stereotypical concepts and poorly planned choreography. It rarely looks very intentional and shouldn't appear seriously threatening.

In SCA combat, participants wear armor that is regulated by fairly strict standards and use weapons made of rattan with other rigid materials such as leather, plastic or foam to create the basic look, balance, weight and handling-but not the lethal effect-of the originals.

Participants fight in single combat, melees, and wars using a variety of hand and missile weapons. The sight of a dozen or up to several hundred armed and armored people can be pretty dramatic. The combatants fight on foot, following a system of rules which permit realistic conditions while promoting a very high safety record (there usually are few injuries worse than bruises).

Each fighter is honor-bound to report when a blow is "good", or has sufficient force to have killed or injured had the sword and armor been real. Even thought we have taken liberties with the type of material we use for swords and armor, we don't announce or choreograph blows during a fight. We don't intend to hurt  each other but the intent of hitting is very real.

All SCA combat charges the fighter to maintain a sense of honor to fight fairly and to have regard for the safety of the opponent. Just tapping someone will not count as a good blow, but excessive force is against SCA and kingdom regulations. Hands may not be used on an opponent's body and a whole variety of nasty things, like kicking, grapling or attacking a single opponent with more than four poeple at once, are not legal.

Understandably, an activity that involves hitting each other with sticks tends to draw a large number of questions. Just like other activities such as the contact sports of rugby, football or hockey, it is possible to become injured. It is important to follow safety precautions.

Interested in learning more? Contact person for question is Sir Dirk Mac Martin

If you are interested in learning more about fighting in the SCA or would like to participate in SCA Combat, you should check in with a local marshal. Be sure to get a copy of the Rules of the List, Conventions of Combat, and a copy of the Armor and Weapons standards. These all are usually found in the Marshal's Handbook. Then sit down and read them. Reading rules is usually not much fun, but it will save you hassles and can prevent possible injuries. You must meet safety requirements including armor standards, weapons standards, and authorizations for each weapon system you use. SCA combat is restricted to adults who have completed the appropriate paperwork and signed a waiver. In certain cases minors can participate. Contact your local marshal for explanation for these procedures. For the purposes of the Marshallate, Shadowdale is in the Northeast Region within the Kingdom of Calontir.	Participation and safety...
SCA combat grew out of a desire to recreate the medieval tournament.  Eventually there were enough fighters to have wars. In the middle ages it was necessary to maintain a well armed and trained force for defense and to influence other kingdoms through threat or outright force. In times of peace, knights and other noble warriors needed to practice to maintain their training and to show their prowess, essentially in order to get a job. Tournaments apparently grew out of the need to maintain skills without actually killing the local people. Many activities took place during the time the combatants and spectators gathered.  Tournaments involved several types of single and multiple combatant scenarios, some on horses some not. Two basic types of tournament style foot combat and a several foot combat war scenarious are recreated at our modern events.	Forms of Combat

Single combat is the traditional fight between two armed opponents. Although most single combat in the SCA takes place as part of a competitive tournament, there are other, more authentic styles of single combat as well. In any case, the fight against a single opponent is considered a public show of honor and chivalry, as well as individual fighting prowess. Each combatant picks a weapon system and enters the list. The marshal will ask if either carries any real weapons, and then ask the Herald to conduct the acknowledgement of certain honors to be performed before the fight. These generally include a bow or salute of some form to the Crown or presiding royalty, and to the opponent. If you have read popular literature about the middle ages such as Ivanhoe or Le Morte d'Arthur, you are probably familiar with the concept of a favor. In the SCA a favor is an item that a fighter wears to show whom she or he honors by competing chivalrously. It can be an outward symbol of a friendship, a sign of fealty and loyalty, and can be used as a sign of love and romance.	Single Combat
The word melee or mêlée [pronounced may-lay] is derived from an Old French word that meant to mix. While it may be difficult enough for some to concentrate on one opponent, the idea is that multiple opponents would be even more difficult. Often, though, the reverse can be true. A group of several fighters might organize and fight better than any one fighter. The skills of an individual can still be seen in small groups, but the odds are on the group rather than the individual. A basic level of tactics can be used to try to make your opponent fight more than one person at a time. Still, for many a melee is the most confusing, and also the most fun type of SCA fighting.	Melee
Despite any negative connotations that this term may hold, wars when lives are not at stake are mostly a large scale experiment in the skills of observation and estimates, communications and organization; the application of strategy and tactics to direct your group to out maneuver another group. The rules of a war are essentially the same as for a melee. For some, a war is not much different than a very large melee, and others see large differences between the two. The key to winning SCA wars depends on the ability to observe, organize and plan; to quickly change plans on a moment's notice; to communicate, listen, and put plans and changes into action. All this, while under the threat of the opposing army who is moving, observing and adapting as well. Subtle features such as the slope of the ground, the angle of the sun, the direction of the wind can work for or against everything you do. A very good fighter may be able to kill several opponents one at a time, or even in quick succession in a melee but when faced with an organized line, a single combatant is much less likely to be lethal. An experienced and organized war host can outmaneuver and outfight larger units but only if the members of the host work together.	Wars