Medieval Combat Makes a Comeback
By Beth Beckwith
Medieval combat is an unconventional sport that has been gaining popularity in recent years. Louisville is well known for its achievements in sports such as basketball and football. However, it may soon gain recognition for the rise in sword fighting and weekly duels at local parks. The Belegarth Medieval Combat Society has one chapter in Louisville called Dun Abhon.
On a warm, sunny Sunday, a broad array of individuals can be found at the park. Joggers, frisbee throwers, and dog walkers can be spotted. The Belegarth group meets in the heart of Cherokee Park, at Frisbee field. They provide ample entertainment to passersby and encourage park patrons to get involved. The leader of the group, Andy Schwartz, welcomes everyone to join in on their battles. He offers his weapons and knowledge of the rules and guidelines to people new to the sport.
Essentially, the sport is exactly what it sounds like. People dress up in medieval garb, make their own fake weapons to match the look and feel of the Middle Ages, and battle. There are several categories of medieval combat that fall on a scale. Andy Schwartz or “Coach,” leader of the local Belegarth chapter, said, “On the far end of the scale you have ultra-realism and hardcore fighting; the SCA, Society of Creative Anachronism, these guys go all out with historical accuracy and everything. They use pretend wood; they have to wear a 14 gauge steel helmet minimally because the head’s a target. Our game slides a little bit more down. It’s full contact but entirely predicated on foam weapons.”
On the opposite end of the scale is LARP, Live Action Role Play. “Larpers are more about the story and less about the combat,” said Aaron Mackison, a former SCA fighter and current member of the Belegarth group. “The combat is still there, but it’s very rule-based and gentle. I can’t touch you with more than a light tap. My body has to make no direct contact with your body.” Belegarth falls into the middle of the scale, because members do not have particular character roles. However, they do incorporate period-style weaponry and attire. Unlike SCA, helmets are not required, and head shots are not allowed. LARP attendees play out a story with little to no aggression, while Belegarth groups play an aggressive sport that promotes physical fitness.
Dun Abhon originally practiced Dagorhir, a different form of medieval combat, before switching to Belegarth. The group was created by David Peters in 1996. After Peters moved to New York, the realm was abandoned for several years. Schwartz, who had been one of the original members, brought the sport back in 2001 by inspiring his students to get involved.
Schwartz used to work as an English teacher at Iroquois High School. At the time, he was helping students organize a production of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. The students were having trouble connecting with the material so, in an attempt to motivate the cast, he brought in his weapons and costumes for them to use during battle scenes. The students’ interest in medieval combat grew instantly, and they encouraged Schwartz to reform the group with their help. Schwartz also used to coach soccer at the same high school and some of his old players joined the Belegarth group as well. They began to meet on school grounds but were soon asked to find another location. After trying out a few different spots, the group settled on Cherokee Park as their home base.
Since the group was reformed, it has grown to include over one hundred members. The Louisville chapter is not licensed, but the group believes this is more beneficial than problematic. The main problem with not having a license would be if someone were to become seriously injured while playing. The group is confident that their rules, precautions, and honor system are effective in keeping members safe.
The rules and guidelines for battle are simple. Schwartz said, “The three main things are safety, playability, and realism in that order. Some of us do historical, some of us do fantasy. So realism is far down the end.” Since safety is the group’s first priority, Schwartz has set a standard weight limit and practicality test that each weapon must pass. Each foam weapon must match the approximate weight that the weapon would weigh if it were real. Schwartz tests each member’s weapons before battle using a long wooden board to measure them.
Making weapons is part of the fun of medieval combat. There is a sense of satisfaction that players acquire when wielding their self-crafted blades in battle. Each individual has creative license over their weapons as long as they pass Schwartz’ safety tests. Swords are the most commonly made weapon, but some players craft more daring tools including daggers, spears, shields, staffs, and arrows. Alex Kingsley, one of the group’s archers, said, “The arrows we use aren’t as aerodynamic as the real thing, because we have to follow safety precautions to make sure they’re safe to use.” Real arrows are used, but the tip is removed and replaced with duct tape and foam padding.
The most common technique used for making a weapon is to start with a core. Typically fighters will use either a PVC pipe or fiber glass as the core. Dap or rubber cement can be used to hold parts of the weapon together. The next step is to purchase camp foam and cut it into box-shaped slices that will securely fit around the core. Duct tape may be used to secure the piece and common cloth is used as a cover.
There are different styles and techniques used on the Belegarth battle field. Group members often trade tips and tricks with each other to help the group improve as a whole. Noah Cragsworth O’Toole, one of the more advanced fighters in the group, said, “I became aware of the group back when I was around 16, in the year 2000. A friend of mine told me about this group that stayed after school hours to run around the gym and hit each other with foam swords. This sounded like a dreadfully awful idea to me, and so I ignored it until about a year after I had graduated.”
O’Toole uses distraction and misdirection to stun his opponents in battle. One of his signature moves is to hold up two blades beside his head so that other players cannot tell how long his weapons are. When someone is gullible enough to come near him, he uses the longer of the two blades to attack.
Braedon Kincaid, another Belegarth group member, said, “The Bele group is a bunch of people with a common vision playing a game that allows them to bring that vision to life. It allows everyone to take their favorite aspects of fantasy and apply it to one of the friendliest and most accepting communities out there.” Braedon first joined the group in 2007 after a friend told him he had found a group of sword fighters in the park one day. They went to visit and watch a battle and ended up joining in. He said, “After getting beat up for four hours, I realized that it was an amazing activity.”
Many group members also stumbled upon the group in a similar fashion. Mackison happened upon the group by mistake while searching for a group of SCA fighters who chose to meet in Cherokee Park one weekend. Mackison was weary that the SCA group would not admit him, because he did not have the required head gear for the game. When he first saw the Belegarth group fighting, he said to his father, another former SCA fighter, “Dad, look! I can fight without a helmet!” Ever since, he has become a weekly attendee. He even met his wife Bekah through the Belegarth group’s online forum. They regularly attend Belegarth and LARP events together.
Schwartz, the group leader, greets all newcomers in the same fashion. He first asks if they are interested in joining. Next, he asks them to hit his back with a foam weapon. In most cases, people will not hit him forcefully on their first try so he encourages them to hit him as hard as they can. After they do this, he tells them that is what the sport is all about.
The game follows a point system based on five target areas including arms, legs, and torso. If a player is hit in the arm by an opponent, they must place that arm behind their back. If a leg is hit, the player must go down on one knee and either stay in one spot or hobble across the field. If two limbs are struck during battle, the player is out for that round. One blow to the torso results in instant death. When a player is killed in a round, it is customary for them to raise their weapon above their head to indicate that they are out for that round.
There are various types of battle that the Belegarth group adheres to, including cutthroat, capture the flag, and team battle. Cutthroat means every man for themselves. The two remaining fighters left on the field become team leaders for the next round of battle in which the group is divided into two opposing teams. Capture the flag is similar to team battle, but players must capture the flag from their opponents’ side of the field.
While most battles are held weekly at Cherokee Park, many members venture out-of-state to participate in larger annual events. Some of these events host over 200 players. One of the biggest competitions is held in Tennessee on the first weekend in May. There is an entry fee for admittance into these events that typically covers camp fees, meals for the competitors, and equipment for building obstacles and paths. Some events do not cover food or housing so members of each realm tend to pitch in as a group for lodging and meals.
The Louisville Belegarth chapter continues to expand and incorporate new fighting styles and games to keep members on their toes. They host weekly gatherings at Cherokee Park every Sunday at 2:00 pm. The standard age restriction is 16 years and older. The group provides new members with a sense of familial hospitality. They offer participants the opportunity to step into another world. Each player achieves self-satisfaction regardless of how well they play because the sport promotes friendship, exercise, progression, and, above all, honor. The dedication and time put into this group are signs that medieval combat is making a comeback.
