Local jewelry maker and marathon runner Stephen Weber is also a medieval combat competitor. Competitors don suits of armor and fight each other with medieval style weapons.
Weber recently returned from the Armored Combat Sports North American Championships at Legion Sports Fest in Reno, Nevada. Weber won the Armored Combat Sports North American Championships Gold Medal in Pole Axe fighting, and a Silver Medal in Polearm fighting. According to Weber, these types of competitions are becoming more common here in America. He said the sport was brought over from Europe, where competitions have been taking place for many years.
“You can’t help appreciating how amazingly designed and functional historical armor is when watching people beat each other with huge 5-foot axes and that ilk,” Weber said.
Weber said there are several organizations hosting events, but they are generally divided into two sections, individual duels with sword and shield, sword and buckler, longswords and other weaponry. There are also melees, where teams (often 5) of combatants attempt to defeat other teams.
Looking at the photos, it seems logical to wonder how people don’t end up severely injured by one of the large wood and metal weapons. But Weber said that given how protective the armor is by design, the sport is relatively safe. He said there are strict regulations regarding the design of the armor, including internal padding to cushion contact and that the equipment is strictly inspected.
He said occasionally a weapon will make contact between armor plates, but that is rare. He said most injuries are caused by moving in the armor, such as pulled muscles or strained joints. Weber said his worst injury was a damaged ACL in his knee, from his knee bending backward while competing. Mostly, he said, injuries are just bruises and sore muscles.
“Wearing 50-90 pounds of armor and swinging a 5-10 pound weapon can tire one out,” Weber said.
He also noted that the armor keeps in the heat and inside the armor, it’s generally 30 degrees warmer inside the suit that it is in the room.
“I usually drink at least a gallon of water while fighting and sweat it out,” Weber said.
Weber’s jewelry can be found online at thesmithofavalon.com. Follow him on Instagram at thesmithofavlon.
