Types of Fighting
Single Combat
This is quintessential knightly combat. Two combatants facing one another on a list field, no allies, just the two warriors, their skill, and their weapons. This is the kind of fighting that is done during most practices and at the events over the winter when it is too cold to fight outside. Single combat takes place within a list field, a place of battle and pageantry. These duels are a form of intense competition, but also a display of prowess and chivalric values before the crowds gathered to watch the combatants. Tourneys like this also determine who will be ruler of the Midrealm, our kingdom within the SCA. A "Crown Tournament" is held every six months to determine who the next Prince or Princess will be, and in six months, they will step up as King or Queen by right of arms.
Melee Combat
These are large scale battles with hundreds of combatants fighting side by side. Our local fighting unit is known as the Brotherhood, we fight, train, and work together to achieve victory where no one man could succeed. We strive to be the best by practicing our own personal skill, having classes at the beginning of practices to help teach each other, and studying and discussing large scale tactics in an organized way mostly unseen in the SCA as a whole.
We fight at different events, which are gatherings of other people from the SCA, typically in our Kingdom, the Midrealm, which consists of Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, and parts of Kentucky, Iowa, and Ontario. Here we fight, socialize, eat, drink, and have an all around good time. Our biggest events are what we call wars, which are long events of fighting and other SCA activities. These can range from a weekend war with our friends to the south near the Kentucky border, to a gathering of tens of thousands in Pennsylvania. War is a place to battle, trade, teach, party, and win glory. People from across the county and around the world can be found at these wars, and the Brotherhood will be there in force.
We fight at different events, which are gatherings of other people from the SCA, typically in our Kingdom, the Midrealm, which consists of Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, and parts of Kentucky, Iowa, and Ontario. Here we fight, socialize, eat, drink, and have an all around good time. Our biggest events are what we call wars, which are long events of fighting and other SCA activities. These can range from a weekend war with our friends to the south near the Kentucky border, to a gathering of tens of thousands in Pennsylvania. War is a place to battle, trade, teach, party, and win glory. People from across the county and around the world can be found at these wars, and the Brotherhood will be there in force.
Weapon Styles
Sword and Shield
Colloquially known as 'Sword and Board", this is the most common type of combat seen within the Midrealm. The sword is a piece of rattan (A type of palm tree ) that is about an inch and a half thick, and marked to show the edge and flat of the blade. A shield can be made of either wood, hide, or aircraft aluminum, depending on the style one wants and the weight one can carry. People fight with all sorts of shield styles, Roman Scutums, Celtic Ovals, Crusader Heaters, Norman Kites, Viking Rounds, even Zulu Sivikos.
Two Weapon Fighting
Often referred to as Florentine, a two weapon fighter most often enters the lists with two swords, though people are often seen using any sort of combination of weapons, be it axe and sword, mace and dagger, even spear and sword. There are many styles and approaches to two weapon fighting, each as individualized as the fighters themselves.
Pole-arm, Mass Weapon, and Spear
These weapons are used mostly only in melees, which are large group engagements that take place outside. A polearm is generally 6 ½ feet long while a spear is 9 feet long. Pole-arms often feature an elongated blade or axehead at the end of the shaft providing the possibility for large crushing blows at a distance, while a spear gives it's user exceptional thrusting range. A mass weapon is a type of weapon that allows great reach and devastating power in a smaller package than a traditional pole-arm. They are long range weapons and are very important in our melees, providing a unit the ability to engage the enemy from many ranges and with varying tactics.
Great Sword and Bastard Sword
Bastard and Great sword are most commonly seen in duels where both parties are armed with the same type and weapon. These duels can be incredibly fun, as it is a very different fighting style from most any other weapon. These weapons also show up on the melee field, though much more rarely than their cousin the Pole-arm.