Medieval combat championship
Swinging swords, axes and shields competitors from 30 countries are going head-to-head in the grounds of a Danish fortress in a modern version of old-fashioned battle. The International Medieval Combat Federation’s annual world championship roared into gear in northern Denmark this week. First staged in Spain in 2014, it features armor-clad competitors fighting with 14th-century medieval weapons. But it’s also a modern combat sport with safety rules and sporting conventions. “It’s historically inspired,” combat federation spokesperson Kamila Studencka said. “It’s a mix of modern techniques with historical ones. We have something between full combat sports and fencing.”
And while the swords and axes are blunted, the battles are anything but harmless reenactments. Studencka said some competitors are attracted by “the violence,” while others prefer the technical aspects of face-to-face duels. “Some people like the friendship and being a team member … to be a part of something bigger,” she added. Brazilian competitor Rodrigo Sinckevicius, who traveled with a team of eight from São Paulo, said he previously competed in jiu-jitsu and other mixed martial arts, but when he first saw this kind of medieval combat, he “couldn’t believe it.” “People falling and grabbing and the sound of the steel cracking, it’s like something that you cannot fake,” added the 33-year-old, who works in sales back home.
The four-day championships, which opened Thursday, see competitors battle in one-on-one “duels” made up of two one-minute rounds each. Opponents are eliminated after hitting the ground three times or when they submit. If neither happens, marshals declare a winner based on points scored. The IMCF says fighters wear thick, shock-absorbing padded garments beneath the armor to distribute the force of impact, and that fights are strictly controlled by trained marshals who enforce the rules of engagement. It says that overall injury rates are comparable to those in mainstream full-contact martial arts. Gill said almost everything the competitors wear, including his 30-kilogram (66-pound) suit of armor, is historically accurate. Men and women compete in separate events. Miisa Kaivos, a 27-year-old bartender from Helsinki, Finland, said the women’s side of the sport is also “drastically growing all around the world.” “It’s amazing to see,” said Kaivos. “It’s always nice to come to these events and fight each other, and have that awesome girl power.”
A Knight’s Laughs
Which of King Arthur’s knights was chosen to make the round table?
Sir Cumference.
Why do dragons like knights?
The come in their own pans.
Three knights walk into a bar.
The first knight asks the bartender for a cup of ale.
The second knight asks the bartender for a mug of ale.
The bartender turns to the third knight and says, “Don’t tell me, you want a jug of ale?”
The third knight says, “None for me, I’m two knight’s designated driver.
How do Knights communicate?
Chain mail.
August 12th Birthdays
1985 – Miriam Rivera, 1997 – Tori Webster, 1994 – Imani Hakim, 1989 – Leah Pipes
1971 – Pete Sampras, 1976 – Casey Affleck, 1939 – George Hamilton, 1991 – Keith Stanfield