Posted on 02/16/2015 4:27:22 PM PST by Ramius
As maces crash into shields and battle axes cut into armor, knights are left wounded and bloodied on the battlefield.
But while this scene appears reminiscent of a Medieval clash, these fights are happening in the U.S. with the launch of a new extreme sport in the form of a medieval fight club. The Armored Combat League of America (ACL) sees knights from different states face each other in battle, armed with maces and swords.
The Armored Combat League of America has launched its own Medieval fight club, where people dress as knights in full armor and equip themselves with maces and swords to do battle with rivals across the US.
The knights are required to use 'real weapons, full force' as they face each other in battles across the US. And they don't hold back from actual battle or injury. Founding member Jay Brooks said: 'It is as rough as human beings can be with one another without one of them dying.' The ACL currently has around 100 people doing battle across America and was launched to give people enthusiastic about the medieval era the chance to relive it. Mr Brooks added: 'It just feels completely natural to us. This is what our ancestors did in the 14th and 15th centuries.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2955576/The-mace-wielding-fighters-REALLY-medieval-opponents-wearing-suits-armor-brandishing-real-weapons.html#ixzz3RxQ6RX2U
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
They practiced too.
My blade has a Rockwell hardness rating over 60 (i.e., diamond or tungsten carbide level). It’s made of some seriously exotic stuff. Cost a small fortune!
For comparison, a typical axe blade has a hardness of 45 to 55.
I’ve cut up iron and steel pipes and bars with this thing. It’s also fairly flexible. Picked up a nick or two, but nothing serious.
Like I said, exotic materials.
Form factor is katana — what I trained with for about a decade. Folded a few dozen times, thousands of layer of differentially hardened material in it.
Now, armor made of similar materials would defeat it. Just don’t know many people who work with such (except my armorer).
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.