Can Full-Metal Jousting Become the Next Ultimate Fighting Championship?

The Atlantic ^ | 2/13/12 | Shane Adams

[do the dhue]

If chivalry, as the common saying goes, is dead, someone forgot to tell Shane Adams—the host of History's new original reality series, Full Metal Jousting, which aims to resurrect the medieval and renaissance competition as a legitimate sport over 500 years after its heyday. Which isn't to say that things don't get gritty—"Do not stick out your tongue. You will bite it off," Adams advises the series' would-be knights in last night's premiere episode. Full Metal Jousting, which premiered last night, takes 16 amateur competitors and trains them in competitive full-contact jousting, with a $100,000 prize to be awarded to the last man standing. It's hard to imagine the show successfully capturing the intensity of "history's first extreme sport" without the expertise offered by Adams, a former president of the World Championship Jousting Association and holder of 17 international jousting titles who remains one of the sport's most respected and celebrated competitors. As Full Metal Jousting prepared for its television debut, The Atlantic interviewed Adams about wooden lances, war horses, and what it takes for a normal person to become an expert jouster. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Joe 6-pack]

"I have never been to a Renascence fair or anything like that..."

Depending on where you're at in the states, I can highly recommend the Louisiana Renaissance Festival. It runs every weekend starting in November through the second weekend of December. Gotta love the logo with the alligator as dragon...

[do the dhue]

If they have jousting, I would go.

[reg45]

Roman gladiatorial games

Tonight's Event:

Christians vs. Lions

Sponsored By:
• American Civil Liberties Union
• Americans United for Separation of Church and State
• The Service Employees International Union
• The Democratic National Committee
• The Muslim Brotherhood
• George Soros
• Warren Buffet

[Hot Tabasco]

As the televised "extreme sports" are getting more viewership, there will always be the need for them to become more "extreme" in order to hold the audience.

I see a major problem with this in that what will be the major outcome of all this "extreme" sports?

Running Man?

[EEGator]

UFC has a broad appeal. It’s huge in many parts of Asia, Brazil, and the US. I think the show is cool, but won’t have the longevity or broad appeal. UFC is planning on having a PPV in Brazil in a soccer stadium to 80,000+ fans. Any guy can go to a MMA gym and train to fight, how many can joust?

[Joe 6-pack]

They have pretty much every year. I don’t see any reason why they wouldn’t continue to do so.

http://www.la-renfest.com/

[manic4organic]

Politicians should have to joust for votes.

[MasterGunner01]

Agreed. Only for politicians, we don't allow the use of armor. Their egos are enough to fend off lances — aren't they?

Er . . . sorry, Mr. Waxman, that lance was just naturally attracted by your huge nostril; sorry it's sticking out the back of your head.

[Manic_Episode]

I think not, however I do believe the next step in the evolution of MMA should be tag teams and battle royals.

[Cheburashka]

What killed the sport the last time was when King Henry II of France was killed when pieces of broken lance went through his visor eyehole and wound up in his brain.

[Secret Agent Man]

Personally I want to see violent criminals fight in a thunderdome setting. Last one alive is ‘told they will be ‘set free’ at the end - the twist being a shot to the head.

[PilotDave]

Bragging going on here.. My Son in Law is Josh Knowles AKA the black knight from last night. He’s been working at the Medieval times castle here in Myrtle Beach for many years. He usually plays the bad guy knight.
He has been very tight lipped about the outcome of the show. We didn’t know he was gonna do the first dual even. From what I saw last night of his competition he is the favorite. He is a monster of a man physically, 6’ 4” and 270ish, but a teddy bear inside. He’s a super dad to our precious grand daughter.

[PilotDave]

BTW, Huge ratings success.
http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/02/13/full-metal-jousting-premieres-to-1-9-million-total-viewers/119714/

[do the dhue]

WOW thanks for your post. That is pretty cool. I hope the best for him!

And I didn’t know that it did so well in the ratings.

[do the dhue]

LOL

[Grizzled Bear]

Due to medicine and a better understanding of nutrition, modern man is much larger and heavier. They need to take a good look at the armor and padding if they want to prevent unnecessary broken backs.

[PilotDave]

The re-airs for this week. EST. History Channel.
Monday, 11:00PM:
The Ultimate Extreme Sport TV14 V-L
Tuesday, 3:01AM:
The Ultimate Extreme Sport TV14 V-L
Thursday, 11:00PM:
The Ultimate Extreme Sport TV14 V-L
Friday, 3:01AM:
The Ultimate Extreme Sport TV14 V-L
Saturday, 11:00PM:
The Ultimate Extreme Sport TV14 V-L
Sunday, 3:01AM:
The Ultimate Extreme Sport TV14 V-L

[chesley]

LOL!

[elvis-lives]

Hurt all the people that you want, but if you hurt one hair of a horse and the animal lovers will be on this stink on a hippy!!!!!

[buffaloguy]

I love to watch jousting at the Renaissance Faires. It is really exciting and I hope this becomes a popular show.