The thrill of combat lives in the SCA!
Armoured Combat
One of the most well known and widely enjoyed activities in the SCA is armoured combat. Our warriors participate in tournaments for individuals and teams, tactical melees involving dozens of combatants, and even large-scale wars! The most important tournaments in the SCA are the Crown Tourneys, held twice a year in branches all over the Kingdom to find the next King and Queen.
Armoured combat is a uniquely SCAdian sport. SCA combat activities are unchoreographed and the outcome is entirely based on the skill and training of the combatants involved.
The weapons are made of rattan, a type of bamboo, allowing combatants to strike with full strength, full speed, and full contact. The result is a virtuosic display of combat that a real tourney-going knight of the Middle Ages would find quite familiar.
Whilst extremely physical, and every bit as skilled as in the era, the safety of fighters is paramount. The Kingdom of Lochac Fighters Handbook sets out the Society’s standards on weapons and armour, behaviours and responsibilities.
Armoured combatants also called heavy fighters or just fighters, train in and out of armour, and must satisfy their marshals that they are safe, responsible and competent before they can be authorised to fight in tournaments and wars.
Fighters are responsible for obtaining their own armour and weapons. (For newcomers we have a small amount of weapons and armour available for use.) Some people make most of their armour, using metal, leather, or plastic, but most buy pieces, either new or used.
Participants must be over 14 to train for armoured combat, and over 16 to be authorised as a combatant or participant.
If this sounds like fun to you come join us!
Okewaite holds weekly training in armoured combat at Sutton Forest Hall, 7414 Illawarra Hwy, Sutton Forest, on Mondays from 6.30-9.30pm.
Kingdom of Lochac Fighters’ Handbook
Rapier
Rapier combat in the SCA attempts to recreate styles of sword fighting from the later part of the Middle Ages, often based on manual and theories of combat that have survived to this day. Rapier combat uses a foundation of style and finesse that has since evolved into the modern sport of fencing. Unlike the modern sport, our combat uses a wide variety of weapons and body protection and our combat takes place with freedom of movement in any direction. Rapier combat can be found in both tournaments of individual and team combatants and in larger melees and wars!
With a broader range of techniques than you’ll find in Olympic-style fencing, our ‘Rapier’ experts wield sword, dagger, cane, and buckler in swift and elegant bouts. Rapier fighters use blunted metal swords, and, (as in modern fencing), fight ‘to the touch’.
This is a very exciting fighting skill, and very accessible to most people. It doesn’t require the commitment to heavy armour as is essential in heavy fighting. It does however require an enormous amount of skill. We use authentic rapiers in this discipline; the only concession is the use of blunted tips and edges, for safety.
We do use various other forms of body protection, such as gauntlets, fencing masks, groin protection and lightweight chest protection for those that feel they need it.
Kingdom of Lochac Fencing Combat Handbook
Archery
Throughout the time period that we recreate, archery was used for hunting and in wartime.
SCA archers use materials and methods available to period archers. This includes a focus on natural materials such as wood and feathers in our bows and arrows. Archers use recurve bows, crossbows, and longbows.
Archery in the SCA comes in several forms. In addition to shooting at traditional archery “bull’s-eye” targets to score points, SCA archery competitions are often designed to mimic situations faced by medieval archers – combat archery! The experience of being on the field of combat with shields and swords clashing and arrows flying everywhere is something to behold, and a truly unique experience for archers in our time.
SCA Archery is open to participants of all ages.
In all activities, marshals are present to inspect equipment, run the range, and ensure that everyone participates safely.
Kingdom of Lochac Target Archery Handbook
Equestrian
Horses played a major part in the Middle Ages, and that role is not forgotten in the SCA!
In SCA Equestrian Activities we practice the games of skill that squires and other mounted warriors would have learned in the medieval period.
SCA equestrian activities include mounted combat, jousting with opponents using foam or wooden lances, and games such as jousting at rings, hitting the quintain, obstacle courses, and archery from horseback.
