Sports

Medieval times combat enthusiasts compete in Alliston

November 21, 2024   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

They wear the clothes of the Medieval era, engage in combat with swords and try to outmanoeuvre their opponent to deliver what would be considered a fatal or wounding blow to defeat their enemy.

The Frost on the Blade event brought Medieval sword fighters to Alliston Memorial Arena on Nov. 16 and 17 to engage in a sport that pits sword-wielding opponents in a one-on-one battle.

This modern version of sword fighting allows competitors to enjoy the sport while doing it safely – at least as safe as they can be. Injuries can still happen when you strike a heavily protected opponent with a sword blade.

Competitors wear protective clothing and visors so a blade strike will not hit them directly. The swords do not have a sharp edge and the sword’s points are covered.

Points are awarded when a fighter makes contact with an opponent. The most points are awarded for head or body contact.

The activity is similar to fencing, however the swords are a lot heavier and do not bend like an épée. The long swords are the same type of weapon that would have been used in battle at one time.

Several clubs around the province enjoy the activity and hold regular meets.

“This is a historical European martial arts tournament,” explained event organizer Kaitlyn Rose. “We have people from Ontario, Quebec, and the northern U.S. Today is the longsword competition for men and women. Tomorrow we will have sabres – which are a single handed curved blade. We also have something called the Wheel of Death. We spin the wheel and it lands on a weapon, or one of several very unlikely weapons. This period is based on the 10th century to the 15th century and is what we focus on.”

The two-handed longsword weighs around three pounds and is balanced so you can use your two hands to rotate it easily.

Matches are refereed and points are awarded for a strike. As the battles go on, winners can advance to the next round until a final winner is declared.

“We set safety standards,” Rose explained. “There’s a type of helmet that is required, back and head protection, we have body protection and gloves. There’s no exposed skin at all. The helmets look similar to modern fencing helmets but these are reinforced. This sport has been around for 30 or 40 years, but it has been picked up a lot in the last five years.”

There’s an inherent risk, however, competitors rely on their safety equipment and skills to avoid injury.

Participants of these types of matches enjoy competing in a sport that brings back competition from a long-gone era.

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