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SCA Heavy Combat

 
Wikipedia: SCA Heavy Combat
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SCA Heavy (Armored) Combat is a combat discipline developed by the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) in which participants act out a form of historical combat practiced in medieval Europe without the intention to kill or maim. It is one of several types of combat conducted within the SCA, others being SCA fencing and SCA Combat Archery. It has been called, alternatively, a combat sport, contact sport, and a martial art.[citation needed]

The term SCA Heavy Combat is used to distinguish between combat disciplines involving "lights (Rapier or Fencing)" in the SCA, i.e. participants wearing little armour. Other combat disciplines include Archery (combat and target), Thrown Weapons, and Equestrian.

Armored combat within the SCA is an armed and armored combat form, with the participants using armor and weapons specified by SCA standards and rules. Weapons are made from rattan rather than steel for the provision of safety, and all major vital points of the body are covered by armor. Though the weapons are of rattan, the fighting is a full-speed, full-force competition between two or more combatants. The form of combat is designed to resemble medieval combat, though safety rules make it distinct from its real historical counterpart. There is some debate over its martial sport versus historically authentic nature.

The armored combat form is conducted in all SCA groups throughout the world, and has thousands of active participants in Canada, The United States, Germany, Austria, Finland, Netherlands, France, Ireland, Spain, Sweden, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. SCA Heavy Combat is a relatively new sport compared to other more established martial activities, being roughly 40 years old. The first tournaments were in the 1960s; since then it has evolved into a large, formalized sport.

Fighters practising at Pennsic XXXVIII (2009). Note the use of rattan swords and edge padding on the shields.

Contents

Weaponry

Participants may choose a wide range of weapons, the striking surfaces of which are made of rattan, and may use leather, foam, and duct tape in their construction. Non-striking surfaces (quillons, basket hilts, etc), may be made of steel, plastic, or other material. Some commonly used weapons are the sword, mace, spear, greatsword, glaive, poleaxe, maul and axe.

Most SCA fighters use a one-handed weapon in combination with a shield of some kind. With centuries of historical examples to draw upon, shields may range from large rectangular Roman-style scuta to small bucklers, with common styles including the kite, center-grip (round or oval), and heater (so called because it resembles the shape of a flatiron). A minority of fighters fight "florentine" (a case of swords) or with a two handed weapon. All different weapon choices require different skills and strategies.


Fighters practising at Pennsic XXXVIII (2009).


Armor

Armor standards are codified, with slight variations between different groups. All vital points are covered by some hard rigid protection. Helmets must be made of steel. Safety standards are high and generally well enforced, with few serious injuries in comparison to other sports. There have been no deaths in SCA armored combat. Steel is generally used for armor (though plastic, leather and even carpet may be used). There are a number of armorers that supply the SCA and other living history groups, but many make their own armor. Armor is generally encouraged to look like its historical counterpart.

Rules

Heavy combat within the SCA uses a body part target location system. If a limb is hit with what the recipient determines to be a blow with significant force, it cannot be used. If the torso or head are hit with significant force, the combatant is dead. If a leg is hit with significant force the combatant must fight on their knee. Different weapons can have different effects, simulating the effect of the period weapon (ie a mace hit upon the shoulder has a more severe effect than a sword, to simulate the effect of the mace as a mass weapon). A number of rules make it clearly abstracted from real historical combat, for instance there is no striking an opponent from behind, no deliberate targeting of an opponent's groin, no tripping or wrestling, no striking from one inch before the wrist to the end of the hand, and no striking from one inch above the knee to the end of the leg. The winning shot of the bout is acknowledged by the participant, who will generally call the shot good (or die a dramatic death for good showmanship). For the purposes of calling blows, despite what they are wearing in reality, all heavy weapons combatants are considered to be armored in a mail hauberk, wearing an open-faced helmet with a nasal (nose protection). For that reason, a draw cut or glancing blow would have no effect, while a solid blow would. Good strikes to the torso and head are treated as a 'killing blow'. There are slight variations between different SCA branches Kingdoms concerning combat rules.

Fighters practising at Gulf Wars XIII (2004).

Competitions

SCA tournaments are held regularly in which combatants fight each other, using a number of systems so that a winning fighter is decided. Melee tournaments can include a number of combatants taking to the field. Other combats may include wars, any number of participants can take the field at once, and this may include archers, artillery, strategic goals and fortifications.

Training

Most groups hold "fighter practices" where individual and group combat is practiced and informal instruction occurs, but in some areas there may be more formalized and structured training in a local style. Typically several years of direct experience in the SCA's Armored Combat are needed to excel in tournaments. Experienced fighters often train less-experienced fighters in a Knight/squire relationship.

Fighting Styles

There is no general formal style within SCA heavy combat, and individuals may fight whatever style and type of weapon that are permissible within the rules. Styles and strategies are often passed onto them by the style of the trainer (who is normally an experienced fighter, a "Knight" or a "Peer"), the style of the local group, or the style of the household (sometimes including written manuals that codify styles and training techniques. Some SCA Heavy combatants publish their training manuals on the internet, while others publish and sell theirs.

See also

References

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External links


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