Editing Heavy weapons fighting

The practice of recreations of medieval or renaissance [[armor]] and engaging in combat with [[rattan]] weapons.  'Heavy' distinguishes such combat from the lighter protective gear and weapons used in [[rapier combat]].  Participants are most commonly known simply as [[fighter]]s, but also as heavies or [[armored combatant]]s.

==History==
Armored combat has always been one of the central activities of the [[Society for Creative Anachronism]].  The [[King]]  and [[Queen]] of each kingdom and [[Prince]] and [[Princess]] of each [[Principality]] are chosen in a [[Crown Tournament]] or [[Coronet Tournament]], using armored combat.  The activity has always had a glamorous and central place in the [[SCA]].  The [[Peerage]] associated with armored combat, The Order of the Chivalry, is popularly conceived to have just a little more prestige than the other peerages, for example.  The vast majority of [[event|events]] include an armored combat tournament of some kind.

Until the adoption of [[Rapier combat]] in the mid 1990s, armored combat was almost universally referred to as "fighting", and the participants as "fighters".  It has often been previously called, "heavy weapons combat", but now "armored combat" is the preferred term.

==Oversight and Safety==
The [[Earl Marshal]] and his deputies supervise heavy weapons fighting, which is conducted according to the [[SCA]] Rules of the List and Conventions of Combat, along with the [[Middle Kingdom]] Rules of the List and Conventions of Combat as outlined in the [[Marshal's handbook]].

Armored combatants must demonstrate their skill level, safety, and understanding of the rules and conventions in a test known as an [[authorization]].  Authorizations are overseen by [[marshal|marshals]] .  An authorization must be obtained for each group of weapon types, beginning with [[weapon]] and [[shield]].  Local groups generally hold [[CombatPractices|practices]] at least once a week to train new combatants and improved the skill of authorized fighters.

You may wish to consult this article on your [[First Time In Armor]].


See also: [[First Time In Armor]]

[[Category:Activities]]
[[Category:Martial Activities]]