Editing Armoured combat

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 central place in the [[SCA]]. 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.

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