SCA armoured combat

Fighters practising at Pennsic XXXVIII (2009)

Participants may choose a wide range of weapons, the striking surfaces of which are made of rattan[6] and may use leather, foam, and duct tape in their construction.[7] Non-striking surfaces (such as quillons and basket hilts) may be made of rigid materials like metal, rubber, or plastic. For safety rattan is used for most striking weapons, staffs, poles, and handles because when it is damaged forms flexible fibers. This is unlike most types of wood that may form dangerous sharp splinters when it breaks.[4]

All armour standards are codified, with slight variations between the different regional groups within the SCA. All vital points are covered by some hard rigid protection. Safety standards are high and generally well enforced, with few serious injuries in comparison to other sports.[7] Steel is generally used for armour (though aluminum, leather and even plastic or carpet may be used if they are covered over).[4] There are a number of armourers that supply the SCA and other living history groups,[5] but many make their own armour, while some participants may import armour from overseas.[3] Armour is generally encouraged to look like its historical counterpart,[4] though differences are often necessary to comply with safety requirements, and sometimes modern sport armour may be used[8] One of the most common examples is the face of a helmet: While many types of historical helm had no face protection, safety rules require full coverage of the head. As a result, there are many variations of helm used in the SCA that are otherwise historically accurate but have a steel grill added to cover the face. These grilled faceplates were also used for tournaments in Europe in the 14th and 15th Centuries, although probably not for actual warfare. Armour costs can vary greatly from DIY, donation, used armour, or spending up to thousands for museum quality armour,[3][8] and may weigh as much as 70 pounds.[4]

Fighters practicing at Gulf Wars XIII (2004)

In SCA heavy combat, the validity of a blow received is judged on an honour system. The combatant receiving a blow from a SCA approved weapon judges if they would have been uninjured, injured, or killed had it been a historically real weapon impacting a universal "imaginary" set of SCA specified armour that all combatants "wear". This set of default armour balances valid blow/hit levels and helps eliminates differences created by the armour combatants are actually wearing.[4] This "imaginary" armour set consists of mail hauberk, an open-faced helmet with a nasal (nose protection), and boiled leather armour about the arms and legs. Blows with sufficient force are judged by combatants to have been deflected, defeated, or penetrated this style of armour, or if struck on an "unprotected" area of the body. Depending on these several variables a combatant judges the level of damage ranging from no damage to instant death and responds according to SCA norms and rules. Combatants varying from SCA combat norms and rules are normally frowned upon because they could potentially compromise safety, fun, and reflect badly on the honor of SCA combatants.[4]

The effect a blow has on a combatant is determined by a body part target location system. If the head, neck or torso are hit with significant force, the combatant is deemed dead. If a leg is hit with significant force to disable it, the combatant must fight on his or her knees thereafter. If an arm is hit, the combatant can no longer use it to hold a weapon or shield. Different weapons can have different effects, simulating the effect of the period weapon (e.g. a mace hit upon the shoulder has a more severe effect than a sword, to simulate the effect of the mace as a heavier weapon). The struck combatant either verbally acknowledges the validity of a blow or acts it out, depending on the type of bout. Some bouts request a defeated combatant die a dramatic death for good showmanship.[7]

Certain combat moves and styles are prohibited for safety reasons; even if they would have occurred in real historical combat because they could present major safety issues for modern SCA practitioners.[4]

Grades, in the form of Knighthoods, are awarded to those of sufficient prowess. Women are awarded knighthoods as well, and there are currently around 40 female knighthoods in the society.[9]

SCA tournaments are held regularly in which two combatants fight each other,[10] using a number of advancement systems so that a single winning fighter is decided. A special case of this is the regular Crown Tournament in each SCA kingdom held to choose the king and queen who will "rule".

Melee tournaments can include a number of combatants taking to the field.[10] Especially at large events such as Pennsic War, combats may include wars, where large number of participants can take the field at once, and these may include archers, artillery and fortifications. Sometimes, novelty combat may occur, where for instance, the fighters take the form of chess pieces.[10]

Pennsic field battle in 2006

Most local SCA groups hold "fighter practices" where individual and group combat is practiced and informal instruction occurs, but in some regions there may be more formalized and structured training in a local style.[3] Typically several years of direct experience in heavy combat are needed to excel in tournaments. Experienced fighters often train less-experienced fighters in a Knight / squire relationship.[3]

Unlike many other martial arts, there is no general formal style or codified system 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 on within local groups based on either the individual style of a local trainer, who is normally an experienced fighter known as a "Knight" or a "Peer", the style of the local group as a whole, or the style of a particular household.

The acknowledgement of valid hits received by a combatant is one of the most controversial aspects of SCA armoured combat. The first issue is that the judgment of a hit is entirety subjective. A fighter's perception of a hit is affected by armour type and location, the normal variation in human perception to pressure and pain, fatigue, battle focus, hits taught as acceptable during training and warm-up ("calibration"), and personal opinion. The result is an identical blow thrown with identical force will be taken as valid by one fighter, but not another. While some regions develop noticeable patterns on the amount of force required for a blow to be considered valid, there is still considerable variance between fighters. The typical solution within the society is to have fighters warm up before a formal bout by mutually exchanging hits and providing feedback, called "calibrating". However, this still does not establish a meaningful standard, and there are still great variations between fighters.

The second issue with self acknowledgement of blows is that fighters are expected to have a uniform appraisal for hits received. Because of potential ambiguities, it is possible within the SCA's rules for some fighters to lapse into a incentive that could underestimate or reject a valid hit in order to win a bout. While bouts are overseen by "marshals" who act as officials, they are prohibited from judging if a blow was valid from their perspective, though they can and on rare occasions have stopped bouts to provide descriptive information of past hits to the combatants and reaffirm the concepts of the honour system before the bout is resumed. This timely pause is very helpful in restoring a balance of judgement between combatants. However, there is currently no remedy under the rules for refusing to accept a valid hit. If an individual fighter demonstrates a blatant hit judgement problem then the offending individual acquires a reputation for being a dishonourable combatant, with the attendant social stigma. The slang term "rhinohide" was coined to refer to such fighters who have an obvious problem judging valid hits. Such individuals might find themselves barred from future events, and can on occasion even lose their rights to participate in armoured fighting.

• Society for Creative Anachronism activities

• "The differences/similarities between SCA fighting and Rebated steel fighting". Vikingsna.org. Retrieved 2010-02-17.