This page has been left in place as a service to those who have it book marked or linked, but the subject is better covered by visiting the Vikings NA webpages which are being specially written and updated with North American re-enactors in mind.

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Steel Combat


The combat system being used is that developed by The Vikings and was used at the Hastings 2000 re-enactment to which some of the groups sent participants.


Principles

When practiced by trained individuals, steel combat is not dangerous. All of our weapons are blunt, with blows being delivered with great control, and being 'pulled' at the last minute. Weapon contact with your opponant should be firm enough to register a 'hit' but not to leave any bruises, even on those who fight without armour. Killing blows are restricted to the body and upper leg (above the knee) with shots to the head, hands, feet and bony joints (Knees and elbows) being banned. In large public displays, hits received on the upper arm are are treated as wounds with the recipient being forxed to drop back before being re-cycled into combat.

The key to all this is training, and over many years The Vikings have developed a system of training and testing which, as far as possible, ensures the safety of all participants. The rules for armour, helmets, gloves and weapons are explained below.

Armour

While it is acceptable for things like concealed breastplates and abdominal protectors to be worn, only armour that was worn during the period concerned (600-1066) may be visibly worn. This means ring-shirts (with or without gambessons) are the dominant form of armour, with around 50% of the UK society fighting without any armour other than Helmet and Gloves (see below).

Although it is attractive, lamellar or scale armour is unknown from the archeology for the UK so it's use is very limited.

Helmets

Helmets, are required for all combatants. Helmets can be of all metal or composite construction, and should be an accurate reproduction of one of the types of helmet worn in N Europe in the 7th-11thC. This limits the choice to one of three types shown below:

Conical
(With or without a nasal)		 Domed
(With or without a nasal)		 Gjermundbu
(Spectacle-type)

Other later or earlier types should be avoided and will not be allowed at UK events such as Hastings.

Gloves

The only other piece of safety equipment mandated for all warriors is a pair of re-inforced gloves. Although no archeology exists to support thier use, all warriors must wear a pair of leather gloves, re-inforced with a thick leather backing and/or padding which protects the fingers and back of the hand. Two examples are shown below.

Weapons

Under our combat system, trained, fighters are capable of fighting safely with all of the weapons commonly used 1000 years ago - Sword, Seax, Spear (1 handed and 2 handed), Hand Axe and Dane-axe.

Because most people have had some experience with a sword or axe-like object we teach Sword (or Hand Axe) and shield first. This establishes the principles of combat in an easy to understand format. The next weapon to be taught is usually the single-handed spear, knowledge of which again extande the individuals knowledge and and expertise.

After further training including close combat in shieldwall, the warriors can progress on to 2 handed spear, Dane-Axe or fighting with two weapons and no shield.



This site is always
under construction
(last updated 29th September 2004)
so please visit again soon.