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| Recreation fighting is also know as steel fighting. It is essentially a choreographed melee with the participants knowing who will die and who will survive. In essence they are staging a play. The participants wear period clothes and armor and wield dulled steel weapons as well as wooden ones. Before one can use a metal weapon one must be steel qualified by the organization. This a simple but necessary procedure that ensures some minimums of ability and understanding of steel fighting concepts. |
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| Rec fighting events are known as 'battles' (to differentiate
them from frat events which are known as 'wars') and are generally held
as public events. They are typically based on an historical event
and the participants seek to give an impression of what the battle might
have been like (less a few hundred or thousand warriors).
The Battle of Hastings is an annual event held by Markland that seeks to recreate that famous battle that took place in 1066. In the last few years it has taken on a 'faire' aspect with merchants attending and with the faire being held at Marietta Mansion in Glenndale, Maryland. In addition to the recreation of the battle of Hastings Markland begins the day with the battle of Stamford Bridge, a precursor battle that took place a few short weeks before Hastings and had an immense impact on the later battle. To become steel qualified one must own certain equipment and perform certain activities. One must own a helmet, a sword, appropriate gloves, and a shield. One must have fought in three recreation battles with a wooden club or similar weapon. One must then demonstrate one's ability to fight in line battle and in a choreographed routine (as both winner and loser) before two steel qualifiers. Steel qualifiers are members of a the Steel Qualifiers Guild. These individuals are steel qualified and have undergone an apprenticeship to demonstrate a thorough understanding of the rules and requirements of rec fighting. They serve Markland by insuring that its steel events are fun, safe, and as realistic as possible. The presence of at least one steel qualifier or apprentice to serve as 'battle master' is required at all rec events. At the most recent Markland recreation of the Battle of Hastings I became a steel qualifier, allowing me to serve Markland by training and judging new steel fighters. I have served as battlemaster at the Attila the Hun's Birthday Bash in March 1998 at the University of Maryland. |
Markland Rules for Recreational Combat
This page last updated September 10, 2003