Martial activities are a key focus of the Society for Creative Anachronism. The organization has its own rulesets and safety protocols, and activities are adapted to combine a historical ‘look and feel’ with competitive sporting aspects, while maintaining participant safety.
All training must be conducted under the guidance of an approved group marshal, and members must be authorized (demonstrating safe practice and an understanding of the ruleset) to compete.
Heavy Armoured Combat
SCA ‘heavy combat’ is fought with specially prepared rattan ‘swords’ and polearms. This is a full-contact, hand-to-hand martial art that requires a high level of protective equipment, including steel helms. Note that most commercially available armor is not of a suitable standard – please contact the group marshal if you are acquiring armor with heavy combat in mind.
Heavy fighters participate in tournament competitions as well as war field combat. Tournaments include one-on-one fighting, pairs and group melee fights. War field combat is held at larger gatherings and includes battlefield scenarios of massed troops, on the open field and with bridge and fort simulations.
Fencing combat (aka rapier combat)
Somewhere between sport fencing and a musketeer bar brawl, SCA rapier rules include some familiar techniques but tends to be less explosive: there’s no point ‘killing’ your opponent if you also die! Similar protective gear is used, but we use a heavier and safer blade.
Target archery
Just what it says on the tin: shooting targets with arrows.
Combat Archery
Combat Archery involves using limited-poundage bows to shoot heavy combatants on the war field with specially prepared blunt arrows, adding to the realism of combat.
Equestrian activities
Equestrian activities in Lochac include a range of skills competitions and games.
If you are interested in learning more about martial activities within the Shire of Strathcorbie, please contact us via email, in person, or by joining the Strathcorbie Marshallate Facebook group.
More information about Martial Activities within the Kindgom of Lochac, including rules and safety guidelines, is available from the Lochac Marshal webpage.
*Siege weapons and their use are illegal under NSW legislation and this aspect of SCA combat is neither practiced nor condoned by the Society of Creative Anachronism within NSW.