Did you recently hear about the sport of Buhurt on social media, and are looking to know more about it? Is it your first time seeing an event, and you're curious about how the sport works?
This article will help you understand this modern medieval competitive sport, how matches and rounds are scored, the different types of fights that take place, and how the tournaments are typically carried out.
Already familiar with the sport and just want a quick refresher before the next event starts? Jump to the section you want here: Dueling Armored MMA Melees
What is Buhurt?
The word "Buhurt" (pronounced "Bo-Hurt") derives from the Old French word "Behourd", which was used to describe arms tournaments in medieval times. Buhurt is also known by other names such as Armored Combat, or Steel Fighting. Buhurt technically refers to the melee or team battles that occur during tournaments but is generally used as an umbrella word for the sport as a whole in the community.
Events are held all over the world, including many in the United States which we hope to cover in future articles. They are run by various leagues of medieval combat and are refereed by "marshals" usually dressed in canary yellow rather than the typical black and white. Fighters travel many hours to these events in the hope of gaining the gold and glory that can only be found in a ring of battle.
There are two main leagues in the world, the International Medieval Combat Federation (IMCF) and Buhurt International (BI). The United States has a branch for each of the World leagues, the IMCF equivalent is the American Medieval Combat Federation (AMCF), and Medieval Combat USA (MCUSA) is the BI counterpart. There are also several other leagues in the nation that may or may not have some ties to the World Organizations, but many of them are independent leagues that run their own events and fights. Some of these leagues are; Armored Combat Sports (ACS), Armored MMA (AMMA), and Armored Combat Worldwide (ACW).
What about the weapons and armor? Are they real?
While all the weapons and armor used in Buhurt are made of real metal, there are some key differences compared to what you would have found in an actual medieval battle. All the weapons are fashioned with a blunted edge, much like they were in real tournaments, to protect the fighters from deadly wounds. Weapons are also checked by the marshals prior to fighters entering the ring, to ensure they meet any required weight limits and to ensure the blades are free from nicks and burrs.
Some of the pieces of the armor that the fighters wear are not entirely made of the steel you might expect. Titanium armor pieces provide the same level of protection as steel, with the added benefit of being much lighter and easier to maintain. The weight of a full armor set typically falls in the range of 30 - 50 pounds but can vary outside this range depending on the type of metal used, the size of the fighter, and the style of the armor.
All of the weapon and armor designs are based on illustrations and documents that typically date them anywhere in the years 1300 - 1500 AD. Some leagues have Authenticity Committees (AC) that regulate what styles of armor fighters should wear, and what emblems and blazons are accepted. Fighters who are members of the same "team" or "club", wear tabards or surcoats with their team's heraldry. Think of it like a sports jersey, used to tell the fighters apart from one another.
Wait, there are teams in this sport?
Yup! Teams usually consist of fighters who live in the same region and regularly train with each other. Some teams draw their talent pool from multiple different states, and the fighters only see their teammates when they compete. Other times, smaller clubs band together to get the numbers they need to compete in larger events. Some teams are even formed on the day of an event, compiled together from the handful of fighters that show up without their own dedicated teams.
We'll be highlighting teams as the season goes on this year, so keep an eye on this blog as the year goes on. Who knows? Maybe you'll find a team near you!
So those two people with the fancy swords? Is that Buhurt too?
Three (3) distinct fight formats are regulated and ranked in the sport, each is very different from the others making it hard to see how they all fit in the same category. Some fighters choose to specialize in a particular format, while others like to participate in multiple. The three formats commonly found at most tournaments are:
Dueling, which is a matched weapon 1v1 fight with scoring based on the number of strikes you can land on your opponent.
Armored MMA, also known as, Outrance, Profights, or Knight Fights, is a 1v1 fight against a similar weighed opponent where fighters can use more than just the weapon in their hand to fight with.
Melees, called "Buhurt" in some leagues' rulebooks, are team battles of multiple fighters. The most popular format in the sport is the 5v5s melee, but you can find 10v10s, 16v16s, 30v30s, and even higher at some of the bigger tournaments in the world.
Photo Credits: Timothy Hines and The Medieval Things
Dueling
There are four formats of dueling that are formally ranked; Sword and Shield, Longsword, Sword and Buckler, and Polearm. At smaller events or Renaissance Faires, you might find people dueling with two-handed axes, frying pans, sabers, or even watermelons. The basics of the rules are as follows.
Longsword, Sword and Shield, Polearm: Two (2) rounds are fought, each lasting one (1) minute. Points are awarded to a fighter based on the number of "Deliberate" or "Significant" strikes landed on their opponent. At the end of the Two (2) rounds, if a clear winner has not been determined, a thirty (30) second "Tiebreaker" round is held.
Sword and Buckler: A one (1) minute timer is set before the fight is started. Points are awarded to a fighter based on the number of "Deliberate" or "Significant" strikes landed on their opponent. When a fighter has achieved five (5) hits on their opponent, the round is called and the fight is halted. This can repeat for multiple rounds until a winner is determined.
Because of the risk of eye and face injuries, stabbing is strictly prohibited in all formally recognized dueling leagues. That is why you will never see a fighter take what seems like would be an easy move.
*Some leagues differ in the techniques permitted by duelists, so you may see some tactics* *utilized more frequently in some leagues than others.*
Photo Credit: Snapping Fire Dragon Photography
Armored MMA
Armored MMA, this format has many other names, such as Profight, Knight Fight, and even Outrance (coming from the old word's meaning "utmost extremity" or "to the bitter end")
Fighters are paired in weight classes and can use their weapons, fists, and feet to fight their opponent. Rounds are scored using a ten (10) point system similar to boxing or MMA, and either fought for two (2) or three (3) rounds depending on the kind of event you are at.
Takedowns may be used to a fighter's advantage, but each league has a different "Ground Fighting" rule. Some leagues allow for continuous fighting after a takedown, while others stand fighters back up after a set time, or prohibit ground fighting altogether. Also, submissions of any kind are typically not allowed for various reasons, one of them being the complications that arise when attempting to "tap out" while dressed in a full suit of armor.
Regardless if ground fighting is allowed or not, this format of fighting has some of the most brutal 1v1 matchups that you'll see in the sport. AMMA exclusively runs these types of events, and they are known for their electrifying production value.
Photo Credit - The Medieval Things
Melees
In a melee, fighters compete in teams against each other in a tactics-orientated battle to achieve a sufficient numbers advantage. Fighters use a multitude of weapons ranging from polearms and longaxes to bucklers and falchions to deal as much damage as they can to their opponents while also protecting their teammates and themselves. The most common format you'll see is the 5v5, but larger events can have 10v10s, 30v30s, and even higher.
Fighters are deemed "out" if they make three (3) points of contact with the ground (e.g., a knee, hand, chest, or face).
In historical battles, a knight in full armor who was downed would be easily overwhelmed by enemy soldiers, leaving them unable to defend themselves. This "down and out" rule serves as the foundation for melee format scoring.
Through the use of multiple techniques, including the application of Judo trips and throws, or through brute force striking, fighters attempt to bring their opponents down to the ground. The round ends when a team achieves a "threefold" advantage (a "3v1" in the 5v5 category) or when none of a single team's fighters are left standing.
Some leagues allow a fighter to "pop back up" after achieving a takedown, provided that the fighter does not put their full body weight down to the floor or on top of another fighter.
Wrapping up
There are many other intricacies we haven't covered here, further detailed information can be found on each league's webpages. Before we conclude this article, we'll cover one last rule of note, the "Legal Strike Zone"
The "Legal Strike Zone" is a crucial concept in melee combat that defines the areas of the body where the fighters are allowed to strike. This zone is established to ensure safety, as certain parts of the body are difficult to protect effectively with the available armor, such as the backs of the knees and the feet. Additionally, some areas are considered too risky to target such as the base of the neck.
Understanding this concept is essential for both fighters and spectators. It helps maintain a safe environment during matches, as fighters are prohibited from intentionally striking these restricted areas.
Visibility inside an enclosed helmet can be limited, and aiming for precise strikes can be challenging, particularly when under attack. As a result, marshals are often seen issuing warnings to fighters to ensure compliance with the rules. While errors may happen, any fighter who deliberately targets restricted areas will face "carding" and prompt removal from the field.
Our next article will be focusing on the teams attending Carolina Carnage Fest this year, but we hope that you'll return to this article often, whenever you want a quick refresher on what to expect at a future event.
We'll leave you with a short highlight video from the Buhurt Tech YouTube page. It features some GoPro footage from Igor Parfentev and gives you a first-person perspective of what it's like to be in one of these fights.