Posted on 02/13/2012 1:36:58 PM PST by do the dhue
If chivalry, as the common saying goes, is dead, someone forgot to tell Shane Adamsthe host of History's new original reality series, Full Metal Jousting, which aims to resurrect the medieval and renaissance competition as a legitimate sport over 500 years after its heyday. Which isn't to say that things don't get gritty"Do not stick out your tongue. You will bite it off," Adams advises the series' would-be knights in last night's premiere episode. Full Metal Jousting, which premiered last night, takes 16 amateur competitors and trains them in competitive full-contact jousting, with a $100,000 prize to be awarded to the last man standing. It's hard to imagine the show successfully capturing the intensity of "history's first extreme sport" without the expertise offered by Adams, a former president of the World Championship Jousting Association and holder of 17 international jousting titles who remains one of the sport's most respected and celebrated competitors. As Full Metal Jousting prepared for its television debut, The Atlantic interviewed Adams about wooden lances, war horses, and what it takes for a normal person to become an expert jouster. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Excerpt) Read more at theatlantic.com ...
Full armor was about 50 pounds, evenly distributed. Modern infantry are expected to run around with that amount of weight (between body armor, ammo, rifle, various odd bits).
Armor which was too heavy to fight in would have been worthless.
Thanks for the update on times PilotDave!
Actual plate armor wasn’t as heavy as people tend to think. A fighter had to remain nimble. Running and jumping were essential. They also had a surprising freedom of movement. Pretty much full range, in a well made set (called ‘harness’) from a good armorer.
And... I’d say this calls for a sword ping!
Lots of youtube videos of people in replica plate armor fighting and jumping around, showing how flexible and maneuverable well-made plate armor was:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1S_Q3CGqZmg&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hpwn0xWro2Q&feature=related
I really can respect what this guy is trying to do. I like that it’s not just theatrical. He’s really doing the real deal. Not for the faint of heart, indeed. People are going to get hurt. Maybe killed. Still... I say more power to ‘em. There’s too much phony stuff out there— especially in the arena of medieval combat.
I don’t think jousting is for me, but if they open up a longsword event... :-)
Jousting and tournament armor eventually became very specialized for the sport and was the not the same as armor for combat. You'll see some suits with heavy plate on the left side - which is great if you are tilting, but not so great in a free-for-all battle.
I need to see this, the novels I’m writing feature mostly sword fighting but a few jousts....
I need to see this, the novels I’m writing feature mostly sword fighting but a few jousts....
Check out the youtube links at #45
LOL!!
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