International Medieval Combat Federation

The IMCF was founded in 2013 in response to a dispute between national teams and the organisers of the Battle of the Nations competition, founded three years previously.{{cite web | url=https://the-peak.ca/2024/02/the-large-and-entertaining-world-of-medieval-martial-arts/ | title=The large and entertaining world of medieval martial arts | date=27 February 2024 }}{{cite web|url=http://botn.info/en// |title=Battle of the Nations | World Championship in Historical Medieval Battle 2015 |website=Botn.info |date= |accessdate=2016-01-09}}{{cite web |url=http://battleheritage.co.uk/about/imcf/ |title=IMCF - Battle Heritage |website=Battleheritage.co.uk |date=2015-06-13 |accessdate=2016-01-09 |archive-date=2016-01-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160125171954/http://battleheritage.co.uk/about/imcf/ |url-status=dead }} Dozens of national teams attended the first IMCF world championship competition at the 15th century Belmonte Castle, in Spain.{{cite web|last=Holland |first=Tom |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-27715991 |title=Falling in love with medieval armed combat |publisher=BBC News |date=2014-06-09 |accessdate=2016-01-09}}{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/howaboutthat/10803917/In-pictures-Knights-in-shining-armour-re-enact-medieval-battles-in-Spain.html?frame=2899619 |title=In pictures: Knights in shining armour re-enact medieval battles in Spain |website=Telegraph.co.uk |date=2014-05-02 |accessdate=2016-01-09}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-27280460|title=Modern-day knights draw swords in the Medieval Combat World Championships|work=BBC News}} The next world championship competition was held in 2015 at Malbork Castle, Poland.{{cite web|url=http://malbork2015.pl/|title=IMCF World Championships}} The location for the 2016 IMCF world championship was in Portugal. In 2017 the tournament was held in Spottrup, Denmark.{{Cite web |url=http://www.cronicasbohurteras.com/en/imcf-world-championship-2017-pools-competition-trees-and-schedule/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=2018-03-06 |archive-date=2020-02-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217211759/http://www.cronicasbohurteras.com/en/imcf-world-championship-2017-pools-competition-trees-and-schedule/ |url-status=dead }}

Rules for competitions draw closely on original medieval texts outlining sport (i.e. non-lethal) tournament combat, such as King René's Tournament Book from 1460. Where original information is not available, or would present too great a risk to those fighting, new rules can be devised by an international team of referees, or marshals, to be voted upon by fighters. As a young sport, rules are regularly updated in response to observations during competitions and subsequently rules of fighting may vary somewhat year-by-year.

All fighters must wear historical steel armour that encloses the torso, limbs, head & neck, & hands, and beneath this a padded layer, known as a gambeson. Helmets must be analogous to the rest of the armour, must cover the face and must be closed with a strap to prevent removal during combat. All armour must be of a style traceable to a historical period and location, no piece may date from more than 50 years of another. Fighters may wear a supplementary third layer of protective equipment beneath their gambeson, provided it is not visible and does not replace any armour above it, such as a Protective Cup or mouthguard.

All weapons are reproductions based on historical originals. These originals may be found in museums or drawings traceable to the period. All weapons must be blunt and within a set weight and size category, dependent upon the weapon. Metal maces, axes, swords (including falchions) and polearms are all permitted in group fights, while war hammers and weapons with hammer attachments may not be used in international events.

Shields are commonly used as weapons as much as swords and other such medieval arms, with fighters choosing to combine strikes from their primary weapon alongside punches with their shield. Subsequently, shields are regulated as weapons. While being historical in design, shields must also meet a minimum weight requirement and not have narrow, sharp or metal edges.

As with all combat or full-contact sports, preparation and training is a crucial part of a team's approach to competition. Despite the importance of physical training for the sport, no single training regime tailored for the physical demands of fighting in armor survives from the medieval period, and subsequently, competitors often combine occasional sparring with a variety of physical training techniques.

• Historical medieval battles
• Battle of the Nations (modern tournament)
• Hastilude

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.imcfederation.net/ International Medieval Combat Federation]

Category:Medieval reenactment

Category:Historical European martial arts revival

Category:2013 establishments