Origins

Jousting is based upon a martial competition, which gained widespread popularity during the 12th century. A jousting tournament is played by armored combatants mounted on horses. It consists of competition between two mounted knights using a variety of weapons, usually in sets of three per weapon, often as part of a tournament.

Weapons: tilting with a lance, blows with the battle axe, strokes with the dagger, or strokes with a sword.

Jousting evolved from mock battles in which knights on horseback, assisted by foot soldiers, formed into teams and charged at each other in some wide meadow.

At a certain stage in the history of jousting a rail was added in-between the contestants to protect the horses.

In some tournaments a ring event was held where knights would attempt to spear a ring suspended along a rail with their lance in mid gallop. Special ring lances are used for this event.

Ring Jousting is the state sport in Maryland – the first state with an official sport.