Medieval armored combat is a growing sport in Oregon

(AUGUST 4, 2023) In Oregon, there is a special sport that is becoming more popular. It's called medieval armored combat. It does not use balls or rackets. The players wear heavy armor like knights from long ago. ("Armor" is metal clothing that soldiers wore in the past to protect them when fighting.) They also use swords and axes. A team from Portland became world champions in Europe last spring.

One person who loves this sport is Daniel Krug. He is a firefighter. He is 48 years old. Daniel became interested in the sport after serving in the military. He describes the sport as a mix of martial arts and fighting with swords while wearing heavy armor. The goal is to knock the other team to the ground. The team that wins two out of three rounds is the overall winner.

It's not an easy sport. The armor can weigh more than 100 pounds. The helmet alone weighs 20 pounds. Some people spend a lot of money on their armor. They don't mind because they enjoy the mental challenge and the camaraderie with their teammates. ("Camaraderie" means special friendship felt by people who work together or experience something together.)

Many of the players are veterans. That means they were soldiers. The sport helps them in various ways. It's not just about winning. It's also about friendship and support. There are 80 teams in the United States that play this sport, and it's slowly growing in popularity.