Armored Combat is the umbrella term for the modern practice of wearing and fighting with historically accurate medieval armor. There are multiple forms of Armored Combat including Buhurt and SCA.

Buhurt is the specific type of Armored Combat that our team participates in. Buhurt is a modern full-contact combat sport where fighters compete in historically accurate medieval armor. The word “buhurt” comes from the French word "béhourd' which means “to wallop."

Not quite. LARPing is fantastic, but it is very different from Buhurt. Buhurt is fighting with blunted-steel weapons in historically accurate steel armor. LARPing involves the use of foam and plastic weapons and armor, with an emphasis on roleplaying with medieval or fantasy themes. Buhurt fights incorporate modern MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) techniques alongside weapons training. This in turn produces real fights, in real armor, using real steel blunted weapons.

SCA Armored Combat is different from Buhurt. SCA Armored Combat uses armor that is a different standard, not intended for full contact fighting. Buhurt uses armor and weapons that are much stronger, made with steel, and with different regulations to allow for fighting that is harder and more intense than SCA. SCA weapon cores are made from rattan (a specific type of wood that breaks more easily) rather than the sturdier woods and metals used for Buhurt weapons. SCA is more focused on education and what it was like to live in the middle ages, rather than on competitive fighting.

HEMA is another form of combat which focuses more on the fighting aspect than SCA does and less on the armor than either SCA or Buhurt do. HEMA uses medieval combat techniques to fight in modern armor, rather than using medieval armor.

Yes, the weapons are made of real wood and steel and can range in weight. Most weigh around (three) 3 lbs with the heaviest allowed being eight (8) lbs. Shields can weigh up to ten (10) lbs. That being said, all weapons are blunted and stabbing with weapons is strictly prohibited.

Yes, the armor is heavy. Most armor weighs around forty to fifty (40-50) lbs with heavier armor weighing up to one-hundred (100) lbs.

Yes, all visible armor and weapons are required to be historically accurate and from the same time period and region. For example, someone cannot mix Eastern (Asian or Russian) armor with Western (European) armor. Fantasy armor is not allowed. Items worn under armor (like protective gear) can be modern, so long as they are not visible.

Yes, there are some activities you simply cannot do in full armor. However, well-fitted and customized armor is not as restrictive as you may expect.

We fix it. Major armor failures require exiting the match to repair it, while fighting can continue with some minor failures. Very serious failures can even result in elimination from the match or event, so armor repair is a very important aspect of the sport.

This depends entirely on the armor type, materials, and sourcing, but most full kits range from $1,000 to $4,000. This high cost is why most fighters begin by using loaned armor, slowly building their kits over time, and the team works together to help each other source more affordable armor and reselling used armor whenever possible.

Yes, and we encourage you to! We have loaner armor available for those who don’t have their own. There are also tons of ways to get involved before you have armor, or even if getting armored up and fighting isn’t your thing. The team will always welcome new members for administrative and support positions.

Join the Discord and show up to a practice! Practice details can be found in the Discord and on our Events page.

Team merchandise can be purchased on this website under the “Merch” page. If you would like to discuss large-scale sponsorship or donations, please email IdahoArmoredCombat@gmail.com