What is Buhurt?

Buhurt is a modern reconstruction of medieval tournament consisting of team competitions called “melees” and singles competitions with different categories called “duels.” Competitors wear armor based on medieval sources and use blunted steal weapons.

Buhurt originates from a French word which means “to wallop.”

The melee teams can have between three (3) and one-hundred and fifty (150) people on each side with five (5) on five (5) being the most common. The goal of the melees is to get the opposing team members to the ground. If at any point a competitor has three (3) points of contact touching the ground, they are considered down.

The duel categories are longsword, sword and shield, sword and buckler, polearm, and long axe. Competitors fight in three(3) one-minute rounds where referees keep track of hits. In sword and buckler and long axe, the first to five (5) hits wins.