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RT.com / RT projects / Russiapedia / Galleries / Knight fight: medieval sport for modern heroes

A clinch is allowed, but for five seconds only.

Author: Tina Berezhnaya

Published: 20 April 2011

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One of the judges is checking the safety of the protective neck-gear.

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The fight between 5-man teams is called bugurt. Lining up for the fight.

The fighters watch the other teams in battle to learn their tricks.

Cheer-leaders in style: ladies dressed as medieval damsels come to support their clubs.

The weapons used in the bugurt fights imitate the original historical pieces,

The organizers set up a short dance show to give the fighters a break between battles.

In the 15th century the Mongols looked pretty much like this.

Battles or Barbies? A young lady with a toy sword is mesmerized by the fight.

A poleaxe held by a Mongol fighter from the Shaitan-Horde team.

Bugurt tournaments are one of the few places

Size does not matter:

16 teams from Central Russia gathered in Tula for the tournament.

A medieval fighter or one of the Jedi?

Even photographers prefer to blend in with the crowd of medieval knights.

Dances with swords.

Noble rapier encounters look like a dance rather than a proper skirmish.

Casanova?

The average weight of the armor is about 20 kilos (44 lbs).

Some teams have inventive, if slightly weird, names.

A judge holds back a fighter with a wooden shaft.

According to the rules, there are no rules.

Every warrior is allowed up to two weapons, and they can be changed for each new battle.

Medieval button.

Pushing, kicking and hitting are allowed with hands, shields and weapons.

Down and out.

Inventive names, feirce fights.

Hit me, baby, one more time!:)

The

Two down, three to go!

The requirements for the protective gear are very strict:

The under-armour cushion is an absolute must to avoid major injuries.

Something old, something new...

The shield has been carved and chipped by the opponents' swords.

Keep the distance!

All the weapons must be

The fabric part of the warriors’ costumes only lasts one fighting day.

One of the judges is checking the safety of the protective neck-gear.

A clinch is allowed, but for five seconds only.

Holy tin can!

After combat the worriors do not shake hands - they rap gauntlets.

To take part in the battle the warrior must be at least 18 years old.

After that the judges drag the fighters apart.

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