Bladed weapons lined the edge of the table on the dais on Friday at 11:30AM in Hyatt International North. Women and femme fighters from South Carolina’s Palmetto Knights and Ohio’s River Sirens took the stage to share what being a femme fighter in medieval combat sports feels like. Moderator Kiki Falkanger and panelist Kadria, who works as a support staffer for the Palmetto Knights, led the discussion. Panelists Chelsea, Christine, Jordan, Samantha, Sandy, and Hunter participated.

The panelists’ experience in the medieval armored combat form called bo-hurt ranged from about 10 or 11 months to 10 years. Asked about their favorite weapons, Chelsea and Samantha chose the arming sword, the first weapon they used. Christine favors a saber, while Jordan likes the two-handed ax or the punch shield. Hunter also favors the punch shield. Sandy favors different weapons, especially her arms, an answer that drew laughs from the audience.

Much of the discussion focused on advice for women or femmes interested in or new to armored combat. Weight lifting can be helpful, and judo training proves useful for melee. Cardio training can be very helpful because wearing the armor can quickly become tiring. Many local clubs have Facebook groups that make them easy to find, and some have spare soft practice gear. The panelists encouraged anyone interested to find a club and give the sport a try.

Sandy showed up at a meeting of the Detroit fight club and was accepted. Hunter, who is an emergency room physician, added that there’s a place for all body types in the sport. Samantha started because of an armored group she and her boyfriend saw at a Renaissance fair. Her boyfriend tried it, so she joined the club with him, then decided to try it herself. Chelsea also started at a Renaissance fair, using her husband’s kit and a borrowed helmet.

Kadria pointed out that support positions are also available and that people who want to do that are welcome. She then asked the panel what challenges they faced in a traditionally masculine sport.

Jordan said fighting with men offered great practice, but it’s difficult to be with women and build a community in that situation. Christine noted that throws can be difficult when fighting a man because men tend to be bigger and heavier. Because she had no sports background, she took longer to learn some things. Because body mechanics are different, men often rely on strength rather than technique.

Hunter commented that getting a group of women can be difficult because of location. Melee is a team sport, so practicing with a team offers an advantage.

Because Samantha is smaller than most women, people often grapple over her or even pick her up and move her. That’s where technique comes in, she said. She feels like a badass when she takes someone down.

Jordan said that even though armor is custom-ordered, the fit is always wrong in some way. For example, the arms pieces may be too long.

Scaling, meaning the force of a blow, can be challenging when fighting men. A fifty-percent-strength blow may mean one thing to the woman or femme and another to the man.

Mental preparation is also important. Fighters have to be a little violent and aggressive and “get amped up” for a fight. They also need to be able to take pain. Sandy likes to sit in silence with her helmet on for five minutes before a fight while Samantha likes to set one small goal for each competition. Jordan also sets a small goal but then plays music or something else to make her angry and to prepare her for what she described as consensual violence. At some point, everyone gets hurt, and fighters shouldn’t take that personally.

The panel also displayed the concussion foam inside the helmets and discussed the protective padding. There are areas that are forbidden for hits, such as the groin (though cups are mandatory), back of the knee or neck, and the feet. There’s also no stabbing and no hitting with a hammer such as the one on the back side of the two-handed ax.

The helmets weigh 12 to 15 pounds and are very protective, but the concussion foam and the weight can strain the wearer’s neck. Despite the foam, fighters sometimes get concussions. They also suffer ACL injuries, damage to fingers, and combination injuries.

Different groups have different practice structures, but they all spend time teaching people how to fall. Hitting a pell (practice dummy) can be good training that doesn’t require a group setting.

Each year, more women and femmes enter the sport, coming from all parts of the United State to learn. There are always men who aren’t hospitable to women, but they can find communities and support each other. The panelists advised ignoring the detractors and “just keep doing it.” They’re all interested in making things better for those coming behind them. Chelsea said, it was cool when little girls see that the fighter in front of them is a girl. The panel closed with audience members invited to come forward, talk to the fighters, and handle the weapons. Several happyily accepted that invitation.