By Jim Carchidi
Professional athletes perform at the highest levels of skill and competition, but Florida Armored Combat matches are downright medieval. Fighters attempt to best their opponents in one-on-one duels and team matches with forged weapons and armor.
Keeping it real
David Albert has been with Orlando Rogue Knights since 2023 and is among the team's eight knights. Photos by Jim Carchidi
The weapons are blunted but the style is authentic.
“Everything we use is authentic,” said David Albert of the Orlando Rogue Knights, one of eight Florida teams that participates in regional and national matches. Armor and blunted weapons like swords, axes, and maces are made from tempered titanium or spring steel and produced in Poland and Ukraine. “If there’s damage we can’t properly fix ourselves the pieces need to be sent back to maintain safety standards."
Spectator safety is also top of mind with matches contained in fences and netting in place to catch pieces of metal that may fly off when blows are landed.
Knights fight in one-on-one duels and in melees with two teams of two or more combatants.
The armor is real but so are the strikes with points scored for blows landed. Taking opponents off their feet can end the match.
Albert is among eight armored fighters in Orlando Rogue Knights but the full team consists of about 30 members that fill five roles:
- Knights: Train and fight in the medieval style of Buhurt, where points are earned for successful strikes and opponents are disarmed or forced to the ground.
- Squires: Fighters-in-training who assist knights and prepare gear.
- Artisans: Responsible for creating costumes and banners and repairing dents and cosmetic damage in armor and weapons.
- Chronicler: Documents battles and team gatherings through photography, video, and writing.
- Herald: Serves as an announcer and storyteller during matches.
Just as in medieval times, squires assist knights with their armor while learning the art of combat.
Stephen Gallagan of the Fort Lauderdale Storm uses a shield customized with his authentic family crest.
In addition to being a knight, Albert’s background in boxing and mixed martial arts makes him a perfect Buhurt coach. “There are elements of mixed martial arts in the fighting style,” he explained. “You score points by landing blows with weapons but you can use takedown methods to end a match."
Orlando Rogue Knights went head-to-head against the Fort Lauderdale Storm in a Nov. 16 regional match in Baldwin Park that was promoted by partner organization, Castle Tournaments, and hosted by Tactical Brewing Co. The Rogues also participated in a September medieval-themed event at Oviedo Mall. And North Carolina in February will host the North American Medieval Combat Conference Championship - aka Carolina Carnage. The world championship will be held in Denmark in July, 2026.
True champions
Team members are dedicated to their sport but also to their communities and each other. A Knights Champion Initiative encourages knights and squires to champion up to three causes, charities, or non-profits to foster awareness and share their personal connection to each organization.
"We’re definitely a niche community,” Albert said. “But I’ve seen the positive impact it has on people when they learn what they are capable of achieving.”
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