Hand to hand combat tactics

Tactics used in hand to hand combat vary as greatly as though that perform them. Whilst dirty tricks are frowned upon in recreationist combat, there are a large variety of combat tactics used during the medieval period.

These range from the tricks of combat styles (specialist moves that may be unexpected) to tactics designed to gain a psycological (putting an opponent on the back foot or making them halter in their attack) or physiological advantage (higher ground or fighting into the sun).

SCA Fighting Sryles

While many different styles of fighting have grown up within the SCA, there are two truly codified systems of fighting sword and shield, the Society's most popular fighting form.

Those styles are Bellatrix and Oldcastle, created by the legendary Duke Paul of Bellatrix and the late Duke Gyrth Oldcastle, respectively.

Details of their respective styles can be found at

Bellatrix Fighting School

Fundamentals of Oldcastle Sword and Shield

Jokes about Fighting Methods

The "easy" (BASIC style) method

10 hit other person
20 don't let them hit you
30 goto 10

There is also scope for
1A. Run away
1B. If not then:
2A. Run away faster
2B. Experience pain