A PORT Stephens man is calling on residents with a passion for the medieval, or those just wanting to try something new, to join his team in a somewhat new, but also quite old, emerging sport.
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Robert Webb hopes to create a team for the sport of historical medieval battle.
It is full-contact fighting using weapons characteristic of the Middle Ages.
Fighters are dressed in full armour which, like the weapons, is made according to historical standards.
Unlike staged battles seen at historical re-enactments, historical medieval battle fights are serious and held in an arena closely monitored by referees with special training and combat experience.
"It starts off as a fitness thing," Mr Webb said.
"You need a high level of fitness before you get to the fighting.
"If you want to go ahead, you buy your armour and weapons and we do fight training.
"Hopefully we'll attend local events or events in other states and meet up with other teams and fight."
Mr Webb knew nothing about the sport until he saw an advertisement on YouTube this year.
"I watched a few videos from the 2013 tournament, watched some of the fights and was really interested," he said.
He got in touch with the Australian team and in May travelled to Poland to watch them compete in the International Medieval Combat Federation tournament then went to Prague for the Battle of Nations world championships.
Now he is looking to put his own team together. The closest team is in Sydney.
To learn more email Mr Webb at hmbnewcastle@gmail.com or get in touch via facebook.com/HMBNewcastle. Anyone interested in armoury or weapons can also contact Mr Webb.
