Why Buhurt Is Becoming More Than a Niche Medieval Sport
The word “buhurt” is a term that comes from Old German and Old French words and means nothing other than a knightly tournament. Its meaning strictly points to a “romantic aura” and refers all of us to the Middle Ages. It was during those historical times that beautiful and strong men proved their devotion to the lady of their heart, the king, the imperial court, etc. Unlike a duel, when knights “fought each other” one-on-one, a buhurt involved two groups of knights at once, who fought each other with blunted weapons.
Today, this sphere is becoming even more popular and modernized. Due to digital technologies, skeptics are moving into the “background”. Now battles are not a waste of time, but something like real sports tournaments, where everyone can show their true skill. The only thing that needs to be taken into account is equipment. And it can be purchased on the specialized Medieval Extreme website, which offers clothing, footwear, blunted and other weapons, both for training and competitions.
From Historical Reenactment to Full-Contact Sport
Buhurt has gone through a “thorny” evolutionary path. At first, it was considered a romantic hobby. Later, enthusiasts appeared who liked such fights. Today, it is recognized as a full-fledged contact sport. HMB includes strict conditions, rules, and regulations of international associations. HMB has gone through the following stages:
The emergence of knightly tournaments. In the 11th–12th centuries, competitions between knights using blunted weapons began in Western Europe (France, Germany).
Conducting individual duels (jousting). In the 16th–17th centuries, buhurt was used as theatrical entertainment and military training.
One of the sports. In the late 1990s – early 2000s, buhurt began to revive as an official contact sport. Fighters use authentic armor and fight on specially equipped lists.
Fights continue until the opponent falls to the ground, and then, in accordance with the rules of HMBIA and IMCF, they are stopped.
Why Buhurt Is Attracting a New Generation of Fighters
Full-contact medieval battles in armor are truly liked by many because people can “transform” their hobby into an activity in an official sport, which involves getting adrenaline, a strong community, designer aesthetics (outfits, weapons, etc.). More and more modern athletes are choosing buhurt, and there are many reasons for this:
It is a great alternative to classical martial arts (medieval MMA);
Here, you can learn unique tactics and get inspiration from team spirit;
You can gain recognition from spectators and become more well-known in society (for example, by making posts on social media).
In addition, buhurt is actively used as one of the effective tools for the rehabilitation of former military personnel (it helps them restore their physical fitness).
Competition, Teamwork and Physical Preparation
Buhurt includes everything – from a real competition that can end with injuries to team spirit, when there is a strong desire to win. HMB cannot be confused with staged shows, because this sport is quite tough, where you can win only through your own training, fighting skills, and strong physical fitness. Endurance, athleticism, and knowledge of battle tactics (“shieldmen” (tanks), “two-handed fighters” (damage dealers), “wrestlers” (specialize in specific grips), etc.) will give you the opportunity to gain an advantage over your opponents. Different battle formats are also observed (tactical and dynamic fights, large-scale battles).
The Appeal of Medieval Aesthetics
The aesthetics of this sport lie in the fact that in medieval times, beauty was found in scale, costumes, heroism, and the strength of spirit demonstrated by warriors at knightly tournaments. The knightly ideal also became a performance for those times. In many literary sources, descriptions of buhurt can be found as an idealized model of war. But now HMB has become a sport where aesthetics can be demonstrated through costumes, combat tactics, beautifully designed blunted weapons, etc.
How Modern Equipment Changed the Sport
Thanks to modern equipment, HMB has changed significantly – instead of heavy steel weapons, lightweight alloys have come into use. Also, equipment that weighed from 25 to 35 kg has become more comfortable and lighter, at 17–20 kg, with the help of anatomical fitting and hidden protections that protect athletes from injuries. Additionally, other equipment has changed – instead of 25–30 kg, a set of steel plate armor weighs about 6–7 kg. Due to this, buhurt has become more aggressive, but training has become easier.
The Communities and Craftsmen Behind Buhurt
Behind the rapid development of modern HMB, you can see a huge and clearly structured international infrastructure. It is directly connected with associations, clubs, and blacksmith workshops that skillfully develop “extra-class” armor. For example, the rules are strictly controlled by the IMCF federation. Buhurt is also controlled by the international sports movement for beginner athletes, children, those who simply want to train – HMB Soft, as well as by other clubs and organizations.
Where Armored Combat Is Heading Next
Due to the active digitalization taking place all over the world, the future of HMB is undergoing a rapid and harsh transformation. The rethinking came not only from history and literary novels, but also from what is happening in the world today – conflicts, wars, etc. Therefore, infantry combat (knights) and armored combat have “moved” into a phase of risk – they are too vulnerable. Why? Because in modern society, fiber-optic drones, FPV, other more successful unmanned aerial vehicles have appeared, which can hit a target more accurately.
