A Duncan company of 25 knights will lead team Canada into the International Medieval Combat Federation world championships held in Teotihuacan, Mexico from May 2 to 5.

Both men and women from Cowichan Valley with Medieval Combat Canada suit up in shining armour to compete.

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sa国际传媒淲e have one of the largest teams in Canada at 25 fully suited knights,sa国际传媒� said Duncansa国际传媒檚 Company of the Blue Dragon team captain Lucas Mendes. sa国际传媒淥ur fighters are all over the island from Victoria to Qualicum Beach, and we meet every Saturday for practice in Duncan. Thirteen of the 29 Canadian fighters who will be competing in Mexico are from the Blue Dragons, as well as four support staff and marshals who are from the island as well.sa国际传媒�

Historical Medieval Battles, or Buhurt, is a modern full-contact fighting sport with blunt steel weapons characteristic of the Middle Ages. Jose Amoedo brought Buhurt to Western Canada when he first moved to the Yukon from Spain. Medieval Combat Canada was then formed around 2014 by Land Pearson of the Company of the White Wolf based out of the Yukon Territory. This fuelled Mendessa国际传媒檚 fire which led to him starting up Company of the Blue Dragon in 2017.

sa国际传媒淚 had been following the sport since 2014, and knew it was something I had to do, but there were no teams in B.C., so after a couple years of fighting at our local LARP [live action role play], I decided to finally start my own team,sa国际传媒� said Mendes. sa国际传媒淚t took a long time to get off the ground but now seven years later we have one of, if not the largest team in Canada. We wanted to be part of a bigger community and it opened the door to competing at the world championships. We have been a part of Medieval Combat Canada since 2018.sa国际传媒�

This year will see the most fighters from Canada compete since the country first attended the world championships in 2014. The Company of the Blue Dragon sent 10 of their fighters to the world championships in Spain last year and for the first time will also be sending two ladies to compete in Mexico this year.

sa国际传媒淟ast year we competed at the world championships in Spain and had the largest team to date of 18 fighters and four support staff,sa国际传媒� said Mendes. sa国际传媒淚 won the bronze medal in the Lightweight Professional Bouts. It is the only medal Canada has ever won at the IMCF World Championships. It was a huge morale boost for the team. That trip was tough, the airlines lost 23 bags of our armour flying into Spain, and we still didnsa国际传媒檛 have them all back when the tournament started. We fought without shields, and had to borrow what we could from other countries and share gear between fighters just to get them in the list. It was four days of 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., and it was rough. So bringing back Canadasa国际传媒檚 first medal really made all that hard work, and stress worth it.sa国际传媒�

sa国际传媒淭his year we have 29 fighters, and 10 support staff. Itsa国际传媒檚 the first time in history that Canada will field a full 16 versus 16 team at the IMCF World Championships. My favourite part about being the captain is getting to be a part of everyonesa国际传媒檚 growth. Most people show up never having swung a sword before, and we turn them into warriors. Itsa国际传媒檚 very gratifying seeing how far everyonesa国际传媒檚 come.sa国际传媒�

This unique sport comes with multiple categories that include duels, professional bouts and melees. Duels consist of sword and shield, long sword, sword and buckler, and polearms and is judged on a points based system where a clean unobstructed blow to onesa国际传媒檚 opponent with a weapon is granted a point. Matches are a minute in length, the one with the most points wins, and they are judged by best two out of three.

Professional bouts, which are also judged on point based system, go for two minutes per round and are more intense as punches, kicks, knees, and take-downs also count for points. Melees are group fights that range anywhere from three versus three, to 150 versus 150.

sa国际传媒淭he goal is to get your opponent on the ground in whatever way possible, through different martial arts throws and take-downs to pain compliance,sa国际传媒� said Mendes. sa国际传媒淥nce a third point of contact has hit the ground that fighter is out, and it goes until the last man standing.sa国际传媒�

Mendes admits while there is a lot of excitement brewing, itsa国际传媒檚 also very stressful.

sa国际传媒淚 am the Captain for Team Canada again this year so theresa国际传媒檚 a lot of responsibilities on top of making sure Isa国际传媒檓 as ready as I can be to compete in my categories,sa国际传媒� said Mendes. sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檓 really looking forward to another shot at the gold in the light-weight professional bouts. Theresa国际传媒檚 going to be some tough competition but hopefully my training will be enough to take me to the top. Just getting to be a part of the tournament is such an incredible experience, and being around so many people who have the same passion for the sport as we do.sa国际传媒�

sa国际传媒淲e learned a lot from the championships in Spain last year,sa国际传媒� said Mendes. sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檙e grateful to have another shot to expand on that down in Mexico. Our goal is to bring back at least five medals this year. The floodgates are open and Canada is ready. We have a phenomenal team this year and I have high hopes for everyone. I cansa国际传媒檛 wait to see how everyone does.sa国际传媒�