The lords, ladies and commoners of the realm are invited to witness a knight’s tournament at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington.
Except, the only medieval thing in sight on Aug. 15 will likely be the knights themselves.
Armored Mixed Martial Arts combines cage fighting with armored combat. The competitors seem ripped from the Middle Ages, donning gambesons, gauntlets, greaves and helms before stepping into the ring. The blades are dulled.
“Our weapons are rebated to two millimeters,” AMMA Founder Mickey Gallus said, “but, it’s still a three-pound, four-pound sword, a five-pound axe, still smashing into you full force with the intent of knocking you out or breaking a bone or disabling you so you can’t continue to fight.”
Gallus has broken bones — others and his own — while fighting.
The ring itself is a cage similar to one seen at traditional MMA matches. While some members of the audience dress up as medieval or fantastical characters, many wear modern garb. There are spotlights, pyrotechnics and plenty of other modern amenities.
“It’s an old sport and we just brought it back out from the dark ages,” Gallus said.
Gallus argued adding in more themed, Middle Age elements would cheapen the “medieval art” on display. After all, the fighting in the ring is very real.
“We respect that it is a sport and it should be presented as a sport,” Gallus said. “It doesn’t have to have the fanfare… it almost seems disingenuous to the sport itself, the martial art that they are presenting, to glam it up with what we think is a medieval presentation.
Plus, Gallus thinks if the ruling class of old who put on the tournaments had access to it, they would have used the lights and technology associated with modern sports.
“The fancier they could make it they absolutely would, and we have all the means to do so now,” he said. “This is how it would be presented if the sport had lived on for another 200, 300 years.”
The fighting is an intense feat of physical strength. The armor weights 40 to 60 pounds, and competitors run, jump, lunge and dodge with the added weight. Competitors can use a mace, axe, or sword.
While different weapons might have crossed in the medieval tournaments of old, Gallus said fighters are contractually obligated to stick to one, and that only the same type can face off in the ring. It’s a way to level the playing field.
Violent, combat sports have existed in some way or another for a vast portion of human history. The Colosseum in Ancient Rome attracted thousands to watch blood sports and gladiatorial fights. In the modern day, crowds fill arenas for wrestling and MMA matches.
The appeal is more than just bloodlust. Gallus believes the intensity of combat sports is part of what draws in the players and the audience.
“Inherently every day is a battle for everybody,” he said. “I never promote that my knights are violent. They certainly are, but they’re doing something they love.”
“For them, this helps them express some of that day-to-day, grind it out, heaviness that they might feel in their lives. They get to honor, respect it and overcome it by doing this violent sport.”
Gallus said there is something about giving it all that he thinks appeals to people. As opposed to reaching a goal faster or scoring more points than an opponent, one has to push themselves and their opponent to their limits.
“I have to give [them] every single thing that I have to offer, and I expect that in return,” he said. “The only place you can find that is in martial arts.”
Grossinger Motors Arena will host 10 fights on Aug. 15, starting at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $35 to $130 and can be found on Grossinger Motors Arena website.
