Fight Knight club is open in Oban
A medieval combat club in Oban is looking for new members to pledge allegiance to it.
Knights of the Tower was set up by friends Leon Smith and Les Butler but it is not for the faint-hearted.
Leon got hooked on the sport after watching 32 countries from the UK to the Ukraine and China to the USA battle it out at the International Medieval Combat Federation Championships in Perth last year, and he inspired pal Les.
‘All we needed was two people to start it,’ said Leon. ‘It’s not a re-enactment. It’s a recognised martial art sport. It’s full contact. Every boy and some girls have an interest in knights, swords and shields.’
Les added: ‘As you grow up, that fascination never really goes away. Every man still has an inner child in him. The other side to this is fitness and weight loss. I’ve never been one for going to the gym or running, but this sport ticks all the boxes.’
To start with, the pair have been making their own shields and weapons – to buy a full suit of armour and weapons could cost around £2,000.
Motorbike helmets are doing the job of head armour and plastic pipes padded with insulation, then strapped with strong tape, are makeshift weapons for now.
‘It still stings a bit,’ said Leon. ‘We are hoping to buy our own equipment. Once we’re properly kitted out we can start doing tournaments with other clubs. The whole point is that eventually we will get people trained up so they are good enough to go for national selection to represent us at international games.’
The new Oban club is being guided by the sport’s national organisation called The Scottish Knight League, under the watchful eye of Perthshire’s Joe Partridge, who is captain of the league’s first team, The Deil’s Claymores.
Les admits his new hobby has been attracting ‘a bit of stick’ from his mates and brother.
‘I just challenge them to come and have a go. My wife is quite supportive of it, though, and my son is desperate to have a go, but he’ll have to wait a bit.’
Knights of the Tower meet every Tuesday from 7-9pm at the Old Crofters venue above Stoddarts in Oban.
The club is for over-18s only and the first meeting is free. After that, membership is £5 a week. Facebook Knights Of The Tower – Medieval Combat Oban to find out more.