Armored Combat League Okinawa: Full Force Full Contact

Photo By Sgt. Nelson Duenas | CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, Japan-A helmet sits on the floor of Gunners Fitness Center aboard Camp Foster, Okinawa, Japan. Marines in the Armored Combat League in Okinawa practice medieval combat, a full force, full contact sport. Anyone interested in medieval combat can visit the “Armored Combat League Okinawa” Facebook page for more information. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Nelson Duenas)  

CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, JAPAN

08.19.2017

Story by Lance Cpl. Nelson Duenas 

Marine Corps Installations Pacific

CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, Japan –A sword forged in fire leaves a sickening thud when it hits an armored opponent. The sound reaches far and long.
“I can’t think of another sport that is as brutal as this,” said William Bryant Robertson, a Marine veteran and chapter president of the Armored Combat League in Okinawa. “I mean, I am a big fan of mixed martial arts but when you add swords, it becomes interesting.”
Medieval armored combat is a full force; full contact sport that uses historically accurate weaponry and armor.
“You hit your opponent until he falls, that is the basic philosophy,” said Robertson, a Princeton, Texas, native. “If you happen to knock your opponent out, that is obviously a win. If you force him to stop because of pain then technical knockout. If neither opponent is knocked out, then it just goes off points.”
In single duals, points are awarded for disarming, striking and dropping the opponent to the ground. Points vary based on the type of weapon used such as long sword, two handed weapons or a sword and shield. In melees where it’s three versus three or 21 versus 21, points are awarded a little differently.
“The goal there is drive the opposing team to the ground. Last team standing wins,” said Robertson.
Competitors wear between 70-100 pounds of armor and carry weaponry weighing up to seven pounds.
“It limits your mobility, your breathing, your visibility, and then you have to go all out against your opponent,” said Staff Sgt. Justin Luk, a Browns Mills, New Jersey, native, and combat engineer with Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. “It’s pretty different from any martial arts, but you can kind of relate it to the stuff you watch on television and movies. It’s pretty fun.”
The Armored Combat League in Okinawa trains every Saturday at Gunners Fitness Center aboard Camp Foster. They practice strike training from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. and technique and sparing from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
“You have to employ proper techniques to take down your opponent,” said Robertson. “As a prior Marine myself, having been through the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program, I have seen that a lot of the Marines who really trained hard with MCMAP have a good foundation for what we are doing.”
The Armored Combat League in Okinawa is a non-profit organization open to anyone over the age of 18. Anyone interested in medieval combat can visit the “Armored Combat League Okinawa” Facebook page.
“Honestly its empowering,” said Lance Cpl. Michael Li, an Austin, Texas, native, and engineer equipment mechanic with 3rd Maintenance Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 35, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III MEF. “I get hit, I trade blows and it feels like I have power in this suit.”

• Date Taken: 08.19.2017
• Date Posted: 08.28.2017 02:30
• Story ID: 246226
• Location: CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, JP
• Hometown: AUSTIN, TX, US
• Hometown: BROWNSVILLE, TX, US
• Hometown: PRINCETON, TX, US