Why Armored Combatants and Medieval MMA Practitioners Use Shields Despite Full Plate Armor
Medieval Knights and modern armored combat practitioners face a similar challenge: navigating between historical accuracy and practical safety. Despite the presence of full plate armor, which historically included shields, modern armored combatants still use them. This practice raises a key question: why, if they have all the protection their ancestors had, do they still use shields? This article explores these reasons and the intersection of historical accuracy and practical safety in modern armored combat.
The Historical Context
Medieval Knights, as is well documented, used shields not just as a matter of style but as a vital component of their defense. Shields provided additional protection, especially against the type of weapons that could bypass armor, such as maces and hammers. Historical records and modern reenactments show that dents in armor from heavy strikes, like a mace hitting a helmet, could penetrate those vital areas. Shields, therefore, served as a crucial layer of defense.
Modern Armored Combat
Modern armored combat emulates medieval combat practices but includes contemporary elements that enhance safety and realism. While full plate armor offers substantial protection, it doesn't eliminate the risk of traumatic injuries such as blunt force trauma from strikes to the head or other unprotected areas. For example, a video titled "Malloy_the_Bear" vividly illustrates the potential for debilitating hits in armored combat, even with full protection.
The Hybrid Nature of Modern Armor
Modern armored combat often blends the elements of both armored and unarmored combat. The primary goal is to defeat an opponent by either knocking them down or scoring more hits than they can. This scoring is akin to boxing or mixed martial arts, with rules guiding the allowable techniques. In these contests, single weapon strikes rarely incapacitate opponents, and combatants can withstand significant blows before being defeated.
Strategic Use of Shields in Modern Armor
Despite the presence of full plate armor, the strategic use of shields remains a key element. Shields provide additional protection to the arms, legs, and other areas that may be exposed due to the design of the armor. They can also be used to block or parry incoming attacks, adding an extra layer of defense. In many scenarios, combatants may not wear their shields as prominently as their ancestors did, but they use them when necessary to protect vital areas. This hybrid approach allows modern combatants to stay true to the spirit of historical combat while ensuring their own safety.
Practical Considerations vs. Historical Accuracy
Historical reenactors and modern combat practitioners often face a dilemma: which elements of historical combat can they realistically replicate while still being safe? Thrusting, a critical technique in historical combat, is generally prohibited in modern armored combat due to safety concerns. Instead, the focus shifts to strikes and grappling, as seen in activities like historical European martial arts (HEMA). In these practices, combatants aim for the most protected areas of their opponents, further reducing the risk of serious injury.
Modern practices such as armored combat require a balance between the historical context and practical safety. Combatants use shields not just as a form of historical accuracy but as a means to reduce the risk of injury. By limiting the techniques used in practice, they can more safely explore the principles of historical combat. Similarly, in full-intensity scenarios, rules and limitations are imposed to ensure combatants can test their skills without risking severe harm.
Conclusion
Your jacket or cloak, a stick, even a device nearby, can serve as a shield when necessary. The use of shields in modern armored combat, despite the presence of full plate armor, is a reflection of this balance. Combining the historical elements of combat with practical safety measures allows modern practitioners to engage in a form of armored combat that honors the past while ensuring the present is safe and realistic.