Debbie Croft: Battle of the Nations coming to Sonora Celtic Faire

In a recent issue of Men’s Fitness magazine, an interesting article appeared called “Knight Fever.” Several pages were devoted to the fitness training and techniques of a new genre of athleticism: the medieval combat sport Battle of the Nations.

This sport involves ancient arms combat, similar to mixed martial arts or boxing. Some people compare it to cage fighting, only worse. Others love it.

Competitions are held one-on-one and in groups, with opposing teams clashing and clanging. It looks a lot like hockey, with team members ganging up on opposing players and then hacking, stabbing, pushing, shoving, kicking and pouncing – whatever it takes to bring them down.

It’s brutal and barbaric, and has none of the elegance of fencing. And nothing is rehearsed. This isn’t a re-enactment. Those guys and gals are really fighting.

But the sport is gaining ground and drawing crowds. On the field and off.

For its fourth year in a row, BoTN is coming to Sonora’s Celtic Faire on March 11-13.

Patrick Karnahan, Celtic musician, artist and founder/producer of the event, says, “Men and women wanted to revive medieval combat using the same techniques once used for training knights.”

Tournaments involve ground combat and horsemanship, and started just for fun. But some combatants got serious and wanted to do more. BoTN has become a recognized full-contact competition with standardized rules and judging.

World championships are held annually. Serious competitors have created a growing presence on social media.

“We’ll have 40 to 50 competitors,” Karnahan says. “It’s a very colorful sport. And there’s lots of action – weapons can fly.”

Today’s warriors wear 60 pounds of metal and chain-mail armor. Weapons are blunt-edged. Most of the time combatants walk away without getting hurt, but occasional injuries do happen.

Weapons must meet historically accurate specifications, and include long swords, two-hand axes, the polearm, knives, swords, bucklers and shields. Referees are called marshals.

Mark Jackson of Madera is the event coordinator for Team USA. Fresno resident David Dixon is team captain.

Jackson says, “We absolutely love our fan base in Sonora. We’re proud to bring them world championship fighters again.”

Battles will be held at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. that Saturday and Sunday. With fair entrance there’s no additional cost to see BoTN competitions.

The Celtic Faire brings together the fascinating heritage, history, music, sports and even food of another region and era. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the event.

Visitors will also enjoy watching juggling and fire-eating, jousting and Scottish strength sports. Music lovers can listen to solo bagpiping competition, pipe bands, and performances on four different stages through the weekend.

The marketplace will house nearly 100 arts and crafts vendors, as well as traditional food and beverages.

The living history area will feature more than 800 costumed performers dramatizing 2,000 years of Celtic history.

And Mary Queen of Scots will attend with her royal court.

Ticket information and details are available at the website www.sonoracelticfaire.com. To keep up with BoTN, visit the Battle of the Nations Team USA Facebook page.

This story was originally published March 4, 2016 at 12:21 PM with the headline "Debbie Croft: Battle of the Nations coming to Sonora Celtic Faire."