It looks like a scene from a post-apocalyptic movie, where 21st-century law has been replaced by medieval rules. In front of about 100 people swilling booze there are two men leering at each other in what looks like an old orchestra pit. On the stage, where there is usually a rock band or booty-shaking dancers, there are more than a hundred weapons: lances, short swords, rapiers, spears, maces and, for the cautious, (or for the unsure of themselves) shields. Behind the weaponry is a woman, perhaps a judge overseeing what looks to be a battle.
By Neil Mulka, Jayplay writer
photos: Jeff Brandsted
Kevin Smith, Madison, W.Va., senior, defended himself from a barrage of incoming weaponry Monday night at a barbarian battle demonstration in the Student Fitness Recreation Center.
The two men rummage through the weaponry, looking for the proper tool to pummel their opponent into submission. "Hurry up! I wanna see some blood!" heckles a woman at a table close to the metal bars that separate the warriors from the spectators. Her mates pound the table with their fists and glasses of beer, growing impatient.
The fighters choose their weapons: one, bearded and wearing leather armor, clenches two short swords, while the other, in a ratty T-shirt and jeans, wields a mace and a shield. They approach the center of the pit where a man with a shaved head stands, towering over both of them. "No head or groin blows. Only limbs and kills are allowed," he says to the fighters. Both of the fighters nod, acknowledging the sport of honor. The shouting man is Jim Gasser, known as the Barbarian and the one who oversees these battles. "Now fight!" he commands. The fighters pounce on each other like starved alley cats battling for scraps of a dead mouse. A jolt of energy sweeps through the air as the two fighters clash to the cheers of the crowd.
It's not a b-movie warrior flick, but just another Monday night Barbarian Battle at the Granada Theatre, 1020 Massachusetts St. Organized by Gasser, Barbarian battles are one-on-one bouts where people fight using medieval fighting techniques and replica weaponry made of PVC pipe, foam and duct tape. Gasser says that barbarian fighting is a sport that provides a good workout that can be done by people of all body types, ages and genders. It's better than Tae-Bo or other home workouts, he says, because people can participate in tournaments and win cash prizes. Practices, led by Gasser, last for about two hours and cover striking, blocking and weapon technique through sparring and shadow fighting. During his instruction at a recent practice, Gasser's head shone with sweat as he taught his pupils how to defend against falchion (a type of short sword) attack with a spear. Participants' faces turned red as they copied his moves during spars. "This [barbarian fighting] is my passion," Gasser says. "There's nothing more I would like to do than pick up a sword, fight all day and go to bed feeling drained and exhausted."
Tournament fighting itself is more physically demanding than the practices, says Deborah Dalton, or Paladin, as she's known during the tournaments. The Topeka junior, also a member of the University of Kansas Fencing Club, says the exercise from individual bouts is comparable to fencing matches. She participated in the last tournament at the Granada on Monday, Feb. 2., and plans to battle it out in the upcoming Barbarian Battles on March 1 at the Granada. DeVee Moser, president of the KU Fencing Club and participant in the battles, stresses that even though a fencing background is helpful in barbarian battles, the tournaments are different. Fencing has more stringent rules — only one-handed weapons and no shields. In barbarian battle tournaments, shields and two-handed weapons are allowed. Moser, referred to as Moon Goddess during barbarian tournaments, made it all the way to the semi-finals of the last competition. Names reminiscent of fantasy books are common at barbarian tournaments. Participants name themselves after popular characters from fantasy novels, after their fighting style or after random things they make up.
6
Jayplay 2.26.04