The Knights worthy of the Round Table placed their swords at the battlefield at Copper Sky Regional Park. They choose weapons, increase the size of their enemies and begin the fight. The arms and legs are lost, the lamentation weeps, and the life is taken by the victor.

This is the city’s first live-action role-play event, a bubble-filled medieval rivalry. The group itself calls the Southern Keep. This is the realm of a national group called the Belegalt Medieval Combat Association.

This is a live action role-play known as simulated swordsmanship-laping, PVC pipes wrapped in camp pads, duct tape together in the garage and living room.

The Maricopa chapter was launched by Tad Cooper.

“I’ve been playing the sport for the past decade or so, and that’s been improving a lot in my life,” he said. “It’s a way for people to go out into the community, meet people, make friends, do something athletic, and I realized there’s no such thing here.”

The last part is Cooper, 36, the key to his family. Ever since moving to Maricopa a year ago, he has been looking for like-minded hair.

“I lived in Goodyear when there was nothing there,” Cooper said, holding a midrange sword. “It was an hour and a half drive on a great Friday night.”

Form Game

Cooper has been joined by Clayton Peterson, aka Sava the Riceponson.

“We had seven groups at our High Point. [in the metro]each group that hosts 30-50 people every weekend,” Sabah said.

“Everyone has had years off, but now they’re slowly coming back. Now there are four different groups in the valley. The largest group has 50. The smallest one is here. [in Maricopa] At the moment there are five people. ”

Sava is equipped with several custom weapons, custom armor, and several custom hand-drawn shields. His spear is bamboo with a tube sock on the end. His sword is a high quality foam made of fiberglass. It is a weapon he has built in sports for over 20 years.

“The first day I went into this, I went out and bought all the materials: blue camping pads and pipes. I laid it all out,” recalled Saba. “I persuaded all the kids in my neighborhood that day to make 20 different swords.

Seventeen years later, he is still working on it. Every day, the mackerel works in the warehouse. His passion lies on this battlefield, where he trains newcomers with combat skills.

“I saw Young’uns. I’ve seen the old man decide to retire. I saw the injury. I saw the comeback,” Sava said.

The intention of the duel

Belegarth’s public relations coordinator has been selected as Forrest Locklear.

“In the game, I’m going to Old Man Forest Panda,” Locklear offered.

He is the public face of a national nonprofit that has found a new “territory” in Maricopa. The organization has been around for decades, with some chapters well developed to be called the voting realm.

Several times a year, these areas gather for what Belegarth calls the War Council.

“I think there were 20 areas around 10 years ago that qualify as voting territory,” said the forest panda. “At the current count, there is 47.”

They vote for the length of the melee weapon, but it is that the weapon is permitted and whatever else appears in the mist of combat.

“That’s good for us. Why are we jumping in so small towns? The sport is easy to access. It’s fun,” Panda said.

It all culminates in the Indiana sector with a thousand mock wars each year. Belegalus calls the war “Armageddon.” It is only one of several groups that hold similar events across the country.

Sava and Cooper head to a similar event in California.

“This is a sport of all skill ranges,” Cooper said. “You’re like finding a place you want to be in it and setting yourself up in that ditch. I’m not the best, but I have a lot of fun.”

Cooper admits that his hobby is a niche, but that’s what he thinks he’ll catch.

“Now, nerd culture is becoming more and more mainstream, so recruiting is much easier,” Cooper said.

The pitch is simple and provides mackerel while resting from combat.

“I want to hit someone with a stick. You want to hit someone with a stick.”

He moves on two newcomers just walking, and now he’s learning how to swing these bubble swords. “They wanted to hit someone with a stick. And the question was that you hit someone with a stick? Look at them now. They’re crazy, man.”