02/10/2019
Nice inside story!
Another article and this time from an unusual source.
Matthew Adams of Armoured Combat Gloucester attended his first ever international tournament recently at Kening Striid.
He sent us in his views on getting his international buhurt cherry popped which we felt were worth sharing.
First Buhurt stamp in the passport.
So last month I attended my first international tournament, Kenning Striid in Holland. As a relative newbie to the sport, and definitely to fighting in armour, this was definitely an experience I'll never forget.
Now for the record, as any fighter who knows me will say, I definitely fall into the 'a lot to learn' category. So my experience is not one of a triumphant fighter, bedecked in medals, but one of a novice, seeing the bigger Buhurt world for the first time.
Even before the journey to the Netherlands begun, I could tell I was in for something special. I saw the teams signing up and it was definitely something to behold. Teams who I avidly watch fighting were all signing up, and that meant I'd get to face the people who helped me fall in love with the sport.
My helmet needed some work to pass the authenticity, but I was able to speak directly with the organisers who were friendly and helpful, and a I've all very professional, so with my armour accepted, my new tabard packed, and my brand new passport in hand I begun the journey with some other members of the team, from the Invicta club in London.
Arriving at the Imaginarium festival we had a quick walk around, and found the list. It was big, with tiered seating, camera towers, and a stage. This was new to me and definitely set my nerves up a little.
Now for the worst part of the festival. The rain. The night before it kicked off it rained heavily, and my 'festival tent' was by no means up to the task. I didn't sleep well, and woke up damp, and miserable, but here's where the magic begins. Walking around, with fighters I've never met smiling and saying hello I felt a different energy to UK tournaments. Yes I know a lot of folk at a UK event, but here, people who had never met me, never spoken to me were greeting me.
Energised I went to sign in and for the first time at a sporting event was photographed and logged on a database. I was officially a fighter at Kenning Striid.
The fights went as expected, I struggled a lot, as I was outclassed, but ultimately that was why I had come. Over the two days, some of the top teams in the world stood in the list against us and showed why they had that title.
Now for the honesty. Fighting the team's I've spent so much time watching, I was a bit scared, yes I've been to a few open training sessions held by one of them, but this was a tournament. Outside my comfort zone and facing these legends of the sport I let myself down, I knew I should have done better, but this I think is the moral of the story.
Everyone needs to have that first tournament overseas. It's an education, its growth. I know I will not be fearful entering the lists going forwards. It's probably a big faux Pas to admit to being nervous, but facing these things is how a novice will grow, and that's why when offered a few friendly rounds after the official fights were over I jumped at the chance.
We don't grow without effort. I know I need to train a lot more, and while I may never be an elite fighter, I intend to travel to overseas tournaments as much as possible. As a good friend and experienced fighter commented to me afterwards. 'fight to learn and the winning comes easily'
So if you're new to this sport and have a chance to fight in a tournament abroad, jump at it, grab that chance with both hands. It's changed my outlook on the sport, shown me what can be, and allowed me to face the fears of a small inexperienced fighter and reinforce my passion for this sport we all love.
