Belegarth Medieval Combat Society is a safe, cheap, and fun sport where participants wear
medieval or fantasy themed clothing and fight with foam padded weapons. The fighting is hard and
fast and has, over the past 21 years, refined into its own brand of martial art. The rules are
easy to learn and after a few practices you will be hooked.
Most groups are based off of Tolkien's Middle Earth; but they don't limit themselves in any way,
you choose the character you are inspired to portray. You could be a religious knight fighting
behind a shield with his trusty sword, a savage viking raider charging into battle with your
mighty axe in hand, a noble elf standing tall quickly firing arrows, or even a foul goblin
crawling on the ground sneaking to get that quick unseen back stab. The choice is yours!
With Belegarth Medieval Combat Society groups all over the world, there should be one near you,
but if there isn't, you can always start one. We will support you and are always happy to see a
new realm prosper.
Where did it start?
In 1975, a college student read J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings”. Tolkien’s trilogy
inspired a new-found interest in fantasy with the love of the outdoors, improvisational acting,
and high energy events. This combination planted a seed that blossomed into an idea. The idea was
to catapult people from the 20th century into the midst of an intense battle during the Dark Ages;
a time when the values and problems of the modern world did not exist.
Where can I find group near me?
Over the years Belegarth:MCS has grown and expanded across the United States (see our ever-
expanding REALMS map), with a few chapters popping up in other countries. Belegarth chapters span
much of the U.S., from Washington, D.C. to California, from Michigan to Florida. Chapters vary
organizationally, ranging from realms to kingdoms, to loose confederations of “tribes” depending
on the local chapter, its history and its membership. Chapters vary widely in size, age,
interests, membership and geography, but a common interest in medieval combat unites us all.
Belegarth: MCS includes a vast nationwide membership, and we encourage new members. If there is
no chapter near you, we will help you start one with advice, experience, enthusiasm, publicity,
and weapon/costume designs.
What if I don’t want to be a fighter?
Most all of the realms within Belegarth have non-combatants within their ranks. Non-fighters can
play a vital role within the Belegarth game system. Non-fighters learn to become Marshals (combat
referees), take part in hosting and/or coordinating events, preparing feasts, as well as
participate in many other aspects of this game/sport. Many non-combatants form guilds to make
weapons, jewelry, garb and other medieval and fantasy-type goods for others within Belegarth.
Some of our non-combatants are too young for the battlefield. Children who have been known to
grow up participating in Belegarth have learned off-battlefield fighting skills (sparring with
more seasoned fighters), make friends with almost everyone within the sport, and most grow up to
become combatants themselves. Belegarth is a family friendly sport, encouraging all the members of
the family to participate in one-way or another.