Knight time

Moses Lake men demonstrate historical combat techniques used by medieval knights

MOSES LAKE — When Seth Woodworth and Eric Slyter took the stage at the Moses Lake Public Library on Saturday, they wanted the audience to learn a thing or two about medieval combat.

The two were using real swords and wore real armor in their demonstration of combat medieval combat techniques. Slyter stressed to the crowd that the demonstrations he and Woodworth would be doing were not to be tried at home.

Slyter and Woodworth are members of a group called the Knights of Arador. Slyter said the group's main interest is not reenactment but history, and he and Woodworth use real swords, and real combat techniques.

The techniques the two Moses Lake residents demonstrated were not combat techniques that anyone in the audience had seen before on television or in movies. The hour-long exhibition highlighted the differences between theatrical combat and historical combat.

Slyter told the crowd that utilizing historical combat, a fight could possibly only last one move. He said the knight's main objective is to subdue, maim or kill his combatant.

Woodworth and Slyter started their demonstration without wearing armor, but later suited up to demonstrate fighting techniques while wearing various kinds of armor. Slyter put on a suit of armor weighing approximately 70 pounds, while Woodworth wore a mail shirt weighing approximately 25 pounds. Slyter said that there are advantages to wearing armor, but a combatant may know about and aim for vulnerabilities.

"I'm pretty well defended, but there are vulnerabilities," Slyter said.

In addition to swords, the two men demonstrated the uses for other weapons such as spears, the pole ax and war hammer. The two also demonstrated non-weapon combat

techniques Saturday, showing wrestling techniques used by knights while wearing armor.

Following Slyter and Woodworth's demonstration, spectators were given the

opportunity to handle various items used by the two men in the exhibition. An audience made up of adults and children alike was able to try on pieces of armor and handle the swords and other weapons.

This was the first performance by Slyter and Woodworth at the library. Saturday's performance was also a dress rehearsal for the Knights of Arador. The two men will again be exhibiting their techniques at the Seattle Art Museum this weekend. The event is in conjunction with the museum's Spain in the Age of Exploration: 1492-1819 Family Festival

event.

"I'm excited for next week," Woodworth said, "and this was a blast here today."

The two will again be hosting an arms and armor question and answer session at the Seattle Art Museum on Dec. 5.