2008 Woodie Awards
Medieval combat club forms
Melissa Chadbourne
Issue date: 7/3/08 Section: News
Vaughan said he is inspired to participate in the group due to his own personal desire and interest in the time period, as well as his European background. While he has experience in Eastern martial arts, the medieval focus on victory in the battlefield over metaphysical aspects is more appealing to him.
"It's an art form that was used for such a long period in history and it was important to the foundation of nations that still exist today," Vaughan said. "The principles of discipline, chivalry and ultimately a desire for victory that allows you to beat the odds, beat someone better than you. It's those kinds of principles that you find in these kinds of arts that are really worth preserving no matter how advanced your culture becomes."
Vaughan said anyone interested is encouraged to join, but stressed that the club will be focused on studying more than just as a sport or self defense.
"We're trying not to necessarily attract people just for the self-defense aspect, because it's not like you can just walk around UCF carrying a sword with you the entire time," Vaughan said. "However, we will be teaching in the semesters to follow, our first semester, dagger combat which is still very applicable and still the same moves and techniques that are used today by, say, the Navy SEALs and other special forces, both U.S. and abroad."
Peter Larson, assistant professor of history, has been invited to be the adviser to the Knights Melee club. Larson has a background in medieval history, and is the only UCF instructor who works specifically on medieval history in his department.
"I'm delighted to help out with this," Larson said. "Since I'm a medieval historian, anything that gets people interested, or more interested, in medieval history and learning more about it - I'm all for it."
Larson said that the medieval martial arts are often overlooked for Eastern practices of sword play, such as kendo and the samurai arts, because they grab the attention of people today. He equates medieval knights to the samurai and hopes groups like this will help preserve their art.
"I've seen professionals from Leeds, the royal armies of Leeds, put on demonstrations," Larson said. "The guys are moving, they can jump, they can do cartwheels normally and all these skills ... it would be a shame if it's lost because it's part of our history. We'd hate for it to all just become museum pieces."
According to Vaughan, the SGA athletic coordinator has shown interest in the club's activities, considering using their fights to boost school spirit at events. Larson was pleased to hear this, especially with UCF's mascot being rooted in their studies.
Knights Melee is collecting PIDs to submit their application for club status. They can be found on Facebook, and they meet Monday and Wednesday at 2 p.m., at Lake Claire.
"It's an art form that was used for such a long period in history and it was important to the foundation of nations that still exist today," Vaughan said. "The principles of discipline, chivalry and ultimately a desire for victory that allows you to beat the odds, beat someone better than you. It's those kinds of principles that you find in these kinds of arts that are really worth preserving no matter how advanced your culture becomes."
Vaughan said anyone interested is encouraged to join, but stressed that the club will be focused on studying more than just as a sport or self defense.
"We're trying not to necessarily attract people just for the self-defense aspect, because it's not like you can just walk around UCF carrying a sword with you the entire time," Vaughan said. "However, we will be teaching in the semesters to follow, our first semester, dagger combat which is still very applicable and still the same moves and techniques that are used today by, say, the Navy SEALs and other special forces, both U.S. and abroad."
Peter Larson, assistant professor of history, has been invited to be the adviser to the Knights Melee club. Larson has a background in medieval history, and is the only UCF instructor who works specifically on medieval history in his department.
"I'm delighted to help out with this," Larson said. "Since I'm a medieval historian, anything that gets people interested, or more interested, in medieval history and learning more about it - I'm all for it."
Larson said that the medieval martial arts are often overlooked for Eastern practices of sword play, such as kendo and the samurai arts, because they grab the attention of people today. He equates medieval knights to the samurai and hopes groups like this will help preserve their art.
"I've seen professionals from Leeds, the royal armies of Leeds, put on demonstrations," Larson said. "The guys are moving, they can jump, they can do cartwheels normally and all these skills ... it would be a shame if it's lost because it's part of our history. We'd hate for it to all just become museum pieces."
According to Vaughan, the SGA athletic coordinator has shown interest in the club's activities, considering using their fights to boost school spirit at events. Larson was pleased to hear this, especially with UCF's mascot being rooted in their studies.
Knights Melee is collecting PIDs to submit their application for club status. They can be found on Facebook, and they meet Monday and Wednesday at 2 p.m., at Lake Claire.