Schedule:
All Ages: Sunday 12pm to 2pm (Closed May 28, 2023)
16+ may also attend adult classes during the week
About the Youth League
Armored Academy of Arizona has a program for youths aged 10 to 17 that teaches Buhurt sword and axe fighting on Sundays 12pm to 2pm. Ages 16+ may also join the regular adult classes during the week to also learn grappling, melee, team tactics and participate in conditioning and weight training. Parents can sign up and train with their kids – that’s a fun parent/child activity.
We begin teaching by basic footwork, hand placement and how to move. We then add a sword and begin basic striking. When the student is able to move and swing without losing balance, we begin teaching techniques and sword plays. Everything is competition based, so there’s focus on both the technical aspects of what is being performed as well as practical timing and physical effort.
Tournaments
Youth sword fighting is a very new concept in the United States and there are not many places teaching it yet. That being said, Armored Academy of Arizona has partnered with another gym called Blade Fit Academy from Vancouver, WA to offer an annual tournament. This tournament is a triathlon of combat, requiring each participant to demonstrate multiple sword disciplines in 1v1 combat with a clear winner determined at the end. Also, and uniquely to the US, an axe category is offered, which allows students to learn poleaxe fighting as well as swords.
Safety
The young ones are still growing and safety is paramount in training. While they will use real swords and axes on the pell (a post that is struck with weapons for practice), they use soft swords and axes against each other. They can still sting, but they won’t break bones. They also wear protective headgear, gloves and body armor. All of this is available for loan on location until the student gets their own.
Benefits of Training
Your child will become fitter, stronger, and more confident simply by training. They will blow off stress from school by working their body and striking. Also, they get to watch the adults practice in armor, which is always loud, full of sparks, and fun to watch.