Conan Stevens sword fighting with Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA)

Often the guys in the SCA were far better fighters with much more experience, some as long as 20 years. What they had never come across before was someone my size and strength.

This allowed me to use certain 'unorthodox' tactics such as suddenly running full tilt at my opponent, forcing him backwards, often loosing his footing and allowing me an easy killing blow.

If he did not loose his footing it would give me the advantage in that often he was too surprised and concentrating upon not falling over, this allowed me to strike repeatedly at a nearly defenceless opponent as my shield pinned his shield to his body and my short hafted weapon was more effective in close combat than his long or broad sword