By Amanda Tsao
Staff Writer
Senior Sophia Silverman brings the historical world of the Middle Ages to life with her participation in a medieval sword fighting society.
Silverman, who has been sword fighting for almost five months, first became interested when she came across the Belegarth demonstration booth at the Wyrd Convention in Los Angeles. There, she learned the basic rules and background of medieval sword fighting.
“Following that weekend, I immediately started going to practices to learn more about how to fight,” Silverman said. “The people at Belegarth are truly great, and the experience itself is liberating.”
Silverman practices with Belegarth Medieval Combat Society, a worldwide medieval sword fighting organization that recreates medieval combat battles from the Dark Ages in a live-action game using a variety of weapons.
“At Belegarth, sword fighting is really fun, and you learn how to fight properly on your own,” Silverman said. “There are no instructors, so most of the learning that happens is done by imitating other great players.”
The Belegarth predominantly uses a hard foam sword that has a fiberglass core that can either be purchased or made by the fighter who is using it. Fighters also use safe weapons like javelins, arrows and maces. Belegarth consists of intense, fast fighting that has been refined into its own form of martial art.
“I love the sport,” Silverman said. “It provides a great sense of freedom and a great community of people who share similar interests. It is a comfortable place for me to embrace the nerdy part of myself, and it is also a really great workout to participate in.”
Silverman is not affiliated with a team, so she fights as an individual without a coach. Although she does not participate in competitions, she is very dedicated to the sport and practices about six to eight hours a week at the realm of Anduril, in Aldritch Park at University of California, Irvine.
“My Belegarth schedule is very flexible,” Silverman said. “My Belegarth life stays balanced since I can usually finish all my school work around my practices.”
Silverman has hopes of becoming a knight, a pillar of the Belegrath community, which amounts to a degree of community involvement, before she finishes undergraduate school. To reach the level of a knight, she must take multiple tests. Once she passes, she will be knighted at a Belegarth event.
According to Silverman, her Belegarth has been a factor for her in deciding where she will attend college.
“I decided I needed to find a school with a realm that was less than an hour away,” Silverman said. “I love participating in Belegarth, and I hope I will be able to continue fighting after I graduate from high school and throughout college.”
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