The Evolution of Jousting

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The Evolution of Jousting

Picture, if you will, a knight in shining armor charging on his noble steed down the open stretch toward his enemy. From his great helm, (Jousting Helmet) a detachable sleeve whips in the wind at approximately 30 miles per hour. Just before the two knights meet, they each brace themselves for the impact they know awaits them. The wood splinters fly, and one of the knights is knocked from his steed, spilling his life's blood on the ground.

Jousting was a medieval war tactic that later evolved into a sport, testing skill in horsemanship as well as balance and accuracy. Jousting has changed in its use over the years. It was once used in battle, but is now mainly a competitive form of entertainment.

Jousting was a mounted form of combat used by knights beginning in the 11th century. It was used mainly to knock the enemy from their horses so they were an easier target for the footmen and could be easily trampled by the horsemen. The point of aim during the most basic form of joust was either the four nails of the opponents shield, or the helm or throat of his armor. The church didn't like the savagery of it because the knight was a Christian warrior whose job was to protect their priests and the church; therefore, jousting was occasionally banished by some churches. It was common belief in this time period that a priest shouldn't die by the sword, so the knight was a sworn protector of them. The knights lived by a code of ethics known as chivalry. This code not only governed their daily life but also the way they fought Despite the banishments and the savagery of the joust, a form of it is still around today. The style jousting is the same today but the price is no longer blood it is now money. It...

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.../www.scotfest.com/joustingterms.html

JOUSTING: What was it?

http://www.jousting.com/jousting.htm

Knighthood, Chivalry & Tournament Glossary of Terms

http://www.chronique.com/Library/Glossaries/glossary-KCT/gloss_j.htm#judicial%20duel

Medieval History. About.com

<http://historymedren.about.com/library/weekly/aa051298.htm>

The Devil's Horsemen Jousting at Warwick Castle

http://www.cv81pl.freeserve.co.uk/jousting.htm

The Free Lancers. Styles of Jousting

http://www.faire.net/freelancers/jousting.html

The Free Lancers. Gath of Baal National Combat Jousting Tournament

http://www.faire.net/freelancers/gath.html

US Inernational Jousting Competition 2002

http://www.scotfest.com/jousting.html

yahoo. search

http://search.yahoo.com/bin/search?p=armour

Vale, Malcolm. War And Chivalry. Athens, Georgia: The University of Georgia Press, 1981.

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