User:Steel Wars

STEEL WARS (R) and FULL ARMOR COMBAT (C) were created by Ron Gastelu in 2003

Steel Wars is a Full Armor Combat competition that was created by Ron Gastelu in 2003. [1] Steel Wars started as an event and quickly evolved to an extreme mixed martial arts competition for cash and prizes. Presently, there are an estimated 80,000 members of various armor fighting and historical medieval reenactment groups in the North America and Europe. Of these 80,000 members, roughly 10% compete in live battles with replica rattan weapons. [2] Due to the rattan’s durability and resistance to splintering, it is used for various weapons in full armor combat and martial arts. The rattan is tightly wrapped in silver duct tape to further prevent splintering, lessen the blow of the rattan, and the silver color gives the weapon an authentic look. [3] The Steel Wars competition is run by the best of the best armor fighters, all with at least 20 years of experience, and safety has always been their highest priority. These armor fighting groups have been classified as mixed martial arts and have flown under the radar because no one has been serious hurt and no one has died from fighting. [4]

The Steel Wars competition was formatted to a multiple hit total point contest. One on one fights, multiple fighter melees, pit battles, timed gauntlet contests, and various weapon battles take place in secret locations, and winners advance to the next round. The 2nd “Heavy Metal Combat” competition lasted two years and The Steel Judge was awarded a cash prize and a new suit of armor. [5]

Steel Wars was picked up by Groove Club Productions in 2005 and was produced as a made for television competition series. [6]

Steel Wars ® is a registered trademark of Groove Club LLC and it’s “Full Armor Combat”, “Heavy Metal Combat”, “Steel Tangle”, “Full Metal Combat”, “Armor Battle”, “Heavy Armor Combat”, and “Gauntlet Adventure” divisions are © Groove Club LLC 2005 – 2011. [7]