Real knights. Real steel. No script. We’re a band of fighters from across North Alabama who’ve traded comfort for a hundred pounds of armor — and we’ll teach you to do the same, starting your very first day in loaner kit.
The Iron Swan started with a simple belief — that the medieval martial tradition isn’t just for the history books, and that anyone with the heart for it deserves a place in the wall.
We fight under the banner of Armored Combat Worldwide out of Scottsboro — authentic armor, blunted steel, and unscripted fights decided by skill and grit, not choreography.
The truth most newcomers don’t expect: the sport is only half of it. The other half is the people — a crew that travels together, hauls gear at the faire, and pushes one another to be tougher than last season. You don’t need experience, armor, or even a desire to compete. You just need to show up.
Full-contact medieval combat in real armor with blunted steel. These are the forms we train and compete in.
The heart of the sport. Two teams clash until one side is grounded — win by putting every opponent’s third point of contact to the dirt.
One-on-one, mixed weapon and grappling, scored like a boxing match. A pure test of individual skill and conditioning.
Counted-blow single combat — longsword, sword & shield, or polearm. Precision and control over brute force.
The classic knightly form. Footwork, timing, and shield control decide who lands clean and who eats steel.
Reach and leverage with devastating two-handed strikes — the great equalizer of the lists when wielded with discipline.
The grand spectacle — large melees where formations break, banners fall, and the shield wall holds or it doesn’t.
Every fighter starts at the bottom and earns the next rung in steel. Tap a rank to see what it takes.
Show up. No armor or experience needed to begin.
Learn falls, footwork, and basic strikes in loaner kit.
Consistent attendance; building toward a legal armor kit.
Controlled sparring drills; assembling your own armor.
Complete, inspection-passing armor and safe technique.
Compete in sanctioned ACW melees and duels.
Proven record and leadership on and off the lists.
Mentor fighters, anchor the wall, represent the chapter.
Senior fighter trusted to lead the team in competition.
Call formations and direct the roster on the field.
Founder and head of the chapter; steward of its charter.
Run the order and chart the team’s future.
Swap in real portraits and bios — and add a card for every fighter you recruit.
Founder and head of the order. Add bio.
Field commander who calls the formations. Add bio.
Veteran fighter and mentor in the wall. Add bio.
Veteran fighter and mentor in the wall. Add bio.
Steel meeting steel, and good days at the faire. Drop your real fight photos and faire shots in here.
Training sessions, tournaments, and public appearances. Edit these with your real dates and locations.
Scottsboro · New fighters welcome every session — no gear or experience required.
Chapter Wars melee & duels — representing the Iron Swan at the lists.
Live armored combat demonstrations for the crowd. Come say hello.
Fly the colors off the lists. Tap Buy to check out with our store partner — they handle payment, printing, and shipping.
Checkout, payment, and shipping are handled by our external store partner. Prices shown are placeholders — update them to match your listings.
No experience. No armor. No problem. Every knight in this order started exactly where you are right now.
No. Most fighters arrive with neither. You’ll train in loaner gear and learn the fundamentals well before you ever need your own kit.
Yes. Weapons are blunted steel and armor is real, but strikes are full force. Marshals, rules, and proper gear keep it as safe as any hard contact sport.
Fit enough to start, fitter as you go. Training builds the conditioning. Fighters of all body types compete — the sport rewards work over natural gifts.
Absolutely. Buhurt has women’s categories and mixed training. Everyone trains together and competes in the appropriate category.
A full competition kit is a real investment, built piece by piece over months — never all at once. You start in loaner gear, so there’s nothing to buy up front.
Then don’t! Plenty of our people train for the workout, the skills, and the crew. Competition is an option, never a requirement.