Required Gear and Equipment

The following is a list of the basic protective gear that you will need. This list will also include the items you will need to train successfully as a member of New Ulster Steel Fighting.

Trainee Levels:

Shin guards

Knee pads

Protective cup (males)

Chest protector (females)

Elbow pads

Thick gloves

Sword

Round shield

Mouth guard (football/boxing type)

Squire to Armsman I add the Following:

Helmet

Dagger

Steel chain shirt and/or other approved torso protection

Vambraces (leather or steel protection for the forearms and tops of hands)

Greaves (Leather or steel protection for the lower legs and knees worn over shin guards and knee pads)

NUSF Tabard (for Armsman I and higher)

Armsman II:

A second sword

Sergeant of Armsmen:

There are two specialized Sergeant of Armsmen fields. One is the Infantry branch and members desiring this path will need a pole ax/halberd and a dagger added to their personal gear. The other area of specialty is that of archery. Members will need to obtain an approved bow and will be instructed on the arrow modification procedures for creating NUSF “Safe Arrows.” This allows archers to take part in freestyle combat training and tournament team competitions as a vital part of a combined arms tactical system. Members may decide which of these two sergeant ranks they wish to train in, but it is encouraged that members train in both areas of specialty to increase their knowledge and experience.

Lieutenant and Higher Levels:

Various reading materials based on progression level. The member may also add to his or her personal gear any number of approved armor and weapon items that they desire.

Important Note: While our martial art style focuses on fighting techniques predominantly from the European Medieval/Middle Ages period, we do not have requirements for members to purchase armor from any one historical period. What we want for the member is functional protection that aids in safety when training. We are historical in the aspects of the form and techniques of the art in which we train, and historically accurate in the scholarly nature of our blog content. But, we are not a re-enactment society attempting to represent a certain time period. What this means is that so long as any given piece of armor is approved safe and durable enough for training, a member can spend his or her money on pretty much whatever they wish. You may thus see a member wearing a helm from the Medieval period of Europe and at the same time wearing a Roman lorica segmentata as their body armor. Why not? If it affords good protection and the member likes it, that is what matters.  There is a great level of freedom afforded for members working within the realm of good quality armor products to choose what they want.