November 2023 Fighter of the Month – Joseph Damiano

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN TRAINING FOR ARMORED COMBAT?

I started fighting in armor in September 2019. During that time I trained pretty consistently and attended a few major competitions including Rookie Rumble in January 2020. Unfortunately my year one in armor was cut short due to the pandemic. New York was badly affected and lockdown created a series of logistical problems for me and my teammates. I lost access to equipment and training, and was not able to get back in armor until July 2021, over a year later. In many ways, it was a complete reset for me. Fortunately, things picked up rapidly soon after that. And for the last 2 years I’ve been traveling frequently and taking as many opportunities to fight in armor as I can find.

DO YOU HAVE ANY BACKGROUND EXPERIENCE IN MARTIAL ARTS OR OTHER SPORTS?

One thing about myself that I feel puts me in a unique position compared to many other fighters is that I have no background in martial arts, combat sports, or anything really that trains weapon technique. I came into armored combat with little more than some basic fitness and a sincere enthusiasm for the concept. Aside from that, the other main draw to it for me was in fact my media interests. I’ll be the first to say that is hardly a solid foundation for taking up a competitive combat sport. But for what its worth, I feel I’ve always had a genuine desire for fighting, all the more so with archaic weapons. And so far I’ve made it work, which is something I’m actually very proud of. Truthfully, most people who get into armored combat for surface level reasons soon discover they like the idea of being a fighter more than fighting itself. But there’s no doubt in my mind, I truly love fighting.

HOW DID YOU LEARN ABOUT ARMORED COMBAT AND WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO JOIN?

I learned about armored combat through family actually. In the years prior to becoming a fighter myself, I used to watch my brother Marco Damiano (now captain of the New York Sentinels but then still new) compete in chapter matches at the team’s old training location in Harlem. On a couple of occasions I even accompanied him to the annual demo at Fort Tryon’s medieval festival, arguably the biggest steel fighting event of the year for New York. I had no idea how much I would take to it someday, but without a doubt, every time I watched armored fighting there was some part of me that felt drawn to it. It seemed to be the perfect cross-section of my ever-growing desire to pick up some form of martial arts and my aesthetic interests. Then one day, I decided to walk through the doors of Sword Class NYC, not as a spectator but to attend my first practice.

DO YOU REMEMBER HOW YOU FELT IN YOUR FIRST FIGHT? CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE EXPERIENCE?

My first time in armor was at a relatively small team practice. It was nice because it afforded me an easy environment to try it out. Before the fighting started however, I had to undergo “initiation”, a long-standing tradition for the New York Sentinels which any new fighter that comes into the sport through our doors has to complete. In short its a small ceremony in which the new fighter must take a series of blows so that they understand what getting hit feels like and the level of intensity to expect from fighting in armor. It is not a hazing ritual or a trial of toughness. It’s a sincere way of giving newcomers an opportunity to gage if armored combat is really for them. For what its worth, I enjoyed my initiation and will never forget the moment when it was over and I was greeted one by one with hugs from my new teammates, and heard the words “welcome to the New York Sentinels.” Every initiate is greeted in this way. And it never stopped meaning something to me. It made me feel like I really belonged to something.

As for the fighting, the general consensus was that I did well for my first time. One of my proudest moments was when I got my axe head under another fighter’s armpit and flung him onto the ground. I remember riding a high that day coming home from it. I knew for sure that armored combat was for me and was already looking forward to the next fight. In the years since, this mentality hasn’t left me.

WHAT IS YOUR PREFERRED WEAPON? DO YOU HAVE A PARTICULAR FAVORITE?

It depends on the category.

Melees: Two handed axe (the first weapon I ever trained)

Duels: Longsword

Profights: Falchion and Punch Shield

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ARE SOME POSITIVE ASPECTS THAT COME FROM THE SPORT?

I think the positive aspects this sport carries is basically innumerable. It teaches self-confidence, discipline, good sportsmanship, and healthy competition, to name a few. But at the center of all this is what is perhaps the most important aspect, which is the community itself. In my time competing in armored combat I’ve met some truly excellent people, some of the best I’ve ever encountered to be honest. I think it takes a great community to make an environment that can foster the kind of values listed above. Its funny how carefully organized violence can bring people together, and moreover bring out the best in them.

WHAT IS YOUR FIGHTING STYLE – IF YOU HAVE ONE?

I’m not really sure if I have a “fighting style.” But if I was to describe my capabilities as a fighter I would say I have decent strength and aggression, am good on my feet, and have excellent stamina. I’m particularly proud of my stamina not only because I feel endurance is such a decisive factor in one’s performance when fighting in armor, but because its not something I was every really good at for most of my life and had to work hard to attain. As for my biggest weaknesses, field awareness, reaction time, and technique are all things I’ve struggled with in the past and would like to improve. All that aside, what I really believe to be my most defining qualities as a fighter are my passion and drive. I’ve always been very determined throughout my life, so I guess it makes sense I brought that into my fighting. I truly believe that sense of determination is what has brought me this far, more so than anything else I’ve mentioned.

DO YOU THINK FIGHTING CHANGES WHO YOU ARE AS A PERSON? HOW HAS IT AFFECTED YOU PERSONALLY?

Fighting has absolutely changed me as a person. It came to me at a much needed time in my life to be honest. Truthfully, my 20s were very difficult.  I experienced a significant collapse in my mental health, some physical health issues, various strains and fractures in personal relationships, and a constant anxiety about never meeting my life’s aspirations. Furthermore, it seemed like every time I was about to move forward, I’d be met with set backs or total reversals of all progress. I was alienated and needed a passion. Armored combat provided a solution to all of these things. It solidified my efforts to temper myself. It gave me a healthy outlet to express physicality and aggression. It introduced me to some incredible people who I am very fortunate to have met. It gave me a passion to devote myself, so that I no longer feel persistent anxiety about my future. Above all, I feel my time doing armored combat has helped me be the person I’ve always wanted to be.

WHAT WOULD YOUR ADVICE BE FOR NEW PEOPLE INTERESTED IN THE SPORT?

First, please consult your local team or other experienced fighters before ever purchasing your own gear. Moreover, when selecting your armor please consider that whatever armor you get, you will actually have to be able to fight in. There is something about the American buhurt community that makes it trend heavily towards stylization. And believe me, if there is anyone who gets that, it’s me. When I was first getting started I was often teased by my teammates for basing my choices on how I wanted my armor to look. That being said, I always took the time to confirm my gear was coming from reputable smiths. Its natural to make choices based on aesthetic preferences, but please consider the functionality of a piece of gear (such as a helm) for purposes of a combat sport, and don’t treat your armor as if its just a skin for your “real-life video game avatar.” 

There is one more piece of advice I find myself saying often to new fighters, and it actually has nothing to do with armor or fighting at all. The current landscape of the armored combat community is largely decentralized. And what one soon learns is that it is populated by a number of personalities some of whom are in opposition or at odds with each other. Starting off you, may feel overwhelmed by the differing organizations and interpersonal conflicts that complicate the armored combat community. You may as a result struggle with what groups to participate with and which to avoid, depending on what stories you have heard from which of the parties involved. My honest advice has always been to go out there and see for yourself. Take every fighting opportunity you can. Meet people and build camaraderie throughout the community. You will get a feel for everything and learn fast who is worth forming bonds with. If you can open yourself in this way and learn from the experience, you will only grow as a fighter and as a person.

WHAT DO YOU LOOK FORWARD TO FOR THE FUTURE OF ARMORED COMBAT SPORTS?

Its an interesting time to be involved in armored combat. The sport seems to be at a point where its exiting it’s infancy (within the U.S. at least) and gaining wider recognition. In addition, now more than ever we are seeing a greater divide between the entry level and the highest, most competitive levels. All this would suggest some kind of shift from its place as a hobbyist sport to a more professional one. I consider myself fortunate to have gotten involved at such a pivotal time. There are many individuals and groups looking to shape the future of the sport, so there is a vast multitude of ways in which that can unfold. Whatever the outcome, I hope to cross that gap between the professional and amateur level, and also to be an active participant in the sport’s growth, particularly in my home state of New York.

ANY FINAL WORDS YOU WANTED TO MENTION?

If the only thing you measure yourself against is your rivals and peers, all you will ever be at most is better than them. Compete against yourself however and there is no limit to how far you can go.

See you at the next fight ⚔🔥