We’re halfway through the year?! It is hard to believe! Today, we are happy to share our Fighter of the Month for June 2024 – Andrew Dionne! Andrew has been in the community with over a decade’s worth of experience in armored combat.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN TRAINING FOR ARMORED COMBAT?
With my parents firmly into medieval recreation, I have been in some sort of medieval combat sport since I was 9 (just under 30 years). For Steel Fighting, I have been training for just over a decade, with some time off to start a family.
DO YOU HAVE ANY BACKGROUND EXPERIENCE IN MARTIAL ARTS OR OTHER SPORTS?
Rugby for about 10 years, medieval fighting of various kinds, LARPs, both full contact and other.
HOW DID YOU LEARN ABOUT ARMORED COMBAT AND WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO JOIN?
I saw the original 29 go in 2012, missed the cutoff for 2013, and knew that it was the next evolution of fighting for me.
DO YOU REMEMBER HOW YOU FELT IN YOUR FIRST FIGHT? CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE EXPERIENCE?
My first fight with steel vs steel outside of training was at nationals 2014. Getting pinned to the wall, the shots were surprising but not painful. However, I wore A full-size mouthguard and the lack of breathing combined with the closed helmet was the first real feeling of helm horror. I spit out the guard and everything came into focus.
WHAT IS YOUR PREFERRED WEAPON? DO YOU HAVE A PARTICULAR FAVORITE?
For melee, I prefer falchion and buckler or larger punching shields in the 16s. Duels I love the long whacky bois.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ARE SOME POSITIVE ASPECTS THAT COME FROM THE SPORT?
The camaraderie, the sense of combined effort, I have only felt here and in rugby.
WHAT IS YOUR FIGHTING STYLE – IF YOU HAVE ONE?
I will fully admit my skills have not evolved in melee to where I would like, however in 16s I am quite adept at pulling rail and getting my opposite number in line for our axes to take down one after another.
In duels I prefer to use a combination of positioning and finesse, however, most people think getting in close is a way to neutralize my range..the butt spike is my favored tool for significant points.
DO YOU THINK FIGHTING CHANGES WHO YOU ARE AS A PERSON? HOW HAS IT AFFECTED YOU PERSONALLY?
I think rather than changing you, it lets a different aspect of you take a leading role, and like any muscle, use increases performance. I know for me, the competitiveness was always there, but it only really came out in rugby matches, no fighting game/sport really brought it out, and definitely not in my work or the rest of my life. Steel combat gave me an appreciation for having an edge that really has benefitted me, while still being the congenial self i aspire to be.
WHAT WOULD YOUR ADVICE BE FOR NEW PEOPLE INTERESTED IN THE SPORT?
Worry about getting a full kit together after 6 months of consistent practice. Rather than spend the money, you find the other parts of the sport are for you, and there is a lesser chance you will buy something wrong or life-threatening.
Additionally- go have fun! Everyone eats dirt sometimes, might as well do it often in the beginning to learn.
WHAT DO YOU LOOK FORWARD TO FOR THE FUTURE OF ARMORED COMBAT SPORTS?
I see the sport growing, and while never getting truly away from its amateur status, the amount of tournaments that will have two or more tiers of fighting will grow. I also see the pendulum swinging back to the social aspect growing between teams once again.
ANY FINAL WORDS YOU WANTED TO MENTION?
Life is too short to worry about longevity.
