We want to congratulate Same MacQueen as our March 2025 Fighter of the Month!
REGION/TEAM: I’m currently building a new team in Upstate NY called the Lost Legion, I was a founding member of the New York Sentinels (Who are named after the Judas Priest song), and fought on the Company of the Iron Phoenix when Battle of the Nations was still around, to name a few. I’m registered as one of the Matagots for Buhurt International and one of the Executioners for the Knight Fighting League. And a lot of others for at least an event or two. I moved across the country twice since starting this sport and drifted around a lot besides. It is way less like a normal sports career, but it’s kind of like a medieval campaign history, so that’s kind of cool. And it’s a great way to learn.
NOTABLE WINS: I won the first ever Kill the King all-on-all at IMCF in 2014. I didn’t make the team but went anyway to fight just that. 21vs21, BotN 2017, USA1 (5×5), US longsword champion BotN 2018, 12v12, 150vs150, US longsword champion, BotN 2019, IMCF USA longsword champion carnage 2020 (World championship canceled because of Covid), AMCF US longsword champion, 2024, IMCF World longsword champion 2024, IMCF US longsword champion 2025
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN TRAINING FOR ARMORED COMBAT?
12 years
DO YOU HAVE ANY BACKGROUND EXPERIENCE IN MARTIAL ARTS OR OTHER SPORTS?
Not really, two or three years of karate in high school and two and a half years of aikijujutsu at New York Bujutsu-kai to supplement buhurt. I rode a bicycle in New York City when I lived there, which is good for the reflexes.
HOW DID YOU LEARN ABOUT ARMORED COMBAT AND WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO JOIN?
I was already looking for combat sport in 2012, and stumbled on a benefit event for the BotN team at a nightclub in Orlando and knew immediately that it was what I had been looking for.
DO YOU REMEMBER HOW YOU FELT IN YOUR FIRST FIGHT? CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE EXPERIENCE?
Not really, but I don’t remember how I felt during most fights. It’s like it’s so compartmentalized that I can’t access the information after the moment. But, tired, probably. And that the armor I had made myself started coming apart almost immediately.
WHAT IS YOUR PREFERRED WEAPON? DO YOU HAVE A PARTICULAR FAVORITE?
It depends on the category. In 5 on 5, I always did best with a two-handed axe with a three-foot haft. For bigger melees, I prefer something longer, and once it’s 21×21 or bigger, a halbard. And a 1900-gram Tylko for longsword.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ARE SOME POSITIVE ASPECTS THAT COME FROM THE SPORT?
The sport is dangerous, but the overall lifestyle is healthy. I used to drink way more than one should, and that went by the wayside quickly.
WHAT IS YOUR FIGHTING STYLE – IF YOU HAVE ONE?
I see combat from the perspective of movement and position more than the application of force. I try to control space and limit the opponent’s options, and strike once that is established.
DO YOU THINK FIGHTING CHANGES WHO YOU ARE AS A PERSON? HOW HAS IT AFFECTED YOU PERSONALLY?
Yes I do, as doing anything difficult leads to growth. This is a particularly difficult endeavor, and to do it well takes a huge amount of effort and discipline.
WHAT WOULD YOUR ADVICE BE FOR NEW PEOPLE INTERESTED IN THE SPORT?
Train hard and take care of your equipment. Don’t be a dick. Who you are off the field is more important than who you are on the field.
WHAT DO YOU LOOK FORWARD TO FOR THE FUTURE OF ARMORED COMBAT SPORTS?
KFL is interesting. I really want to see more scenario battles because they offer more interesting problem-solving. I’m pretty bored of fighting the same fight in a rectangle. Everyone should try some armored capture the flag.
ANY FINAL WORDS YOU WANTED TO MENTION?
De Charney has this passage that I don’t remember word for word, but the gist is: don’t boast of your own achievements, but extol the deeds of others, and if you do something worthy of merit, then someone else will tell it for you.
