At Grand Canyon University, the Medieval Combat Club collaborated with GCU Esports to host an event to make DIY foam swords. Most onlookers of this club assumed it was a LARPing club, but it was not. Medieval Combat Club (MCC) is a club at GCU where they play fun field games such as capture the flag, circle of chaos, and honorable duels. The catch is that they use DIY foam weapons such as swords, spears, and bo-staffs. This club has created a strong community, with as many as 50 people attending regular meetings.
A new community opportunity for MCC just opened up with a collaborative event with GCU Esports. Students make their own foam swords in the Esports lounge once a month for “Women Wednesdays”. The first event was a success, with lots of people making longswords and katanas using pool noodles and decorative duct tape. Creative designs ranged from neon blue swords to sparkling katanas decorated in glitter duct tape. After making their swords, visitors tested out their new creations at the MCC meeting happening on the field nearby.
This new event opened a door for Esports members to get a taste of what MCC is and drew in a new crowd of females interested in the club. Within GCU Esports, there is a good community of women bonding over interests in video games. Billie Staggs, the Event Manager for GCU Esports, explains that “we aren’t just competitive, we’re a community too and really just feel like a family here.”
Alexis Cho, a sophomore and member of the social media team, says there is a tight-knit female community at MCC. Cho says that some of their best fighters are female, and those who prefer not to fight cheer people on from the sidelines. “And of course, whenever the girl beats a guy in a one-on-one, we’re all celebrating like ‘Yeah valkyrie sister, you go!’”
MCC is known for its uniqueness and sometimes leaves onlookers puzzled about the club.
“If you have any reservations, really look and say ‘why do you have those reservations?’ and if it has to do with anything about what someone else would think, toss that out the window,” says senior and club president Joseph Martinez. “I’d say if you have fun learning something new… then it doesn’t matter what other people think.”
From the outside, MCC can look like a twice-a-week event where people play field games, but there is much more planning behind the scenes. Martinez explains that he works with GCU Clubs and GCU Event Services planning MCC’s regular meetings and larger events. One of these larger events is Foam Wars, a campus-wide game of capture the flag. There are four teams all spread out on different fields around GCU. Since the event is so large, lots of planning is important to ensure the game runs successfully and safely.
Within the club, there is a strong community that is upbeat, friendly, and cares about one another. Cho explains that everyone was so welcoming to her when she joined and she loved the atmosphere. Grace Greeno, the Co-Social Media Manager for MCC, explained that members are inviting and always willing to show you how to use a foam weapon or how a game works. If a person is new to the club, the atmosphere is very welcoming, and the members are there to help you have a great time.
The new partnership with Esports and the upcoming big events are creating anticipation among leaders and members. Cho states, “I’m really excited to show people we’re not LARPing but… we are a great community and it’s just a great way to spend time with people.”
You can learn more about Medieval Combat Club on their Instagram here.