Frequently Asked Questions on Australian Re-Enactment
or
My Opinion of What It Means to be a Re-Enactor in Australia
by Heath Barlin Aged 30 3/4 (at the time)
A re-enactor/living historian (hereafter abbreviated to LH) is an individual who spends their spare time trying to accurately as possible reproduce articles and activities from a historical period. This may mean sewing, weaving, singing, playing musical instruments or games, brewing (a very noble activity), fighting, armour-making, wrestling or any of a myriad of activities. These activities should be as reasonable facsimile as possible. ie Don't play Hnefetafl with beer bottles and say, "It's the way they did it in period" or "They would have done it if they'd had them".
This is a little more difficult to answer. The broad range of people who do this hobby are extremely varied. "The only thing they have in common, is are that no two are alike" is a DAAS mis-quote that appropriately applies to LHers. It's usually not easy to pick a LHer from the general crowd. Looking at my local group, even physically there is a huge range. The 6'3'' (I think) and 140 kg giant faces off against the 5'10'' and 65kg runt in combat. The seventeen year old lad will fight side by side with a gentleman in his late 40's. The individual tastes of members are also highly variable, but it would be fairly safe to say that the average reenactor has an odd taste in something. Quite often they could appear quite normal, but will probably have a hobby (aside from re-enactment) that is not mainstream, be it roleplaying, wargaming, computer gaming, an alternative musician, a collector (from comics to guns) or a pig shooter.
He/she will also accept other people of different lifestyles, in most cases, so long as they are keen on their LH. The Iron Maiden fan, chats quite comfortably with the Rammstein fan, the Phil Collins fan and the guy who twenty minutes ago was singing Agadoo or a Britney Spears or a Silverchair song in the car as they drove up to the event.
They will also have an eclectic knowledge of popular culture, and may often make references to what many people might find sometimes may find obscure, but other LH recognise readily. They will probably know know why Inigo Montoya was after the Six Fingered Man, who used 'Spoon' as a battle cry, what the Riddle of Steel is, who to call out to to get fresh horses, the riddle that stumped Gollum, why Orlando was such a special guy and where Vivian managed to get a Howitzer.
That's a pretty good starting point, anyway. A goodly amount of LHers do enjoy a drink. And to be sure if a LHer has been to an event where for some reason they haven't fought or engaged in some other LH based activity, they'll definitatly be there when the drinking starts (you've got to keep your LH muscles in shape). Another way is to look at the people drinking who are very loud and enjoying themselves. Also look at the ones who are quietly talking amongst themselves as they too could be LHers enjoying a discussion on some topic. Hmmm... this doesn't help much. Ah... sod it. Go to a training day for one of the clubs. There will be plenty of them there and you'll learn to recognise them pretty easily (ask Helmut the German about train trips for more info on this one).
Another good place to find them, however, is at a bookstore. LHers tend to read a lot. Finding out how thick a Viking Age shield should be or what it should be made from and how the boss was attached and the exact shape of the boss is something that is not usually covered in the Where's Wally Book of History, so they need to go and find it. LHers also tend to read other books as well and there's seems to be a lot of fans of fantasy, historical fantasy, science fiction and stories that involve the supernatural. I don't why, there just are. They also like to discuss these topics when drunk
Conversations that repeatedly come up when the drink has flowed freely, the fire burned low and dawn is far too close, seem to turn to Conan, the merits of the mace versus the sword, and more recently, pirates and goats.
No. That is not us. And if I didn't know better I'd say you were trying to start a fight.
Those groups are not LH groups. There may be people in the groups which could very readily be described as LHers, and some will be doing LH style activities but not enough to make be considered worthwhile LHers.
LH is an attempt to bring history alive, a kind of moving museum exhibit. Ideally if it were possible to take a LH camp to the appropriate period in the past and then have the locals wander passed it, the locals shouldn't be able to feel as if something was too amiss. This assumes that no one speaks and the locals are OK with that. Modern accents would more than likely make even an accurate rendition of their language sound odd. Walking through some groups encampments in Australia, this would be an entirely believable situation, unless they looked very closely at certain concessions eg the blunt swords which would take a pretty fine examination and require them to be out waving them about, anyway. Walking through the encampments of a non-LHer, your local would stop, point and gawp, call his/her mates over and wonder at the oddities that they see. "Sven, Bjarki, look at this lot. What strange shoes they are wearing! Their clothing is made of weird cloth! Why are they wearing those dark glass-like things over their eyes! They have plates of metal and an odd looking material (plastic) over their limbs where we have mail at the most and what are the strange bars on their helmets? Why to they fight with shields that appear to have a tread or hose pattern on them".
Nobody in their right mind believes a road sign with a piece of garden hose around the edge really believes that it looks just right the real thing, but non-LHers seem to try. Some non-LHers cry, "but it's for safety reasons", but LH groups in Australia seem to get by without them and the thousands of people in the UK doing LH seem to survive quite well as well. So you can't tell me that it's for safety, without looking like a complete goose.
Everybody seem to believe that their own form of combat is superior in it's representation of historical combat. The truth is, that none of them are going to be historically accurate. That's right, even my own version of fighting, in the different periods is not the same as the fighting done by a person from the appropriate place and time. If they did fight like me, they'd probably be killed quite quickly. The same would be said of any LHers or non-LHers version of combat. What we try to do in our combat, is give ourselves (or our audience if there is one) a sense of combat, but still have it safe enough for us to come back next week and do it again. Our combat, when training is straight forward. From all accounts of which I'm aware, the Vikings fought with cunning and did not waste their strength in useless gesturing and the blows they did deliver were "few and terrible". Even with a blunt, metal sword, a strongly delivered blow delivered by our Duncan, has a very good chance of breaking my arm (see also facial stitches). So Duncan pulls his blow to deliver a non-breaking, but more than likely bruising blow, even through armour. He will also begin his blow a little further back in order to build up speed and then he will need to slow it done before it hits me, in an area which has been designated as a target area, and he will probably step forward to give the illusion of delivering a blow on the down step. Target areas themselves are also a compromise, but I like my rude parts, the size and colour they are.
Hmm... maybe a little swelling.
This style of combat is actually a little trickier than just simply swinging a
lightweight stick at people, and involves a little more skill, as the there are
three parts to the blow (the acceleration, targeting and deceleration). If he
gets on of these wrong he could end up hurting someone or delivering too light
a blow, in which case it will be ignored.
After a number of discussions with non-LHers it has become obvious that they do not deliver a 'full force' blow. They are confused between 'full force' and 'full speed'. See next point for discussion on 'force'.
Armour wasn't worn because it was pretty impressive looking. Armour is worn when it gives a reasonable defence against the weapons likely to be used against it. It will never be perfect as there will always be something that will get through, but hopefully will take a goodly whack before giving way. Take for example mail. It is formed of interlocking links of steel, and since it is basically a suit of holes, thin headed spears and very pointy arrows are more likely to penetrate it. Mail gives a better defence against a Viking sword or axe when used to slash or chop. Since it would only be worn if it was reasonable protection. Why slow yourself down if it does nothing to protect you? Hence, in LH it is pointless to do a blow that would not be able to give a lot of force. Blows such as a falling blows to the arm, leg or head are therefore likely to be used and therefore are good LH blows.
They are blows that a directly coming from attempts to kill someone. Any blow that 'represents' another shot is not a good blow. If it can't be done safely so that it needs to have another blow substituted for it that only superficially represents it, just leave it out. There are enough good blows without adding in silly substitutions.
Now take a non-LH example of a blow. It is termed a 'wrap' or 'flick shot'. It is done by flicking the wrist around and hitting someone across the back of the head or legs or torso. This is possibly the epitome of poor LH combat. It is a feeble blow and requires someone to step up right in front of someone, but they cannot put any force into the blow because of it's very nature. Given that rear leg armour up until the very late medieval times was frequently non-existent, it appears very unlikely that this blow was particularly effective. Even a gambeson or a simple leather jerkin will likely stop this blow from penetrating the body (let alone mail or plate which is so predominant in the non-LH group I am taking this example from) it seems pointless and is bad LH to do it.
Maybe he can, if he's delivering a weak falling blow.
If you strike a golf ball with a golf club, the pro will tell you to 'follow through'. Same with cricket bats, tennis racquets and even just punching people (except obviously if you are listening to a golf pro teach you how to punch people, you should be very wary). Following through involves keeping the striking object moving through the point where you struck the object. By doing so you are increasing the amount of time the striking object has to apply force against the struck object. The longer the time in contact the more energy is imparted to the struck object or into it. The technical term is work.
A falling blow is good as you can step forward (adding more movement to your blow), strike down and puch down througth the object (or person) you are hitting applying more work and increasing greatly your chances of penetrating your opponents armour. The historical point of combat was to kill somebody, and this method is how you do it and it helps to get that pesky armour out of the way if you can apply heaps of work to do so.
A wrap, by it's very nature, cannot deliver the same amount of force because
of two reasons.
1. The direction of the blow is towards the striker, and therefore if you step
into to do the blow you are lessing your own strike as you are opposing it's
motion with your body's motion.
2. More importantly, you cannot follow through effectively, as you cannot apply
anywhere near the same amount of force when you are simply flicking it back
towards you.
Thus the wrap has a greatly lessened amount of force behind it. Coupled with the
fact that most seem to deliver them against the flat of a person's back,
spreading the impact over a large area, mean that you might as well hit them
with the flat of your sword, for all the penetrative power that it's going to
have.
It would, therefore, be reasonable to assume that they would not be an effective battlefield technique, so why would a LH use one in LH combat? The answer is simply, that like modern fencing, non-LH combat is not soley based on trying to historical style combat, but rather has wholly degenerated into a sport. Not that there's anything wrong with sports par se, it's just that they are not war.
In a way, yes. When our blows land, they land a little bit slower than the non-LH. They do, however, land with less surface area striking their target, delivering their force to a smaller area. So you are looking at approximately five times more force due to their being five time less surface area. Looking at it that way, a blow from us that is half the strength would still be 2 and a half times as forceful.
Some non-LH groups combat use a type of palm, wrapped in duct tape which is
supposed to prevent splintering (good idea) and make it look like metal (no
one's fooled, especially when you add that red duct tape to it). The shape of
these are basically circular and therefore provide a much larger surface area by
which they spread the force that is delivered.
To top it off, if someone is hit by the side or flat of a round 'sword', their opponent can't tell. You know if you hit even a little off centre with a metal sword. And you can't mistake a blow from the flat of the sword with one delivered with the edge.
Sometimes some non-LHers claim to simulate the weights of historical weapons accurately with the woodish palm and tape, but the grass swords I have handled may have overall been of approximately the right weight, but that's probably due to the basket hilts that they added (and of course completely out of period as well for most swords). Of course, this original sword that was weighed may have been the same weight. However, applying the same criteria across all swords is a little ridiculous.
These basket hilts also throw the balance of the "sword" right out. This in turn means the stick handles very differently from the sword it was intended to replicate.
LH swords are a little on the heavy side as well. In order to have the minimum thickness required on the edge of the blade, without reducing the width of the blade back to the point where it would be thick enough to meet safety requirements, means that they gain some weight near the edge.
Ah well. You can't win them all.
Besides, this probably means that, between, having to work twice as hard during my swing, (once to speed it up and once to slow it down) and wielding a heavier blade, I will probably be a little stronger than my non-LH equivalent.
Beefcake! BEEFCAKE!
I don't think so. The blows do fall a little slower, but only at the end is there any different. At shows that we have done, people seem to flock and stay to watch the entire spectacle. The sounds of steel ringing against steel, steel against wood, wood on wood coupled with the cries of people fighting and wrestling seems to keep people interested. Possibly they're just waiting around to see if anyone is going to get hurt, but I like to think that they are enjoying themselves.
I've watched people stare at non-LH combat, laugh and then walk away. Watching two supposedly grown men on their knees, trying to flick each other in back of the head with a piece of palm tree, does not a good, nor accurate, spectacle make.
Well under their sport orientated rules, a hit to the thigh means that you should drop to your knees and can keep fighting, a la Monty Python and the Black Knight.
I suppose, they've probably completely ignored, the fact a blow to the upper leg muscles that is damaging enough to prevent you from standing, will also more than likely mean that you could not support your own weight whilst kneeling either. Especially leaning back and in armour.
A blow to a valid target area (valid due to safety or established tradition which can and does change) means that you are 'dead'. Some like to take an arm hit (particularly the shield arm) as incapacitating that limb, so they drop whatever they are holding in that arm and continue, but not everyone will do even that. Most will just 'die'.
Not quite. What we do is a sport based on fighting. What the non-LH groups do is a sport based loosely on fighting with some odd, totally sport orientated blows thrown in. We leave out the sport orientated blows (remembering that I'm talking about a single persons opinion and my primary LH group).
It isn't unknown for sports to introduce weird aspects to an otherwise martial art. Consider the blow delivered by a modern fencer which involves taking their foil, striking someone on the body in such a way that the tip flicks over around the body to strike the back. Weird, but apparently legal.
I'm a member of a couple of different groups. My range of interest extends from Vikings to the Middle Ages to Sixteenth Century Japan and 17th Century Britain. Others in the same group have interests in ancient Celts, Romans or Greeks.
I personally believe that to be a big no-no. Maybe it just looks sad and incongruous (even more so than Australians running around gum trees wearing armour). However (and even more heinous), maybe it begins to encourage people to, for convenience sake, to pick up a Viking sword to have a fight when they haven't quite managed to acquire a 15th Century sword of war. After all, the general public aren't likely to realise (unless they have a bit of knowledge in the area) but, I do. That counts as a lie when you tell someone that you are portraying a 15th Century Men At Arms. Maybe it's because you can't (and shouldn't) wear more than one outfit at the same time. This means you, Celtic Ninjas.
I don't believe so. Then again, people are entitled to their opinions. If a person hangs out of the window of their car, beer can in one hand, yelling, "Hit him with your sword, you loonies!", I think I know which one I would perceive as having lost the bucket.
We are have a huge amount of fun. I know I look forward to the next event with great anticipation, as do my friends. We have a pretty good idea that the weekend is going to be great even if the weather does turn foul. I would happily be classed as a loony so long as I can still be a reenactor.
Why do people always ask me this question? I have five (and he didn't think it too many). And two axes (three soon), five spears, a saex, a longbow...
This has been suggested to me before. Asked people what they thought of the idea.The LH groups were appalled by a perceived 'watering down' of LH groups. One reason that LH groups are different (in my mind superior) to non-LH groups is the 'minimum standard' idea. To play you need to produce gear of a minimum level of quality.
Differing groups have different minimum requirements and you would need to talk to each group to discuss them. Whilst you are not expected to have this minimum standard when you first turn up, you are expected to make an effort to produce said items in a reasonable length of time. In the interim, there is usually some gear that they let a newcomer borrow, until such time that they have their own gear.
And here we're not talking about the, "Looks good from 5 light years" type of standard. That's not a standard, it's a cop out.
The LH groups do not want people who parade in Lycra (TM) or tracky-dacks, desert boots, poly-cotton tunics and jeans claiming to represent history from a thousand years ago. Nobody believes, not even the thickest and least educated lout, that Vikings wore Nikes.
LH groups pride themselves on reproducing a particular era. Eg Dark Ages Europe is about the broadest group that you'll find with individuals portraying some thing more specific eg mid-tenth century Danish Viking. Groups themselves might along the lines of Dark Age (Fire and Steel) or Viking Age Europe or go to something more specific specialise to within a few years and a single nation or organisation (The Bear and Ragged Staffe) for the entire group. LH groups spend a good deal of time ensuring that their gear is accurate for that time period, and over a few years upgrade the quality of their reproductions, sometimes replacing their entire outfits a number of times, as new information comes to light. It helps here if you do it right the first time, but we're not perfect and sometimes our enthusiasm outweighs our knowledge.
Compare this with a conversation I had recently (well this is the gist as I
don't have a perfect memory) with someone with a non-LH organisation..
Me: "So what is your persona (imaginary role for their representation
that is taken on by some groups)?"
Non-LH: "I don't have one"
Me: "Ok... so what period are you representing (I couldn't tell from
looking)?"
Non-LH: "I haven't decided. I'm just a Grog"
Me: "Grog?"
Non-LH: "Grog. Just a fighter. I just hit things. Like in D(ungeons) &
D(ragons)"
The same chap was in the same group about a year earlier than this latest conversation. Nothing had essentially changed in his portrayal, except that he now had a beard. No offence to the chap in question, he is a nice enough bloke in his self, but he would more than likely be asked to get his act together for a LH group.
LH groups can be very proud, and they certainly don't like to look like idiots whilst running around in wool in summer, wearing mail, carrying large shields and swinging swords at each other... hmmm. A bit of an oxymoron, isn't it? Well, perhaps they just like to look good in their idiocy. Hence, swords (et al) rather than a breed of palm covered in plastic tape and grills across their helmets. The argument given to me by a non-LH group that they would not like to be joined with the LH groups are many. All of which, in my personal opinion, lack merit (bar one).
Shall we start with the one which I think is probably the most logical of their
arguments?
The non-LH groups like fighting with their sticks. Well, fair enough. We
all like what we are used to, and it's certainly easier. You don't have to worry
about putting your sword into the other guys face as the thickness of the palm
used is too large to penetrate the, mainly historically inaccurate, barred
grills across their face. Rattan is relatively cheap when compared to a sword
suitable for combat, remembering that a lot of non-LH groups are composed of
transitional members from University based sub-groups. Students notoriously are
poor (and therefore are thieves 8P ), and the outlay for a good quality blade
can be daunting. I know it was for my first sword (but I rapidly decided that
one wasn't enough).
Relearning to fight with swords, could actually result in quite dangerous fighters, through years of bad, sport combat techniques. Remember we are trying to avoid killing each other. This is a representation of mortal combat. It is not-mortal combat (or Mortal Kombat).
The LH groups all have differents standards and rules. Yes, individual groups do, and yet when we come together at out events, we can play by one clubs rules over our own. It is called compromise. Even with out own little interclub training days, held by us for the local and non-local LH groups, we amend our own fighting rules to make allowances for our friends particular fighting styles.
Authenticity equals No Fun. LH members who were previously non-LH members enjoyed their time in the non-LH groups, but have moved on and have an even better time in at LH events. Some still play with the non-LH groups, but still prefer the LH events. And vice versa, (although I know of fewer). This seems to stem from the perception of the non-LH groups view of their own Authenticity Nazi's behaviour in their own group and a perception that, that is how all LH people are the same as these individuals. In all my time in a LH group, I have not had someone behave as the non-LH groups describe the Authenticity Nazi's behaviour. Self proclaimed bearers of this title in the LH movement, I would better describe as Authenticity Enthusiasts. Happy to be of assistance, polite and understanding, they help people to improve their own gear. I have never seen, even the most fanatical enthusiast make anyone feel bad about their efforts, and happily praise them when they have done well. Perhaps politeness is a virtue, better exhibited by our Authenticity lovers, than the non-LH groups.
They also know that by helping others in there efforts, that at some time in the future these same people will possibly gain information, knowledge or skills that will become useful to them. There efforts therefore become investments in the future of their own reenactment and reenactment as a whole. If only the same could be said for public education in New South Wales.
To me, and to many others, having people look historically accurate, is an enhancement for the game, not a stumbling block. Especially since it is incredibly easy to achieve this ideal. I would perhaps rephrase the argument as Authenticity is No Fun if you are Really Slack.
A good friend once described made this statement as we strolled around a non-LH event, "For them (the non-LHers) the clothes are an invitation to the party. For us, the clothes are part of the party."
He was and is right on many levels. I am glad there is a place that you don't need to look good to play. It means that when I go to play, I stand a good chance of being amongst others who can play well with others and look impressive doing it.
I have seen a chap, wearing desert boots and track suit pants at an event, critise a reproduction gaming piece because it was fashioned from resin rather than walrus ivory. If you can't see what's wrong this situation on a number of levels, you need to go back over it again.
I don't like the inconsistencies that seem to characterise non-LH groups. If you are going to have a cut-off date for your historical period, stick to it.
And don't tell people what you are doing is historically accurate if it isn't. Boofheads.
There was an event known as the kolbenturnier, or baton course, which
involved wooden clubs being used to batter the crests of your opponent. Modern
non-LH tourneys bear little resemblence to this form of tourney which was
popular between the late fifteenth to the early sixteenth centuries.
Whalebone swords covered in silver foil were used at one time, but the
information about these indicates that they were used approx. two centuries
earlier than the kolbenturnier. Even a cursory glance at the manuscripts
from the periods depicting tourneys (in particular reference to Rene of Anjou's
books), you can see especially shaped wooden clubs (you wouldn't mistake then
for anything else once you've seen the shape) and, by far the most commonly
depicted weapon, the rebated metal swords. A rebated sword is one which has the
edge ground away to make it blunt. So tourneys would more likely look like LH
events, as they are using blunt swords.
Without even attempting too, most LH groups do a better job of re-enacting tourneys (visually) without even meaning to do so than the non-LH groups who say that tourneys are their primary focus. Weird.
Well, no it's not for a number of reasons.
1. Swords aren't inherently bad -the reason he wants them banned is because of a couple of attacks made by some idiots. These idiots aren't part of the LH community. If they were the LH person wouldn't take their sword to attack people as they are usually very blunt (our are required to have 2mm rounded edges), and the sword is worth more to a LHer than your everyday people with a wall hanger (sword designed to be displayed like Lord of the Ring replica, most Japanese swords you see and anything made with Stainless Steel) so they wouldn't want to lose them even if provoked. It's the wielder of the sword and their intent that is the problem. New laws need to target violent people. It also fails to address the fact a criminal if he does not have access to a sword, will simply grab and axe or baseball bat which as tools or sporting equipment won't be prohibited. It also fails to address the fact that of all edged weapons used in attacks, the vast majority of weapons used are kitchen knives. It is also possible to grab an iron bar or wooden pole and club someone, but they aren't proposing to ban those when they are equally (or more effective than our blunt swords). You could also sharpen a flat bar in the shed in half an hour and therefore had bypassed the part of the law that is trying to stop criminal getting their hands on sharp objects. It's not a matter of the sword being dangerous, but rather people. Increase the penalties for violent crimes rather than banning the sword. This is akin to stopping prostitution by banning female's rude bits. There are always other options available to those intent on flaunting the law.
2. LHers use their swords more often than your normal sword owner -some people have swords and they hang them on the wall, or in a safe or whatever. They would need a single permit that would cover them for 5 years. LHers do shows (often at no cost to the community group or school involved) which would require an event permit for each show ($127) + each person doing he show would require their own permit whilst doing the show. Thus the last little free show we did for the scouts would not be done for free, but would cost the scouts or us, $508 to have the three people with gear on show. This also applies for LH events, so your average LHer could be looking at over a thousand dollars a year to attend some of the events during the year and do a display or two. Additionally since many LHers are on low or fixed incomes, this will have the additional effect of becoming a means test on history. Another way of looking at it is that is a tax on our cultural heritage.
The changes will also affect people who use swords less often than we do. They will affect fencers, non-LHers, Highland dancers, Mason, Rotarians, veterans, collectors, martial artists, sword makers, thespians (Hamlet will be a little odd at the end when they go at each other with pool noodles),
The proposed changes are discriminatory. They are ill-conceived, enforce hardships on those on lower incomes and are ultimately going to prove to be ineffective. Where will it end? After swords, will come after bows? Clubs next? No baseball, cricket bats, tennis racquets, or will trees in general have to go? Kitchen knives and other cutlery will have to go. Teeth? Fists? We will be reduced to a nation slurping meat pie smoothies that are being held by our stumps.
Whatever happened to the Lucky Country? God's Own Earth. It's become, 'Lucky to have anything left to ourselves' and God Awful Country.
I have a secure job that pays reasonable well and as such I enjoy a good standard of living. I'll be buggered if I'm going to stay here whilst my rights are increasingly impinged and stupidity reigns supreme (see also Litigation Lawyers and Public Liability). My wife is from overseas, and they have lots of swords there. Probably ten times as many re-enactors (per capita), and no great problem with sword attacks.
People doing my job are in short supply over there (as they are over here). If the laws come, in I'm off. I love this country (well bits of it), but not enough to have my favourite pastime wrenched out from underneath me.
For a number of reasons really.
Firstly is you train head blow all the time, you tend to fall into a habit of just doing head blows. The number of times I've been to a multiclub event where I might as well not have have brought a shield as the number of blows that come in at the head would exceed 95%. Mostly these are not directed accurately and consist mainly of flailing until the other person happens to launch an attach at the same time you do and their defence has opened up. Clonk. Sit down and wait for the next flailing.
Secondly, it's harder. Without the head being a relatively easy target (it sticks out right above your shield) it's easy to fall into the trap of aiming for it all the time. Working your way around a shield is slightly harder in massed combats and a good deal harder in a one-on-one. Training this way gets you to look at those other options.
Thirdly, it's illogical to do head blows as they are done in re-enactment combat. The direct blow downwards is frequently deflected by pointy helmets, helmets are padded and also they are the most heavily armoured section of a Dark Age warrior. I thought about this for a while and wondered that is the head blow was the best blow to be dealt then why didn't we see more (ie any) images of people in the second rank protecting the heads of those in front with either a shield or perhaps a metal bar on a pole? The answer I feel, is that the head is well protected enough from these blows by your helmet. Sure a Dane axe could do a lot of neck damage and possibly open the helmet as well but additional protect from behind is unlikely to help in that case anyway. Evidence from archaeology seems to indicate that the majority of killing blows are to the arms and legs anyway, which would also support this idea.
Anyway, despite how we train most of the time, we do go into head blow combats and we fight in them. We certainly don't sit them out, if they are not of the combat style we normally fight, as some gutless head blow clubs did at Armidale 2006. That's unAustralian.