Meet Knights of Mayhem

About the show:

​The War horses toss their heads nervously and stamp the ground at either end of the jousting field. The crowd quiets in anticipation. Even the manic squires become motionless as a sense of incipient collision fills the arena.  The knights sit stock still on the backs of their horses. Each holds a hefty 12-foot lance leveled at an opponent  across the field. Inside their burdensome armor it is dark and hot. It is hard to breathe and claustrophobic. Their views are restricted by a slit in their helmets a quarter-inch thick and roughly three inches from side to side. Because of the bulky armor-scoop protecting their necks, they can only sense the giant horse between their legs. They can't lean far enough forward to see the top of its head or pick up the reins should they drop them. There is only a distant opponent at the far end of a long run.

 

With a signal from the marshal and a roar from the crowd, the horses launch at each other, breaking from a standstill into a full stride within seconds.  As they converge with a thunder of hooves and a blur of color, he grips his lance tightly and braces for the impact. It comes with a loud splintering of wood and a massive shock to his chest. The world flips upside down and for a moment all he sees is blue sky through the thin slit in his helm before hitting the earth with a clatter and a thud. As the sound of hooves and the roar from the crowd recede, he lies still, unable to get up. His chest throbs and the sweat stings as it pours into his eyes.

 

Welcome to the world of jousting. Part history lesson, part rodeo, part demolition derby. Knights of Mayhem make it very entertaining.

 

About Charlie Andrews and Knights of Mayhem:

For some, the sport of jousting is a real-life passion and thrives outside of the movies and Renaissance fairs. 

Lead by Charlie Andrews, the world champion of full contact heavy armor jousting, the “Knights of Mayhem,” is dedicated to transforming this medieval sport from a staged act to a professional sports phenomenon that is sweeping the globe. For these “knights,” jousting is no dinner show. Donning 130 pounds of steel armor, they mount 2,000-pound horses and charge at each other with solid hemlock lances at speeds up to 30-mph, while peering through a quarter-inch eye slot in their helmets. 

When lance and knight collide, riders struggle to control their horses and absorb devastating impacts with potential for concussions, broken bones and far worse.

Charlie and his group have garnered acclaim recently as they were featured on the Knights of Mayhem reality show that aired on the National Geographic Channel. Experience in person what makes these guys such amazing athletes and personalities and join in the fun at the San Jose Renaissance faire. 

A SHOW NOT TO BE MISSED - Check out why!