Graham Hartmann: In an indoor soccer field directly under the Manhattan Bridge, eight men in steel plate armor are facing off in a Medieval battle. 

[Combat sounds]

GH: This isn’t cosplay or LARPing… it’s a violent, full-contact sport to determine the baddest modern-day knight. This is the Armored League.

Anthony Rafes: My name is Anthony Rafes, I’m with the Armored League. We are in Chinatown today at TheGroundNYC for a Medieval combat tournament. 

GH: It’s something straight out of a King Arthur tale, only these knights are suiting up in an alleyway behind Madison St. They’ve each brought their own suits of armor and weapons, which range from steel swords to axes, to blunt maces and shields.

On November 1, 2024, The Armored League held its inaugural tournament in Chinatown, where modern-day knights fought with armor and swords for a $1,000 grand prize. Reported, produced and photographed by Graham Hartmann. Full transcript below.

The Armored League tournament doesn’t have a ton of rules, but there are judges who score the bout over three one-minute rounds.

AR: Eight guys, single elimination, so no room for error. There’s no boundaries, so the guys won’t be able to lean against the walls if they’re tired. These guys, they’re in for a strong night. 

GH: One knight competing for the tournament’s $1,000 grand prize is Orion Goodman, a wildlife conservationist from Queens. He’s a tall guy with a copper-colored helmet and face shield. Orion got into the sport after stumbling across the GladiatorsNYC fight team during one of their public exhibitions.

Orion Goodman: I was between jobs and I know they were putting on fights in Central Park, so I went. Then I bought the armor, I bought the swords. Despite all the logical arguments to stop, I just can’t. It’s too much fun.

GH: Orion wins his first fight handily, but his semifinal bout is against the tournament favorite, the National Sword and Shield Champion, Greg Fisher… aka The Kingfisher. 

[Orion vs. Greg fight sound]

GH: Orion’s got a power advantage, but Fisher pours on the volume with quick sword strikes and hard kicks to the body. After Round One, Orion trudges back to his teammate…gasping for air.

Cornerman: How you doin’?

OG: I don’t have the energy for him. 

Cornerman: Just breathe. That’s the only advice I can give. It was a good round, though.

Announcer: Round Two.

[Fight sounds]

GH: Fisher continues to bash his short sword into Orion’s helmet. 

[Fight sounds]

GH: After the second round, Orion lifts his face shield to reveal a ghostly pale face. He lets out a tortured groan.

OG: [Groan]

Announcer: Third round.

[Fight sounds]

GH: Orion stands his ground, but the Kingfisher is too much for the knight from Queens. The crowd counts down the final seconds of the fight.

Crowd: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. [Cheers]

Cornerman: You’re looking a little blue in the lips.  

OG: I feel blue in the lips. I couldn’t breathe.

Announcer: With a score of three rounds to nothing, the winner is… Greg the Kingfisher. 

GH: After the fight, Fisher sings the praises of ‘The Iron Orion.’

Greg Fisher: Oh dude, he honestly has so much potential. At this point I’ve captained two teams, I’ve taught like 30 or 40 people how to fight. That kid’s gonna be real good. Give him a couple of years, he’s gonna be a king. 

GH: Orion sits outside in defeat, exhausted with a helmet in his hands, but it's clear that the respect goes both ways.

OG: Greg is great, it was really a pleasure to fight him. Even though it’s just three minutes, it’s a lot of information. It was quite the honor for me.

GH: Later in the night, the Kingfisher loses in the finals to a newcomer from Philadelphia. These men fight for many reasons – for money, honor, to live out a Medieval fantasy – but ultimately, Orion says it’s about growth and comradery.

OG: There’s a lot of elements of craft that’s involved with this, figuring out what new skills you need, or who on your team you can help to have those skills. It winds up, I think, having a lot of opportunity for community building.

GH: For Audio Files, I’m Graham Hartmann, reporting from Chinatown.