Styles of Jousting

The Free Lancers perform 7 different styles of jousting, conducted upon the field in full armour. For a closer look at each illustrated style, click on the image.
French Jousting with emblazoned shield, passing left shoulder unto left shoulder, crossing the lance over the horse's neck and attempting to stike the other knight's shield to unhorse him. French
French

Northern Italian
Nothern Italian

Southern Italian
Southern Italian

Welschgestech
Welschgestech

Realgestech
Realgestech

Northern Italian Jousting without benefit of a shield, passing left shoulder unto left shoulder, crossing the lance over the horse's neck at a 30 degree angle, attempting to strike the other knight's unprotected breatplate or helm to unhorse him.
Southern Italian Jousting without a shield and passing right shoulder unto right shoulder, putting the lance at a more direct angle of 5 degress and attempting to strike the other knight's unprotected breatplate or him to unhorse him. This is the hardest hitting of the various styles.
Welschgestech Jousting with grande guarde and buffs, passing left shoulder unto left shoulder, crossing the lance over the horse's neck and attempting to strike the other knight's grand guarde to unhorse him.
Realgestech Jousting with gridded grand guarde and buffs, passing left shoulder unto left shoulder, corssing the lance over the horse's neck and attempting to strike the other knight's grand guarde to unhorse him.
Plakengestech Jousting performed with plackards (a secondary breastplate) added, passing left shoulder unto left shoulder, crossing the lance over the horse's neck and attempting to strike the other knight's breastplate in to unhorse him.
Geminedeutsche Gestech Jousting with wooden targes and frog-mouthed helms, passing left shoulder unto left shoulder, crossing the lance over the horse's neck and attempting to strike the other knight's targe to unhorse him. This is the traditional German joust.

This page last updated on 27 MAR 04.