Team Building
Riddle of Steel offers a range of Swordfighting based team building activities for businesses, using specially constructed realistic looking high density foam swords, axes, maces, spears and shields. These activities are bespoke so can be developed for the specific requirements of your company and can be tailored to different group sizes.
Typically, we offer a half day or a full day team building event which can be run on weekdays or at weekends. These events can be held at your company premises if suitable, a local hall, park or even in a woodland.
A typical event will include:
- An introduction and safety briefing.
- Basic skills training.
- Basic team battle game.
- Team strategy’s discussion.
- Further team battle games.
- Debriefing.
These team building days are suitable for men and women of all ages and require no previous experience to take part. Instructors of these events are experienced in delivering and differentiating sword fighting based team building activities to a range of client groups.
The Benefits
- Take part in an unusual and exciting activity that can energise a team and refocus them on the company’s goals.
- Group based games that promote team work, communication, awareness and strategic thinking.
- Dormant, behaviours, capabilities and skills can be more easily identified in a team based experiential activity.
- Suitable for indoor and outdoor events.
- All activities are risk assessed and participants briefed on safety before starting.
- The levels of immersion and physical exercise needed for swordfighting can reduce stress.
Was it what you expected?
“It wasn’t at all what I expected. I was a bit worried that it would be boring and exhausting i.e. something that was more fun in theory than in practice. In reality it was not exhausting because of the lightweight weapons and it was really really engaging – the time flew by.”
Zoe Cunningham – Managing Director of Softwire
How was the teaching? Did you learn things?
I thought it was really good. There were a limited number of teaching points, made really clearly (eg side on, small movements, flicking with the wrist; timing/distance) – this approach worked well for me in a first session, where you want to focus on a few important details and not get too overloaded J
How was the intensity of the activity and how was the event paced?
It was great – I liked the variety, and didn’t find myself too tired at any point
Would you recommend it to others? As team building corporate event, as a fun activity, as a lesson for people looking to get better at sword fighting.
Definitely – I was at a recruitment fair in Oxford yesterday, and was telling potential recruits how fun it was. It was always met with a smile/laugh. It was really fun. As for the better at sword fighting – I imagine so, I certainly feel like I learnt a lot – but as a complete LARP/HEMA novice, I’m probably not the best person to talk to about looking to improve.
Would you want to attend another session?
For sure, though if there was another one, I’d encourage other people to give it a go and try it for the first time before I looked to come back for a second go.
Was it what you expected?
I hadn’t really thought about it enough to have any expectations, but it exceeded any I had, both in terms of scope of what we were able to do, and the relative freedom we were allowed, and the fun games we played.
David Edey – Developer
How was the teaching? Did you learn things?
Excellent. I learnt a lot of stuff, and promptly forgot to apply it in the heat of combat.
How was the intensity of the activity and how was the event paced?
Just right I thought.
Would you recommend it to others? As team building corporate event, as a fun activity, as a lesson for people looking to get better at sword fighting.
Yes to all of those.
Would you want to attend another session?
Yes, particularly if it built up to small unit battles and tactics
Was it what you expected?
Didn’t really go in with any expectations other than it would be good fun, and it exceeded those.
“Mark’s team building sessions are great fun, historically informative and an excellent way to try out mediaeval combat in a safe setting. Highly recommended”
Or if he wants something a bit more tongue in cheek, how about
“Mark’s team building sessions provide a perfect blend of informative historical content and mediaeval ultra-violence. Highly recommended”
Tom Steer – Director
How was the teaching? Did you learn things?
Good mix of talking, showing and (of which there was most, yay!) letting us do and figure it out!
How was the intensity of the activity and how was the event paced?
I would have been happy with things having a bit more pace, but that’s not to say that it felt too slow or anything like that!
Would you recommend it to others? As team building corporate event, as a fun activity, as a lesson for people looking to get better at sword fighting.
Yes, yes and yes. I mean, I’m no person to judge the last one, but it seemed like Mike knew what he was talking about damn well and was able to share it too.
Would you want to attend another session?
YEEEEEEES!
Was it what you expected?
I was surprised by how realistic (I think!) the combat was while it was still so safe! The games were also more childish than I imagined – in the best of ways! 😀 😀
Jan Mikolajczak – Developer
For more information
Please ring Mark on 07984601756 or use the email on the Contact us page to discuss the possibilities.