So Team USA is apparently trying to position itself as the next hot martial art/combat sport. Right now, most of the team is made up of SCA fighters, and we had to learn a whole new set of skills and competitive priorities to begin to reach our full potential. At this year's Battle of the Nations in France, many folks were saying that in just a few years we could be the team to beat.
As a member of the team, I would love to see a more diverse aspirant pool, including people from MMA, kickboxing, escrima, and WMA/HEMA. The Armored Combat League, the parent organization of Team USA, is starting to formulate its plan for regular competitions within the US, so this is a great time to get in on the ground floor.
This is not a poor man's sport. Depending on your access to tools, willingness to work, and what you want to look like, a kit of armor for this game can cost you anywhere from $1000 - $8000, and then, of course, is the cost of traveling to tournaments and, if you want to try out for Team USA, the national practices. If you are curious about armored combat, the SCA is cheaper, but the rules are different enough it's kind of like doing nothing but kickboxing before walking into the UFC.
I can personally tell you that this is the most physically challenging sport I have ever known, and the payoff of representing your country in international competition against fighters from 22 nations can't be beat.
Regional and divisional practices have already begun and the first national practice and tournament is in Springfield, Il., in October. I've started training already. Wish me luck! Who else is in?