Not sure what a “boffer” is?  Thousands of people across the world were in your shoes at one time.  They had no idea what a boffer was and “boffer fighting” sounded dangerous!  However, with a little knowledge, you will find that boffer fighting is a fun, entertaining, and healthy exercise performed by men and women from all over the world.  It includes hand-eye coordination, dexterity, endurance and plumbing supplies.  What’s more, you get to beat up your friends without actually hurting anyone!  Find out more below!

What is a boffer?

The term “boffer” refers to a contact weapon (swords, spears, clubs, arrows, hammers, etc.) that is made from light weight materials and padded with foam to prevent injury.

What are boffers used for?

“Boffering” or “boffing” is the act of using boffers to play a form of mock combat. The combat is used for different reasons by different people. The most common reasons to use boffer weapons include:

• It is a great means of exercise.
• It lets you get out your aggression in a safe way.
• It promotes teamwork and active play amongst groups.
• It allows people to reenact historic battles without the dangers of real weapons.
• It allows fans of movies such as Braveheart and Lord of the Rings to enjoy the stories in a “real-life” way.
• It allows people to practice a martial art in a safe way.

Does boffer fighting hurt?

Boffering is a contact sport and because of this it is not entirely painless. It is possible to get a bruise or welt if you are playing too rough. However, with properly padded weapons, there is very little chance of injury. The pain in boffering is about equal to a pillow fight. Other sports, such as football, baseball, or hockey, are more dangerous than boffer fighting. If you can handle those games, you should be able to handle boffering with ease.

Sounds like fun, how can I get involved?

There are groups of people all over the world that use boffer combat as an exciting means of recreation. A boffer directory will be created soon where you will be able to find a boffer group in your area. If there aren’t any groups in your area you can always start up your own.

How do I make a boffer?

The techniques used for making boffers changes depending on what type of boffer you’re making. If you’ve never made a boffer before, you should start with the short sword or dagger to learn the basics, and then work your way up from there.

What is a LARP?

LARP stands for Live-Action Role-Playing. It’s similar to the traditional table-top RPGs except everything is done in real life. Because LARPs often utilize live combat, they often use boffers for safety reasons.

Is this some sort of cult? Do you kill people? Are you Satan worshipers?

As silly as these questions sound, they are legitimate, so here is the answer: People from any walk of life may enjoy boffers. Any race, creed, culture, religion, or ethnicity can enjoy the benefits of boffering withou fear of it having a negative impact on their life.