Pensacola's Armored Combat Team
About US
The Bayou Brutes
Pensacola’s Premier Buhurt Team
Located in the Panhandle, the Bayou Brutes are the official buhurt armored combat team of Pensacola, Florida.
Representing the Gulf Coast with grit and determination, we compete in the intense, full-contact sport of Historical Medieval Battles (HMB), donning steel armor and stepping into the list with focus and force.
Our roster features our most experienced and dedicated fighters—those who train consistently and show up ready to grow, hit hard, and support their team. When numbers allow, we form multiple squads (Team A, Team B, etc.), ensuring everyone has the opportunity to battle. Fighters beyond our main roster often participate as “mercs” (short for mercenaries), joining other teams in need of reinforcements at events.
We fight with pride, represent Pensacola with honor, and push each other to be better—on and off the field.
How teams work:
In a Buhurt (a team vs team fight), there are two opposing teams of fighters. These teams are of a pre-determined size. The most common domestically are 3v3, 5v5 and sometimes 10v10 or 12v12.
This is how many fighters per team are on the field any given round, but like other team sports there is also a bench available to substitute fresher fighters in for fighters that are tired, hurt or that have had an armor failure. Therefore, a 3v3 team will have 5 people, 5v5 has 8, etc. Furthermore, there are dueling categories (1v1 duels for points) and many teams have dedicated duelists who do not participate in Buhurts. This means that a team can actually be quite large.
How Buhurt works:
This is the world of Buhurt, modern medieval battle where men and women wearing up to 100 pounds of armor slash and hammer each other with blunted steel swords, axes and maces until someone goes down, gives up or loses on points.
It's called Buhurt, Historical Medieval Battles, or Armored Combat. It is not HEMA or SCA. If you're interested in the differences you can read about that here.
How training works:
Like other martial arts studios, training matters. A mixture of grappling, striking, conditioning, and weaponry is what we focus on.
Once accepted onto the team, members attend training as they can or want. The more a student attends, the faster skills are acquired.
FAQ:
- Do I have to have armor to train?
- No, you do not. All you need to begin training is comfortable workout clothing, closed toe shoes, and a water bottle. Instructors can direct new students to what gear to purchase for themselves as they are able. Ideally you'd want a soft kit to pratice with.
- Do I need to be in good physical condition/shape to train?
- Yes and no. This is a physical thing. Being in shape is going to make you a better athlete but everyone starts somewhere. The simple truth is that the only way to be ready for armor, no matter what physical shape they’re in, is to train in armor and to train to fight. Whether they’re a superb athlete already, in peak physical condition, or if they’ve never done a sport before and this is the first time off the couch – armor is hard to fight in. We focus all of our exercise and conditioning around being better at fighting in armor, so simply attending and putting in effort will get most people close to where they need to be physically, no matter what state they start from.
- How to get started?
- If you're above the age 18, send us an email or text. We can get you up to date with where we're training and what times. We do require a background check and you will have to try out for the team. From there you're free to come on out whenever you're available!
Dakota Barlow: Coach & Captain
Dakota not only founded the Bayou Brutes, but also brings a deep background in combat sports and coaching to the team. A former infantry Marine, he has spent years developing his skills across a wide range of disciplines, including Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Highland Games, judo, and wrestling. He also served as a certified personal trainer and wrestling referee.
With extensive experience both as a competitor and coach, Dakota specializes in combat sports and team leadership. His commitment to excellence and his drive to build strong, capable fighters have made him a cornerstone of the Bayou Brutes. He is passionate about creating an environment where every team member has the tools, training, and support they need to thrive—both on and off the field.
