Article  The Modern Warrior: Battle Gear The number one hobby in America today is collecting.  Some people collect stamps.  Others collect shoes.  Still others collect sports paraphernalia.  Few collections, however, are as impressive or exciting as battle gear collections. There are many types of battle gear.  Some are practical and designed to actually be used in sports such as paint ball or martial arts.  Others are decorative, and are meant to be enjoyed as pieces of art. Practical battle gear includes camouflage, paintball gear, safety protection, and martial arts weapons.  Most battle gear weapons intended for actual use are designed to be non-damaging.  For example, nun chucks or swords are covered in foam that will absorb most of the dangerous impact from an opponent.  This sort of battle gear is also made from lighter materials than its real life counterpart.  Training battle gear is often made of wood or light-weight plastic.  This means that strikes can be fast without carrying much momentum.  Combined with the round edges and foam protection, these features make it possible to spar with weapons without significant risk of injury.  Of course, with any battle gear, it is wise to take basic precautions.  Blows should never be aimed at the face or eyes, and combatants should be respectful and exercise care. Also, It is more difficult to simulate combat involving firearms without risk of injury, since the bullet projectiles need to move at very fast speeds.  Paintball, however, is exactly such a sport, and it has enjoyed wide and growing popularity since its invention.  Paintballs are, as the name suggests, made from spheres of paint.  They are encapsulated in the same substance that pharmaceutical companies use for gel tablets.  The paint itself is also non-toxic.  Despite the softness of the paintballs, the speeds at which they travel can make for painful, although usually non-dangerous injuries such as minor bruises.  For this reason, careful paintball players use proper safety gear such as goggles, masks, and armor when using paintball guns.  Paintball is like many other sports: it can be dangerous if safety gear and practices are not followed, but when played by responsible and mature players, there is little to no risk.  Bow and arrows can be added to the list of modern battle gear intended for actual use in sport.  Of course, these are used for hunting, not against other people. Ornamental battle gear is usually based on historical weapons and armor.  Many cultures have produced beautiful and elegant weapons in the past, and most of these are replicated and sold as art pieces.  Japanese, Medieval Europe, ancient Roman, and Viking battle gear are some of the most popular.  An ornamental katana, one of the most poplar types of decorative battle gear, can come in a wide variety of styles and prices.  Basic katanas, mass produced in China, are relatively inexpensive.  Hand crafted katanas that better resemble the artistry of the original weapons are more valuable, both as art and as collector’s items. Not all decorative battle gear is historically inspired.  Many of the most popular fantasy and war movies generate interest in their weapons.  The Lord of the Rings trilogy, for example, was not just popular at the box office.  Replicas of the weapons depicted in the movie are popular collector’s items among fans.  Historians and professional blacksmiths designed the swords, bows, cloaks, and magic from Tolkien’s imagined Middle Earth for the movie.  A third type of battle gear collector combines the fantasy and practical martial elements of the types of battle gear described above.  LARP players act out, using role-playing, fantasy encounters with a mixture of historical, decorative gear and practical, safe weapons. Category Sports Author Andy West Add To Favorites Print This Article Email Article To A Friend Post Comments   Rate This Article (0) 1 - Poor2345 - Good678910 - Excellent Added On 05-19-2009