Frequently Asked Questions

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Come to practice! We recommend to everyone that is interested in Armored Combat and joining the Tidewater Dogs of War comes out to a practice to get a first hand look. From there, you will be able to decide if this sport is a good fit for you and your lifestyle. 

To become a member of the Tidewater Dogs of War you will have to fill out an application and be voted in as a member. You can attend up to 3 practices before obtaining membership; then you will need to be voted in as a TDoW member followed by obtaining your ACS (Armored Combat Sports) league membership.

 Yourself! We advise coming in workout clothes and shoes that you don’t mind getting muddy or sandy. Bringing a water bottle is also a good idea so you stay hydrated though we always have water on hand.  

Practices are usually held on each Sunday at 9am (Summer Hours), however we recommend following our Facebook Page to see if there are any changes to practice dates and times. 

Practices are held at our training ground, The Dog Pound, in Windsor, VA. Send us a message to get full details on location and to check for an update on the date and time of the practice you would like to attend. 

There is a monthly $10 due for full members. Membership to the league we participate in, Armored Combat Sports (ACS), costs $50 per year, and there are costs associated with the sport; obtaining soft kit for practices, obtaining full kit armor, obtaining weapons, travel costs, etc.

No you don’t! No experience is required to get into Armored Combat. 

 Absolutely not. In fact we recommend to all new members to not buy armor immediately. There are many types and you will need to see them all and learn more about the sport to decide what armor you would like to get.  

A full kit of armor can range from about $3,000 to upwards of $10,000 and more. It all depends on what you decide you want. Many people accumulate their full kit of armor over a period of time buying piece by piece, to offset the expenditure. Some people buy it all at once. 

 TDoW follows IMCF and ACS rules and regulations. You can read these rules here: https://armoredcombatsports.com/rules/ 

Yes it is! Many of our members bring their entire families, kids included, to practices and events.  

 Armored Combat is a full contact sport, so there will always be risk of injury involved just like in any sport. However, our armor is made to incur all the power from a hit or blow to provide the utmost protection. Most injuries that occur are bruises and strained muscles or joints. Though major injuries are rare, they can occur.  

 You must be a minimum of 18 years old in order to participate. There is no upper limit in age.  

 No! Many of our members start out not in top physical condition. We work with all of our members to become more physically fit with a member physical fitness program that you can do at home. 

For anyone who loves the sport but doesn’t wish to fight, they can still join the team as  

List Support. List Support personnel assist fighters in getting in and out of armor, help 

practices and events run smoothly, can train to become referees, and many other tasks. 

 You start training! As a new Fighter-in-Training member you will be expected to buy your own soft kit helmet and gloves (think martial arts gear) to use in practices, attend and participate in practices, work on increasing physical fitness at home, attend and participate in any TDoW events, learn about medieval armor and the sport of Armored Combat, and have the most fun participating in Armored Combat with the Tidewater Dogs of War. This sport is one of a kind, is a complete blast and we look forward to seeing you in the List!