SASHA Buchmann is not a typical young woman of 30.
She prefers a broad bladed sword to a Gucci handbag, chainmail to cashmere and wears 30 kilograms of authentic steel made by an armourer instead of designer label dresses made in Paris.
Sasha, is the Green Knight, a professional jouster who has contested in 30 tournaments in Australia and overseas.
She is also a skilled horseback longbow archer and an able swordsman despite the weight of the heavy weapon which she says is lighter than most.
She has appeared in the making of films including the Lord of The Rings in New Zealand but her sights are now set on developing her Martinsville-based new Houshold of the Green Knight.
She is an attractive young lady hidden behind a steel visor in a traditional male dominated strong-arm role.
But what makes it truly extraordinary is the fact that the globally growing entertainment of medieval jousting is not stage managed acting - it is for real and it is dangerous.
"The armour has to be good. There are several armourers in the world including some very good Australian armourers," she says.
"Steel and authentic designs have proven to be safer than modern materials like kevlar, but it is heavy and the armour is expensive at anything up to $10,000 for a full harness ['suit' is incorrect] and you will probably have to wait up to two years for it to be made," she said
Sasha trains her own horses so she can ride them 'into battle' without a bit between their teeth or spurs. "We have to work as a team to win a joust," she said.
Jousting knights are equipped with a formidible hardwood lance around three metres long.
The last 75mm of the lance is a use-once balsawood tip. That, and a small shield, are the main concessions to safety.
"The idea is to shatter your lance on the opponent's shield. It has risks but it is a genuine sport," she said.
"We cooperate with other groups, including Australia's premier jousting troupe Full Tilt and Nova Hollandia, as well as medieval sword fighting groups like the Vanguard of Wyee."
Sasha, who was born in Sweden describes her background as European,
She lives in Martinsville, and is now looking for new members.
"We need people who want to participate as medieval tradespeople, spinners, weavers, sewers, squires and the like or who want to become archers, swordsmen, knights or just court ladies," she said
The Household of the Green Knight is planning a series of medieval jousting and other events, but is already available for special functions including field shows, corporate events and sports days.
"It costs $15 for a balsawood tip and we might get through 20 or more in a day so we are looking for sponsors and fee-earning functions," she said.
She can be contacted on 0435 180 200.
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