Heavy armour is great for deflecting swords and axe blades but as Charlie Tapsell has learned – it also slows your escape from a looming attack.

The Tauranga medieval combat enthusiast is heading off to the Battle of the Nations – the international championships of full contact battling – in Croatia in one week's time.

Medieval combat enthusiast Charlie Tapsell, pictured in his full armour, is determined the New Zealand team will leave their mark at next month's international battle contest.

And this time, he's determined the five-member Kiwi team will do better than last year.

'The big thing we learned [last time] was using the right gear. It was over-engineered and just too heavy,” says Charlie, who will captain the team again the competition of 50 teams from 30 countries.

'We didn't do as well as we hoped, but as our first time at the Battle of the Nations it was all about learning.”

Full-contact battling brings to life the drama and contest of a medieval fight, with players dressed in costumes from the era going at each other with swords, axes, daggers and shields.

The fierce conflict conjures images of gruesome injuries, but Charlie stresses the full-contact sport has strict safety guidelines to ensure no-one gets badly hurt – including the use of flat, blunt blades.

Charlie, who has been passionate about re-enacting medieval battling for almost 19 years, is determined the team will make it through to the second round of the event this time.

'It was pretty disappointing being knocked out in the first round, but the standard of some of these teams is something else. Some even do it full-time.”

Charlie, who is the only Western Bay member of the team, says it is great to compete against the best in the world at the competition.

'The biggest challenge is the cost. It's at least $5000 each to get over there and take part, which unfortunately means some of our best people can't go.”

Charlie and other members of the Tauranga group, the Northern Horde, including his two teenage children, put on afternoon battles at Memorial Park on Sundays.

Donations towards team costs can be made at www.pledgeme.co.nz/projects/2112