Battle Of The Nations

A fearsome-looking member of the French team before marching into battle. 

Spanish contestant Santiago Torres Bejarano makes his way to the battleground with his team's flag. 

Anna Danilukova, from the Prague band Jagabab, sings a medieval drinking song on the outskirts of the battle.  

Andrei Serebryakov from the Ukrainian team taking a moment before entering the fray. "I'm a little nervous now but always after the first hit I stop being afraid." 

The U.S. prepares to engage in battle. 

A French fighter on the march to battle. 

A fighter with the British team with a well-armored GoPro camera. 

Belarus and the U.S. team crash into battle. 

With the crowd roaring and battle cries resounding, the Polish (foreground) and Italian teams run at each other. 

The small but well-filled arena, situated on a hill overlooking Prague. 

An Italian fighter hacks into a Polish opponent. 

A German fighter surrounded by Ukrainians. 

Levente Daniel Varro taking a rest after an intense battle. The Hungarian fighter entered the fray with a borrowed helmet that proved a touch too small. "My nose always gets hurt, because it's big."

Charging Belarusians swing at a British fighter.

Almost anything goes in the fighting. This Belarusian fighter was throttled to the ground by a British opponent. 

Sofie Maceanruig (right) is herself a fighter for Britain in the women's division, but today she is supporting (literally) her male compatriots. 

The Ukrainians gather for a team talk before entering the arena. 

U.S. fighter Richard Starr nursing a fractured wrist. "I ran into Russia." 

Harvey Palmer from the U.S. team after bowing out of the contest. His helmet is inscribed with knightly virtues. 

A participant takes advantage of the massage tent.