Riverbend Combat Association is a full-contact sport. With any sport, there is a risk of injury, but steps can be taken to minimize this risk.
Before and after each practice, stretching is recommended. For a general explanation of why stretching is important, check out this page. For a list of stretches (intended for hockey, as the pictures clearly show, but they work well for our sport too.) check out this page. Our sport can be very strenuous, not just in terms of the stress on our joints, but also in terms of the physical demands put on the body during combat. Jogging a few times a week (with stretching before and after) will help the body prepare for each practice and give you a conditioning edge over those who do not work out throught the week.
In addition to stretching and being in good shape, some safety equipment can significantly reduce the chance of injury. Knees take a real beating in our sport, and kneepads of some sort are recommended. All kneepads/elbow pads should be worn under the garb, built into armor, or built into garb so as to not be visible or discernable as modern clothing. A cup is recommended for male participants. Females may want to consider wearing a padded chest protector or armor. Only shatter-proof glasses are allowed on the field, and those must be covered by a helmet. All forms of safety equipment must be hidden (Rule principle #4: aesthetics). Leather gloves are also highly recommended for all participants. Hands are frequently struck by weapons during combat, and a set of nice gloves can prevent a lot of jammed fingers and sore knuckles.