European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 8, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Pages sunday april 8 2007 Allina knights work medieval performers train hard 0 0 c cd 6 0 o a to in a kingdom not so far away 12 men out Little boys dreams there paid to get dirty and lunge at one another with axes and swords weapons that could easily poke out an Eye or even take off a limb but no one Here objects it comes with the territory of being a newly minted Knight under dim Arena lights the men Grunt shift their feet in the Sandy pit and hoist swords into the air As their weapons connect Sparks Fly to the ground they fake Falls blows to the stomach and pain for seven weeks Hie 12 Hunky Guys the newest performers for medieval times a Chain of dinner attractions combining food and medieval festival sports will push their physical limits while learning a Range of things from eating healthfully to How to joust from atop a horse Knight Boot Camp As they Call it brings together Young men from the company locations across North Amer Ica and teaches them the exact moves and Maneu vers to be used at its shows so if a Knight is needed in California any Knight from the other eight castles can substitute at this Camp there Are five men from Central Florida two from new Jersey two from Baltimore two from Toronto and one from Chicago Treyve been handpicked to Rise in the ranks from Squire to Knight photos by Orlando sentinery act shining Armor and All these knights of the medieval times Are the real thing for seven weeks medieval times newest performers will push their physical limits while learning a Range of tilings from eating healthfully to How to joust from atop a horse its great you get to ride horses and break says Max Putintsev 19 whose goal is to return to Toronto As the Best Knight what More could a boy want rigorous training try the cushy Bachelor pad they live in with a Pool and hot tub although two of the Guys have to bunk in a win Nie the Pooh inspired or the attention of women who Marvel at the idea of having a True Knight in shining Armor by their Side but dont get the wrong idea Knight Boot Camp is hardly a party they want to get sleep at night be cause in going to beat them up during the says Tim Baker director of stunts and choreography were Here every Day on time never late for six Days a week they train from 9 am to 6 pm Days typically begin with horseman ship for Many this is the first time Treyve pulled themselves onto a horse so there taught the basics How to perfect their posture How to maintain their balance while holding a shield and 10foot Lance How to stay on then How to fall off properly and without injury its part of the show they ride horses with names such As Turbo Illustre Choo Choo Ben Honra do and Conquistador Many Are andalusian raised at medieval times ranch in Dallas and just As All of these knights Are male so Are the horses at lunch the Guys polish off Turkey and cheese wraps whey protein shakes and diet Green teas knights in training left to right Max Putintsev 19 and Vince Ayala 20 learn to fight with medieval weapons theres no Mcdonalds or Burger King Here says assistant head Knight Jason Jones by 1 pm the group is jogging a mile and a half to icel health and fitness where they work out one body area a Day and Complete an abdominal routine i haunt been to the gym in two years admits Mike suttori23 up Baltimore and i dont run j j i he does now they look different Baker says of their physical carry themselves differently there going out and buying muscle shirts in picking knights for the Boot Camp Baker says he looked for physical fitness and character not necessarily men who had formal horse or Marti Akifty train ing Man of the knights training came from entertainment backgrounds at theme Parks i wanted Guys i could coach Guys who didst mind getting yelled at he says c its real the dinner attraction was started in Spain in the Early 1970s filled with pageantry a tasty feast minus utensils and knights on horseback in 1977 the idea officially became medieval times which made its debut in the United states the following decade Kissimmee was selected As the Loca Tion for North americas first Castle which seats up to 1100 people for its two hour shows Baker remembers people openly joking about the idea of men Riding around on horses for the performances but As More and More people have experienced the show and seen that there Are no smoke and mirrors or Spe Cial effects they have developed a newfound appreciation for the Art the Best draw about the show is that its real Baker says i dont think anybody is laughing anymore especially not to the newest who can attest to the physical and men Tal demands of the Job Heck the new Guys Are even the ones who will die most often Iri the shows that just How it works id rather be the killer says Jesse Schneider 19 of new Jersey but if you gotta die you gotta die the jobs More fun than working at the Gap or something like that