And yes, I'm being serious. Chivalry is an ideal that everyone in the SCA is expected to try and live up to, fighters and non-fighters alike. The ideal of chivalry requires that one give courtesy to all, aid to the distressed, defense to the weak, and to inspire chivalry in others by example. Listen to their oath of fealty sometime. We are recreating medieval combat, or at least an ideal of medieval tournament combat with a strong emphasis on safety.
Safety is period.
It's the law, you know, punishable by six months in traction and a whopping great hospital bill. A steel helmet. This is the only piece of your armor that's required to be made of steel, at least sixteen gauge or thicker. Elbows and knees. Rigid material over at least a quarter inch of padding.