'Warriors come out to play': Unified Weapons Master prepares for combat (pictures)

Unified Weapons Master aims to be the mixed martial arts of weapons-based combat and it has kicked off a crowdfunding IndieGoGo campaign to get started.

Since first showing off the concept last year, UWM has been refining the carbon fibre armour known as the Lorica.

As well as protecting its wearer, the Lorica houses the bespoke sensor system that analyses the placement and power of any blows received.

Some of the early tests of the sensors involved a 'static' bench: basically hitting the armour as hard as possible with a UWM weapon.

But when the team turned to testing the armour while worn, they saw some interesting results.

The force received was lower than that on a static test, meaning they will be able to shave some weight off the armour.

It's not just protection that matters, of course. Combatants must be able to move freely while wearing the Lorica.

This ensures that the armour allows freedom of movement for many different martial forms.

Depending on the prefered fighting style of the combatant, moves may includes kicks, fist strikes and even headbutts.

The data received from the tests not only informs the design choices, it's going to help shape the format of the sport itself.

UWM CEO David Pysden is excited to embrace the televisual aspects of the sport, and this includes a mounted head cam for a first-person look at combat.

The Lorica helmet is also being redesigned for easier removal, both for cooling off between bouts and to let fans catch a glimpse of their favourite fighters.

After the IndieGoGo campaign concludes, UWM will hold small "underground" trial bouts throughout 2016, with an aim to heading to the US in 2017 for the first formal fights.