Some groups treating historical combat as a martial art do not fit the traditional definition of a reenactment group and are more similar to fencing clubs. An example is the SCA using rattan swords to avoid injury.

This term is usually reserved for the 5th and 6th centuries. Re-enactors who re-create the next period of history - 7th to 11th centuries - often refer to this as Early medieval. The 12th to 14th are High medieval.

Groups from Central Europe, especially Hungary, are rumored to practice much more dangerous forms of battlefield reenactment, sometimes with sharp edges and points as well as metal arrowheads etc.

In Sweden there are many different "medieval markets". The largest is the one in Gotland. In Szeklerland, Transylvania are many Hun, szekler knight, early Hungarian and hussar reenactment groups and camps.