Crystal Lake's Robert Idrizi, who found his dream job as a knight at Medieval Times, takes us inside the castle

This knight’s tale begins not with fearless jousting matches or rescuing a damsel in distress, but rather as a young squire who could barely stay on his steed.

“My first day, I fell off the horse probably four times,” said Robert Idrizi, head knight at Medieval Times in Schaumburg. “I just could not stay on, and there were definitely times when I thought I would never be able to.”

Those days of poor horsemanship are long behind him. Idrizi, a Crystal Lake resident, now oversees the training of both horses and knights, helping to ensure each show dazzles the crowd at the King’s Battle of Champions. But when Idrizi began his career 13 years ago, he was a 21-year-old squire who had never hoisted a sword or saddled up a horse in his life. He applied and auditioned for the role on a whim after a friend’s mother attended a show and told him he resembled one of the brawny knights.

“At the time, I didn’t really have a clear path in my life. I already had the long hair, and I’m kind of a bigger guy,” Idrizi said. “I really didn’t think I’d get a callback. I thought they were looking for a professional stuntman.”

But Idrizi soon found himself, along with several other squires, including now-assistant head knight Scott Madden, engrossed in months of grueling training. They learned sword fighting sequences with real, albeit dull, swords. They gained the trust of horses and practiced stunts, including dismounting at top speeds. Most of all, they learned to put on a show for the thousands of guests who visit Medieval Times each year.

“To be a good knight, you can’t just do one thing. You have to be in good physical shape, be able to ride a horse and handle weapons confidently, and act. You have to do it all,” Idrizi said.

Much of the training remains the same today with Idrizi and Madden leading the charge. Squires still must master the basics of horsemanship and sword fighting before moving on to the role of knight, but the approach is markedly different. When Idrizi and Madden began their training, more experienced knights were tough on young squires. Over the years, training has become safer and encouraging, with more detailed instructions on executing complicated stunts.

“Back when we started, no news was good news. Not getting yelled at after a show meant we did a good job,” Madden said. “Now, Robert and I try to be a lot more encouraging with the new guys, because what we’re asking them to do is very challenging and we want them to succeed.”

Idrizi adds that self-motivation is key to success as a knight.

“Training now is definitely not easier, but it is better,” Idrizi said. “It’s really up to the individual. You have to be tough, willing to work this schedule, and motivated to push yourself beyond your comfort zone.”

Medieval Times in Schaumburg is one of nine castles in the country. The castle operates year-round and, in addition to performances, offers a display of medieval artifacts, a museum and a four-course dinner that accompanies every show. The long-running, family-friendly dinner show draws guests from across the country and is a popular area attraction for large groups. The castle accommodates birthday parties, scout troop outings and corporate events.

The busy season at Medieval Times begins at the end of February and stretches until the end of August. During this time, knights perform between 12 to 16 shows a week, entertaining schoolchildren on field trips and summer campers. Between showdays and during the off-season, knights practice fight scenes and horse riding to continue to hone their craft. The troupe currently includes 12 full-time knights, six of whom are considered “veteran” knights.

Idrizi and Madden still perform in many of the shows, but their roles primarily center around training, overseeing show quality, and, in Idrizi’s case, administrative duties.

“Those are the parts I don’t like very much – checking time cards, making schedules,” Idrizi said with a laugh. “But I truly enjoy my work. When I see an average Joe who doesn’t know anything about horseback riding, sword fighting or acting, and six months later, the crowd is cheering like crazy for him, it is very rewarding.”

Even after many rough landings, physical exhaustion, disobedient horses and a few moments of stage fright, Idrizi still can say he loves his job. He said the challenges have only motivated him to keep learning and growing as both a performer and teacher, and the moments before the curtain rises on another show haven’t lost their thrill.

“To do this job, you have to love it. Every show, even after 13 years, I still want to give 100 percent effort. When the curtain goes up and the crowd’s roaring, there’s nothing else like it.”