What do the weapons tend to have as cores? I played in the more fantastical competitor Amtgard for a while, and found I didn't care for the feathery whippy things that came into fashion in it. People complained that I was "sluffing hits" because I couldn't even tell the damn thing had touched me.
Our cores are variable materials depending on the weapon. Weapons under 4ft have to weigh a minimum of 12oz and are typically cored with .505 kitespar which is a blend of fiberglass and carbon fiber.
Amtgard is similar, but uses magic, classes, quests, etc. Belegarth is akin to Amtgard ditching but has a "minimum force" rule and no maximum force, meaning that light taps and grazes aren't counted, and most people won't complain if you hit hard.
There's two very similar sports with minor regional differences - Belegarth and Dagorhir. Depending on your location you might have one or both in your area.