ritual combat, n.All

Ritual combat (n.) tames ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠violence by giving it form: rules turn killing into a passion for play and the enemy into an equal.