Yeah, it is more like live action combat than live action roleplaying. At least in that group, and the States in general.
But as silly as it looks, it can be a whole heck of a lot of fun.
Think about it. You go into the tavern, and you see elves, wizards, fighters, all hanging out and relaxing--but always with one hand on a sword hilt, because you never know what might happen. And the mysterious cloaked stranger int he corner is actually *there*. It's pretty cool, espeically in the UK--where people put more effort into costuming and roleplaying, and they serve real beer.
-z