{"id":3762,"date":"2017-07-11T13:53:46","date_gmt":"2017-07-11T13:53:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/?p=3762"},"modified":"2017-09-25T19:53:45","modified_gmt":"2017-09-25T19:53:45","slug":"10-basic-rules-of-stage-combat-that-keep-everyone-safe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/performerstuff.com\/mgs\/10-basic-rules-of-stage-combat-that-keep-everyone-safe\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Basic Rules of Stage Combat (That Keep Everyone Safe)"},"content":{"rendered":"

10 Basic Rules of Stage Combat (That Keep Everyone Safe)<\/h3>\n \"\"<\/a><\/span>

Written by\u00a0Ashleigh Gardner<\/p>\n

July 9, 2017<\/p>\n<\/font>

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It\u2019s no secret that stage combat is really, <\/span>really<\/span><\/i> cool. Somebody takes a punch onstage \u00a0\u2014 \u00a0but no one gets hurt. Well, <\/span>ideally <\/span><\/i>no one gets hurt. It\u2019s essential that precautions are taken during stage combat rehearsals and performances so that actors participating in the fight <\/span>and <\/span><\/i>audience members stay safe.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Warm up.<\/h4>\n
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If you\u2019re not looking for a pulled muscle, you\u2019ll want to warm up before you even think about picking up a sword or throwing a punch. If you\u2019re looking for a good set of stretches, check out <\/span>this<\/span> page<\/span><\/b><\/a><\/span><\/span> from UC Riverside. Warming up prepares your body for the types of movement you\u2019ll be doing in a stage combat rehearsal or performance.<\/span><\/p>\n

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2. Wear closed toed sneakers or boots and comfortable clothes.<\/h4>\n
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Even if you\u2019ll be fighting in a dress, wear pants first so you can get a good grasp on your movements, then add the rehearsal skirt in <\/span>later<\/span><\/i>. You don\u2019t want to catch your weapon or your leg on your skirts and have an accident.<\/span><\/p>\n

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3. Always listen to your fight choreographer.<\/h4>\n
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You\u2019ve got a fight choreographer for a reason, right? Listen to everything they say, and keep a notebook with you and a pencil so you can track your choreography and blocking. Additionally, pay attention to the way they direct an attack and defense. If you don\u2019t take the note because you weren\u2019t paying attention, you or your partner may get injured. Finally, never use more force or speed than is directed.<\/span><\/p>\n

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4. Don\u2019t fool around.<\/h4>\n
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Fight choreography may be fun, but it\u2019s serious business because it\u2019s simulated violence. A punch thrown during a break without the supervision of your director may end up in a bruised face, and a lunge with a sword may cause an actor to be hospitalized.<\/span><\/p>\n

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5. Make eye contact with your partner(s).<\/h4>\n
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It\u2019s essential to be in sync with your combat partner(s) before you begin a fight. If you start early without making sure you\u2019ve made eye contact and agreed, silently, that you\u2019re ready to go, your partner(s) may be caught off guard, and you and they may become injured.<\/span><\/p>\n

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6. Never improvise your fight choreography.<\/h4>\n
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Fight choreography may look like in-the-moment violence, but it\u2019s not \u00a0\u2014 \u00a0or it shouldn\u2019t be. Every moment you see on stage and screen has been orchestrated by the fight director for a specific reason, and if one actor deviates from the choreography, <\/span>and their partner doesn\u2019t know<\/span><\/i>, their partner could become seriously injured.<\/span><\/p>\n

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7. Always go at quarter speed unless your fight choreographer allows you to speed things up to \u00be speed.<\/h4>\n
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It\u2019s normal for actors to go at \u00bc speed when they first begin fight choreography, but sometimes when an actor finds themselves in the heat of the moment while rehearsing, they may speed up the series of attacks because they feel confident. <\/span>Don\u2019t do this. PLEASE. <\/span><\/i>Stay safe and remain at \u00bc speed until your director instructs you to increase to \u00bd or \u00be speed. At \u00bc,\u00bd, or \u00be speed, the reaction of the actor taking the hit is what sells the attack.<\/span><\/p>\n

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8. Be aware of your surroundings.<\/h4>\n
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Just like it\u2019s important to do when driving, make yourself aware of your surroundings when you\u2019re about to enter a combat situation. Is there a table to your left? Stairs behind you? An actor wearing a dress with a train behind your fight partner? Take note!<\/span><\/p>\n

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9. Heart beating fast? Take a break. And breathe.<\/i><\/h4>\n
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Sometimes when actors participate in fight choreography, they hold their breath because they\u2019re so focused on the moves. Additionally, an actor\u2019s adrenaline may be pumping so hard that their heart starts beating rapidly, causing them to lose focus. If this happens to you in a rehearsal, take a break, take a breath, drink some water, and chill out for a few minutes. \u00a0If you train yourself during rehearsals to breathe and go slow, the chances of the above happening during a performance decrease significantly.<\/span><\/p>\n

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10. Always<\/i> do a fight call.<\/h4>\n
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I\u2019m not kidding. Do it. DO IT. Fight calls give actors a refresh of what <\/span>should<\/span><\/i> be going on in the fight before the fight actually occurs in the play. If there\u2019s a problem with the fight before it\u2019s presented to an audience, the fight choreographer can change it to make it safer <\/span>during <\/span><\/i>the fight call. Do a fight call. <\/span>Do a fight call. DO A FIGHT CALL.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Remember, safety isn\u2019t just a necessity, it\u2019s a state of mind. Fight choreography is fun and exhilarating, right? So always practice fight choreography safely so that you can perform it again and again and again for every audience that comes to see the hard work you\u2019ve put into it.<\/span><\/p>\n
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Need some advice? We\u2019ve got you covered.<\/h3>\n