STAGE COMBAT

*Before beginning this unit, it is important for you to know that people can be seriously INJURED during
stage combat. It is NOT a time to mess around. People have DIED from such antics (see Jon-Erik
Hexum and Brandon Lee)! Anyone who is caught screwing around or being anything less than 100%
focused will receive a ZERO for this unit, and be forced to sit on the sidelines the entire time.

Jon-Erik Hexum (November 5, 1957 October 18, 1984) was an American model and actor. He died as a result
of a firearms accident on the set of the CBS television series Cover Up, on which he played the male lead. He was
playing with a fake firearm loaded with blanks and pointed it to his head and fired. Though it was only a
blank, he was killed by the discharge.
Brandon Lee (aka The Crow) Brandon Lee, son of martial arts expert and film star Bruce Lee, died during a
firearm accident while filming The Crow. As a blank loaded gun was fired, Lee pulled a trigger hidden behind
the grocery bag to set off a "squib," a small explosive device designed to create the appearance of the grocery bag
bursting within, struck by a bullet. After setting off the squib, Lee collapsed on the set, bleeding profusely through
the right side of his abdomen. Some say he was killed by discharge from the squib, but most think there was
some obstruction in the gun barrel that discharged when the blank fired. Other rumors say the props person loaded
a real bullet by mistake (unlikely, as blanks and real bullets look fairly different); some say an enemy snuck in
and exchanged the blank for a real bullet in a plot to kill Lee.

WARNING: START SLOW!!! You always begin practicing fight moves IN SLOW MOTION. As you and your
partner get the moves down, you SLOWLY pick up the pace and work up to the actual speed of the fight!

SAFETY FIRST! A persons safety is always our first concern! If you ever feel in actual danger, call a stop to
the fight!
STEPS BEFORE BEGINNING ANY FIGHT:

1.) STANCE (ones standing position) Make sure you are grounded and centered: Grounded means
that the actor is standing with feet spread apart, knees bent, and grounded to the earth. Centered means that an
actors body has a good center of gravity, meaning they are balanced with their body weight in the center, ready
to move in either direction to attack or receive a hit.

2.) EYE CONTACT: Perhaps the most important thing you will learn in stage combat!!! It is important for one
actor to have EYE CONTACT with another before proceeding with any aggressive move. This insures that
BOTH actors know the move is coming and are prepared. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE EYE CONTACT, YOU DO
NOT PROCEED WITH A MOVE!

3.) MOVEMENT CUE: Also very important, this is the wind up to a move, warning the victim that youre
going to strike. A movement cue is frequently a backward movement, such as pulling an arm backwards before
executing a punch. For things like knee kicks to the stomach, the cue may be the attacker putting his hands on the
victims shoulders.

4.) ATTACK after all of the above have been established, the attack is made.

TERMINOLOGY/VOCABULARY
This list is taken from the SAFD Approved Glossary of Terms (edited)

It is important to note that the terms listed below may not correspond to the proper definitions of the actions as
they are applied to historical or modern fencing, swordplay, boxing or wrestling. These terms are theatrical in
nature, not tactical, describing the action as it is executed in the performance environment.

Stage Combat is the act of fighting on stage. The moves are also known as stage combat choreography, or
fight choreography, as the moves are staged precisely, much like a dance. It is also known by several terms that
have to do with violence, such as a shows violence design. The word design, just like choreography,
shows that there is nothing spontaneous about it: It is all PREPLANNED and WELL-REHEARSED!

Fight Director (also known as fight choreographer) is the person who directs (stages/choreographs) the fights
for any given production.

The two main divisions of stage combat are:

Unarmed combat: This means a fight where NO WEAPONS are used, only the actors bare hands. It is also
referred to as hand to hand combat.
Armed combat: This means a fight where weapons ARE used. These fights are then usually subdivided into
the type of fight as defined by the weapons: rapier/dagger, quarter staff, broadsword, guns, etc.

Action: When a punch (or other violent act) is made. DONT FORGET TO ACT!
Reaction: How one reacts to a punch (or other violent act). DONT FORGET TO ACT!
ACTION vs. REACTION: REACTION is the greater part of stage combat. What makes a move appear real is
the way the victim REACTS to the punch, etc. The person who is RECEIVING actions such as kicks or hair pulls
is frequently in control of the activity.

Sound Sound is of great importance in adding to the realism of stage combat. Not only is the knap
important, but also the actors voice as used when delivering and receiving a blow.

Mask/Masking (verb/noun): To mask is a general theatre term meaning to cover something you dont want the
audience to see. Masking refers to curtains used on the sides of the stage so the audience cant see backstage. In
STAGE COMBAT, masking refers to how an attack is staged so that it is hidden, making it so the audience cant
see that a move doesnt make contact, or is fake. This heavily ties into DEPTH PERCEPTION!

Depth perception: The ability of a person (audience member) to perceive how far away something is. This is
important in stage combat, because an audience member usually cant tell how far away a punch is if masked
correctly, from upstage to downstage.

Fight Distance: The proper measure between two or more combatants to safely execute any particular technique
in stage combat. This is frequently a full arms-length away, especially when beginning to practice moves.

Knap/Nap: From the British to strike sharply or rap on something. In stage combat, this is the technique used
for creating the sound of impact of a non-contact blow to help heighten the illusion that contact has been made.
The knap is sometimes made by the attacker, sometimes by the victim, or sometimes by both partners acting
together (see partnered knap).

Clap Knap: The sound made when both hands clap together. Can be made the victim or attacked.
Partnered Knap: (also Shared Knap) A knap created by both combatants, usually by one hand striking
another or by striking a specific muscle mass to create the sound of impact. Partnered naps are frequently
used in moves like groin kicks, stomach kicks, and knees to the head.

The Society of American Fight Directors (SAFD) The Union of CERTIFIED Fight Directors in America.
These members are highly trained to design combat on stage.

UNARMED MOVES
(Hair) pulls: When one actor APPEARS to pull the hair (or other appendages) of another actor. Also, used
usually in comedy, are nose and ear pulls.

Choke Hold (strangling): When one actor APPEARS to grab another by the throat and apply pressure. In fact,
this action is controlled by the person being STRANGLED. (It acts along the same principals as the hair pull.)

Kick: A generally term used meaning a strike with the LEG or FOOT.
 Groin Kick: When one actor APPEARS to kick another in the groin (crotch). The contact is made
between the attackers toes/instep above foot and the victims THIGH, near the groin. This attack can be
made from the front or behind.
Stomach Kick: When one actor APPEARS to kick another in the stomach. The attackers foot is caught
(stopped) by the victim. This is usually masked by putting the victims back to the audience.
Knee to Stomach: when the attacker pulls the victim into his knee, making stomach contact.

Punch: A general term used meaning a strike with the HAND. This move can be used in an unarmed fight, or
paired with weaponry.

Right/Left Cross (denoted by an X for cross) A punch across the neck that appears to be a punch to the
face. A right cross is made with the attacking actors right hand, while the left cross is the reverse.

Right/Left SLAP a slap that appears to hit someone in the face. There are TWO ways the nap can be made,
either by the attacker or the victim.

Uppercut a direct punch under the chin and moving straight upward.

WEAPONRY TERMS

Discharge: The materials cast out of a gun when fired (gunpowder, etc). There is discharge emitted even from a
BLANK (non-bullet) ROUND, so guns are NEVER fired directly at someone: depth perception is used in the
illusion on stage!

Blank: stage ammunition that contains a combustible substance like gunpowder, but no actual bullet.

Quarter Staff: A long staff used in combat, usually about a foot or more in length above the height of the actor
using it.

Broadsword: A type of sword usually used in Medieval (or older) period shows. These swords are usually VERY
heavy and, therefore, VERY DANGEROUS!

Dagger: A type of knife, frequently referred to in Shakespearean (or older) texts.

Butt: Usually a move referred to in armed fights, referring to the use of a weapon to HIT another actor. For
example, a sword butt. This means the sword is not used to STAB, but rather to STRIKE the other actor.

Rapier: A rapier is a slender, sharply pointed sword, ideally used for thrusting attacks, used mainly in Europe in
the 16th and 17th centuries. It is considered more of a fencing weapon that can slice and stick an opponent,
where a sword is capable of decapitating or cutting off the limbs of another character.

Stage blood: Fake blood used on stage. There are many different slight of hand tricks used to apply blood
during stage fights. Its all an illusion! (Examples: Ten Little Indians; Metamorphoses.) The main ingredients in
most homemade stage blood recipes are corn syrup (Kayro), red food coloring and detergent, but recipes vary.

STAGE COMBAT Terminology #2

Advance: to move in on an opponent. The opposite of retreat.
Attacker: (also Aggressor) The actor/combatant who sets upon, attacks, or assails another; the one executing the
violent action.
Hold: (also Grasp) To use one or both hands for clutching or grasping the opponent.
Retreat: An action in the footwork that carries the body backward, away from the attacker. Opposite of Advance.
Slap: A blow delivered with an open hand, usually (but not exclusively) made to the face.
Punch (like right/left cross or uppercut): A blow delivered with the FIST.
Victim: (also Recipient) The actor/combatant on the receiving end of any given attack.
 TERMS NOT USED FOR COMBAT #1

Disarm: An action of the blade or body that appears to force the weapon from the hand of one's partner.
Duck: The vertical lowering of the head and torso to avoid an attack at the head.
Elbow Attack: Any contact or non-contact strike, or attempt thereof, which seems to be made with the point of the
elbow.
Block: (also Parry) A defensive action made with the hand or arm intended to stop a punch or similar attack. A
block can be made on either side of the body and in all lines. These may be as follows:
Parry: A defensive action (made by a sword, dagger, shield, hand, etc.) which blocks or deflects an attack. When
executed with a blade, the parry is generally made edge to edge, its forte against the opposing blade's foible.