STAGE COMBAT - INTRO AND SAFETY

Stage combat is a specialized technique in theatre designed to create the illusion of physical combat without causing harm to the performers. It is employed in live stage plays as well as operatic and ballet productions. The term is also used informally to describe Fight choreography for other production media including film and television. It is a common field of study for actors and dancers with some form of martial arts training, and is closely related to the practice of stunts.

Stage Combat IS pretend or make-believe. It is an illusion created by a performer or performers to present a conflict to an audience. This is done SAFELY through PLANNING and CHOREOGRAPHY.

Stage Combat is NOT FIGHTING. There is never any CONTACT between combatants. It is not unplanned or improvised. There are NO SURPRISES in a well planned and safe stage combat scenario.

Attacker -- The attacker is the combatant initiating the technique such as a punch, kick, or slap.

Victim -- The victim is the combatant on the receiving end of any attack.

*Combatants can potentially change roles from attacker to victim many times throughout the fight.

Fight Distance -- The correct spacing between you and your partner should be at least 3 to 4 feet apart. Check distance by having the taller student (the one with the longer arms) reach out toward the partner with a straight arm. The hand should be at least 6 – 8 inches from the partner’s chest. This allows for maximum safety while maintaining the illusion of reality.

Breath -- Remember to breathe throughout the fight no matter how much physical exertion is needed. Since breath and voice are linked, this will help you to vocalize during rehearsals and while performing fight techniques. It will also help the body to relax.

Tension Relaxation -- Avoid becoming too tense when performing the fight. Excessive tension gets in the way of body control and quickly tires you out.

Eye Contact -- Making eye contact prior to each and every sequence in the fight is a constant reminder to be ready and prepared for the next sequence. For example eye contact is made between the combatants before a slap is thrown to help both the attacker and victim prepare for the next move. The attacker knows the victim is ready to react and the victim knows the attacker is ready to initiate the next move. It is not necessary to maintain constant eye contact, but it is important to “check in” before each technique, and during potentially dangerous moves.

Stance and Balance -- Always stand with your weight centered, your legs at least shoulder width apart, and with your knees slightly bent. This stance allows for freedom of movement in all directions. If your weight is leaning on one leg or the other, it will be hard to change directions when needed.

Cueing -- The signal given from you to your partner at predetermined times throughout the fight. Cues should be choreographed into the fight at specific places to establish each other’s readiness to continue. All cues are made either physically (a touch, or a push for example), vocally (a yell or grunt for example), verbally (a line from the play for example), or through eye contact.

Contact Blow -- A blow delivered to a major muscle group that actually strikes the victim and produces a realistic sound. The energy of the contact punch or kick is always pulled.

Pulling the Energy -- Pulling the energy of a strike means the quick withdrawal of the punching or kicking action to avoid potential injury to the victim’s major muscle group.

Non-Contact -- A blow delivered with the illusion of contact, a non-contact punch always misses its target by 6 – 8 inches or more.

Reverse Energy -- Reverse energy is the concept of energy moving away from the attacker’s target area to protect the victim. For example, when a strangulation is performed the attacker actually pulls the energy away from the victim while the victim holds the attacker’s hand in place to stabilize the contact. This “reverse energy” results in a technique that is safe for the combatants.

Masking -- Masking is the concept of hiding a moment of contact so that it will look as if the blow has struck its target. This is always true of non-contact blows and sometimes true of contact blows. All techniques need to mask the knap and fighting distance from the audience.

Knap – the sound made by a hit or a slap- often recreated by victim or observer.

Timing -- Good timing is crucial to the effectiveness of a good stage fight. Avoid anticipating the fight moves either by rushing the attack or reacting before the blow is delivered. Reacting too late also makes the fight look unrealistic.

Unarmed – Stage Combat that does not include the use of weapons.

Armed – Stage Combat which utilizes weapons.

Breaking down a punch

All punches, kicks, or slaps are made up of three parts.

1. The eye contact and checking of distance

2. The send up or cocking of the arm, hand or foot

3. The follow through of the action with simultaneous knap reaction

Stage fights are a vitally important part of many productions, and the truth is that when a fight is not properly staged, even a simple slap can be dangerous.

Accidents can and do happen, so throughout the training, rehearsal and performance process you must constantly be aware of the safety principals that keep you and your partner safe. It’s easy to get carried away when punching or reacting, and hurt yourself or someone else—students can be injured if they stray into another group’s space. Keep partners aware of others around them at all times!

The basic principal and motto of stage combat:

Safety first,

Safety last,

Safety always!

REMEMBER these basic rules:

1. · Wear comfortable clothing that you can move around in.
2. · Always Warm-up - mentally and physically - Don't fight when you are angry or not feeling well.
   
3. · PAY CLOSE ATTENTION - to yourself, your partner, and your surroundings.
   
4. · Eye contact, the signal, the follow through w/ a knap
   
5. · FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS and/or Fight Plan EXACTLY
   
6. · NEVER GOOF OFF / FOOL AROUND/ IMPROVISE
   
7. · Always respect and take care of your partner AT ALL TIMES- You are responsible for his/her safety.
   
8. · DISTANCE, DISTANCE, DISTANCE - Remain a safe distance AT ALL TIMES - Minimum distance: an outstretched hand span (about 8")
9. Perform ALL strikes and falls as instructed. Don't get creative here.
   
10. · Practice in slow motion -- · You never fight at full speed, even performances are only in ¾ time
11. · Never force the situation: Remember - · The victim determines the movement

Other Helpful Stage Combat Safety Tips:

· Work in a clear open space.

· Wear non-restrictive, comfortable clothing and supportive and protective footwear. Avoid high heels, boots, slippery shoes or socks.

· Remove all jewelry and empty your pockets.

· Always rehearse in slow motion. By example, set the ideal slow motion tempo and have them practice it along with you. Also demonstrate what it means for everyone to work at the same tempo.

· Each performer should be able to move about freely in all directions for several feet before running into a fellow performer.

· All partner A’s face the same direction and all B’s face the same direction.

· When rehearsing the “clothes grab,” wear heavy, loose clothing, such as sweatshirts.

· Keep on the lookout for accidents that can happen around you and your partner.

· Watch out for the other performers wandering around you to make sure they don’t unknowingly enter your practice space.

· Work at the same tempo as your partner whether you are working in slow motion while you learn a technique, or whether you are moving at a faster pace when you bring it up to performance speed. If you are uncertain what the tempo is, take a moment and make that decision together.

· Respect the slower speed if two partners are working at different tempos. Everyone learns at a different rate of speed and it can be dangerous if one performer feels pressured to speed up before they are ready. Remember:

· When training, never use too much force or speed. Even rapidly changing your fighting distance can lead to injury.

· Respect your partner and work at their capacity and training level.

· Understand that it should take several weeks or months of training and rehearsal to bring your fight performance level. Don’t expect to put these techniques safely to use after one or two sessions.

· Before beginning each session, look around and make sure your space is clear of furniture, other actors, and that the floor is clean and free of nails.

· Work in lots of light.

· In performance situations, always rehearse the fight many weeks before opening night, so that memory is not a problem

· Avoid staging, or rehearsing fights in tight spaces.

· Keep a first aid kit handy in case of accidents

· Whether in training sessions, or performance situations,

SAFETY IS A STATE OF MIND

NOTE: You must know all of the above safety concepts for the quiz.

BREATHING - to get control of mind and body

STRETCHES - to prepare body for movement

Study notes for Quiz - Answer Questions