Post by Aldoshae on Jan 27, 2003 15:00:29 GMT -5
Greetings all,
I've been reading some posts about saber sparring and I felt it might be in best interest to start a new thread and spread the gospel of 100% fight safety.
I posted about this within a thread, and it may begin getting lost in the shuffle...all Jedi with a wish to actually battle with their sabers should read this!
Please remember that every fight in every Star Wars film has been carefully and meticulously choreographed down to the wiggle of Ewan's toes in his boots. These are rehearsed for weeks in super slow motion, and drilled into the brains of the actors, moving up to performance speed only at the last possible moment.
I've been reading posts that truly frighten me for the safety of our friends within the assembly. There is also a feeling of,
"Well, I'm careful, we'll be fine."
I also read another post referring to bringing a child to the hospital three times for dowels in the eye, and they "just don't seem to learn".
This is horrifying.
It may sound like I'm a stage combat teacher seeking work, but heck, don't use me, use any stage combat teacher out there. They are the ones that will help you to look like a Jedi, and remain totally safe while doing it.
Martial artistry is wonderful to study and to get your body able to move and flip and kick like a Jedi...but it is training to actually strike for damage. Take martial knowledge to an SAFD certified stage combat trainer, and roll from there.
Now this is obviously impractical for many who are nowhere NEAR a teacher. I'm going to list some must have books, one of which may be out of print...but it's worth looking for.
First and foremost is "Fight Directing for the Theatre" by J Allen Suddeth. Its ISBN # is 043508674X and it is published by Heinemann. It is essentially a textbook, so it's a little pricey, but worth every penny. J Allen was the president of the SAFD (Society of American Fight Directors) and his book focuses heavy on safety techniques for any kind of fight work.
Another text book style, but solid reference is Dale Girard's "Actors on Guard". The ISBN # is 0878300589 and it's published by Routledge/Theatre Arts Books. This focuses on the use of rapier and dagger...but it outlines movement and parry/attack locations very well!
The possibly out of print one is "Combat Mime" by JD Martinez. I know...it sounds like a story of Marcel Marceau in camoflage...so bear with me.
The ISBN for it is 0882298097 and it's a Nelson-Hall Paperback. It diagrams and defines falls, punches, rolls, and zillions of other stage fight handy to know things. Most martial arts trained Jedi will know some of the stuff in this book (aikido rolls, break falls, etc). The only thing is this may be out of print and hard to find/order.
I apologize for sounding like a soapboxer, or some kind of pretentious actor guy. But I'm am a stage combat teacher who is legitimately concerned for the safety of my fellow Jedi among us here.
I'm begging you, if you choose to put together a duel...choreograph it and rehearse it...uber-slow, and work it up to full speed at performance time. And before you put a dowel in your hands along with a partner please research research research! Research with a capital Knowledge.
If you wish to "spar" please invest in protective gear. Kendo equipment, even a basic fencing mask...the eyes are the most important thing to protect and the easiest to do MAJOR damage to. It is NOT worth it to lose an eye.
A full mask is my highest recommendation...goggles tend to shift too easily and may simply be deflected themselves while allowing a blade to sneak into the corner of the eye (I speak from experience on this one, honest).
Since lightsabers are basically dowels, or poly-carb EL blades, there is not much concern for edges cutting someone, but do be aware of your thrusts anyway. Internal damage is very possible too if you hit the right spot on a lunge.
Thanks for listening to my rant everyone. Please be safe! I truly want to meet all of you at CIII completely intact.
If you have any questions at all about the art of stage combat...please, do not hesitate to drop me an email, and if I cannot answer you, I will put you in touch with a person or place with the answer.
Fight well, fight SAFE!
-Aldoshae (Ken)
I've been reading some posts about saber sparring and I felt it might be in best interest to start a new thread and spread the gospel of 100% fight safety.
I posted about this within a thread, and it may begin getting lost in the shuffle...all Jedi with a wish to actually battle with their sabers should read this!
Please remember that every fight in every Star Wars film has been carefully and meticulously choreographed down to the wiggle of Ewan's toes in his boots. These are rehearsed for weeks in super slow motion, and drilled into the brains of the actors, moving up to performance speed only at the last possible moment.
I've been reading posts that truly frighten me for the safety of our friends within the assembly. There is also a feeling of,
"Well, I'm careful, we'll be fine."
I also read another post referring to bringing a child to the hospital three times for dowels in the eye, and they "just don't seem to learn".
This is horrifying.
It may sound like I'm a stage combat teacher seeking work, but heck, don't use me, use any stage combat teacher out there. They are the ones that will help you to look like a Jedi, and remain totally safe while doing it.
Martial artistry is wonderful to study and to get your body able to move and flip and kick like a Jedi...but it is training to actually strike for damage. Take martial knowledge to an SAFD certified stage combat trainer, and roll from there.
Now this is obviously impractical for many who are nowhere NEAR a teacher. I'm going to list some must have books, one of which may be out of print...but it's worth looking for.
First and foremost is "Fight Directing for the Theatre" by J Allen Suddeth. Its ISBN # is 043508674X and it is published by Heinemann. It is essentially a textbook, so it's a little pricey, but worth every penny. J Allen was the president of the SAFD (Society of American Fight Directors) and his book focuses heavy on safety techniques for any kind of fight work.
Another text book style, but solid reference is Dale Girard's "Actors on Guard". The ISBN # is 0878300589 and it's published by Routledge/Theatre Arts Books. This focuses on the use of rapier and dagger...but it outlines movement and parry/attack locations very well!
The possibly out of print one is "Combat Mime" by JD Martinez. I know...it sounds like a story of Marcel Marceau in camoflage...so bear with me.
The ISBN for it is 0882298097 and it's a Nelson-Hall Paperback. It diagrams and defines falls, punches, rolls, and zillions of other stage fight handy to know things. Most martial arts trained Jedi will know some of the stuff in this book (aikido rolls, break falls, etc). The only thing is this may be out of print and hard to find/order.
I apologize for sounding like a soapboxer, or some kind of pretentious actor guy. But I'm am a stage combat teacher who is legitimately concerned for the safety of my fellow Jedi among us here.
I'm begging you, if you choose to put together a duel...choreograph it and rehearse it...uber-slow, and work it up to full speed at performance time. And before you put a dowel in your hands along with a partner please research research research! Research with a capital Knowledge.
If you wish to "spar" please invest in protective gear. Kendo equipment, even a basic fencing mask...the eyes are the most important thing to protect and the easiest to do MAJOR damage to. It is NOT worth it to lose an eye.
A full mask is my highest recommendation...goggles tend to shift too easily and may simply be deflected themselves while allowing a blade to sneak into the corner of the eye (I speak from experience on this one, honest).
Since lightsabers are basically dowels, or poly-carb EL blades, there is not much concern for edges cutting someone, but do be aware of your thrusts anyway. Internal damage is very possible too if you hit the right spot on a lunge.
Thanks for listening to my rant everyone. Please be safe! I truly want to meet all of you at CIII completely intact.
If you have any questions at all about the art of stage combat...please, do not hesitate to drop me an email, and if I cannot answer you, I will put you in touch with a person or place with the answer.
Fight well, fight SAFE!
-Aldoshae (Ken)