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1. Distance
2. Movement
3. Aim Points
4. Focus of Energy
5. Choreography
6. Practice...
Practice...
Practice.
When we have a meeting, we don't just scream "EN GARDE" and begin whacking
at the nearest body with a stick.
We stretch out, limber up, make sure that every one is ready and then the "whacking"
begins. But as always, safety is our main concern.
Let me describe what I mean by all the different layers of safety.
DISTANCE
In measuring distance, we guarantee that from the audience perspective,
we look like that we are able to remove another's head without changing position.
In actuality, we are far enough apart that we cannot touch each other with anything.
In order to hit the other person, I would have to move. Which brings me to movement.
Advance. Crossover advance. Retreat. Crossover retreat. Gain. Pass back. Retire.
Pass forward. These are different parts to footwork. Footwork is one of the ways of
maintaining safe distance. Simply put. If I move forward, you move back. If you move
forward, I move back. If I move back, you move forward. Do you see where I'm going?
But we still haven't actually swung a sword yet...
Aim points are the way that allow the fights to "work." This is theatre... We don't
want to hurt each other. We have the body laid out into five main points. The head,
arms and legs. (I'm not going to tell you exactly what is what, otherwise you won't come
to the meetings, now. Will you?) When somebody says "attack one," I know where I need to
put my sword. Of course, the opposite works, so that a parry one will defend against an
attack one. It's simple, but it works.
This is just an additional way to protect ourselves, so that, should a parry that is supposed
to be there, but just doesn't show up, you don't get hit in the leg. Nobody gets hurt. The
great thing about it is it adds to the realism of the show!When it's done right, you won't even
think about it. It will just happen.
Where everything ties together. The distance is tied to the aim points. The movement is tied to
focusing your energy. Everything all comes together, much like a dance. Only you look much less
foolish. Or more, depending on how well you dance. But it's all fun.
PRACTICE
PRACTICE.
It's important. It gets said thrice. Yup. It's that important. We go over stuff again and again
and again and again and again and again and
again and again and
again and again and
again and
again and
again...
You will get sick of it. But it's the only way to make it happen. That end fight scene in Episode
One? They spent three weeks on that. For shows, we have practiced up to and exceeding 20 hours
just on the swordplay and combat. (um, the fight lasted 67 seconds) This is like riding a bike.
You can't just up and ride motocross if you still have training wheels. You have to practice.
But it's all fun.
