Dahlia Katz, Rosie Gruen, Hannah Meskin, and
Amanda Scheidt
Block 3
Mr. Burgess
11 February 2013
Stage
Fighting Techniques
Throughout time, plays have
been a source of entertainment for people all over the world. Especially before
the use of technology, plays allowed for people to escape their harsh, poverty
stricken lives for a short period of time to jump into a world of violence,
action, and romance. Stage fighting is a method that has been used for
thousands of years to enhance productions and make the action packed scenes
appear more realistic. While the language of plays were translated in many
countries, stage fighting was a universal method that could be used in any play
in any country. Three prominent techniques that are often used during stage
fighting are fake punches, breaking a fall, and a kick.
In
stage fighting, hand-to-hand combat is one of the most useful techniques
because it is so common in plays. The most common form of hand-to-hand combat
is the punch, so it is very beneficial to know how to perform one. According to
the Stage Combat Tutorial, the best way to perform a fake punch is by using
what is knows as a “knap,” which is when an actor hits himself, usually on the
chest, in order to simulate the sound of a punch. In many cases, the actor
using the knap will have his back facing the audience, while another actor
punches him so as not to ruin the illusion of the punch by revealing the knap
to the audience. Also, in order to make the punch seem more realistic, the
actor being punched should jerk the area receiving the punch. Knowing how to
perform a punch in stage combat is advantageous because it can add realism to a
fight while exciting the audience.
A break fall is a very
powerful method of stage fighting that involves a motion that transfers the
energy from a fall or roll. The three main types of break falls are a side
fall, back fall, and a front fall, which are all performed in different ways.
While performing a side fall, one should “bend his or her knees and fall with
the majority of the impact on your thighs”(Wolfe). This allows one to fall on
his or her hands in the direction of the force to exert more power. The back
fall allows one to “step back with one foot and bend down so one leg is completely
bent underneath your bottom and the other foot is in front” (Wolfe). This type
of break fall allows the fighter to curl backwards with his or her hands to the
side to make a smacking sound with his or her arms. The stage fighting method
of break falling is very beneficial and allows the fighter to fake out the
other fighter while still exerting power.
A kick is a common technique
used in stage fighting, so it is useful to know how to kick the face, stomach,
and groin. According to the Society of American Fight Directors, The easiest
way to kick one’s face is to have one actor on the floor while the other is
standing. The actor on the floor should put their hands together in front of
their face while the other actor kicks their hands. A kick to the stomach is
also commonly done with one actor on the ground while an actor standing over
them pretends to stop their foot on their stomach. A kick to the groin area is
one of the most challenging kicks to perform. To perform a kick to the groin,
one actor should place their hand where they want to be kicked while the other
actor kicks the targeted area, and the actor being kicked should bend over. A
kick is common technique that can make a performance more realistic in most
stage fights.
Stage fighting is a system
that has been used during performances for many years. Techniques such as fake
punches, breaking a fall, and kicking can be used to enrich productions in ways
unimaginable. Not only does stage fighting make action filled scenes more
exciting and convincing, it really grasps the attention of the audience. Stage
fighting ensure that the crowds who attend a production, are paying attention
and interested in the plot of the play. If it weren’t for stage fighting, plays
would not have been as popular of a phenomenon as they were throughout time.
Works
Cited
Wolfe,
Eric. "Stage Combat Terms and Definitions." Google Docs. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2015.
Society of American Fight Directors. SPT
Required Techniques. 10 February 2015 <safd.org>.
Stage Combat Tutorial. Dir. Tee. By Tee. N.p., 18 Feb. 2010. Web. 10
Feb. 2015. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCTxIcljjQ0>.
