by Siobhan Richardson | Jun 10, 2014 | Actor's Process
Everyone’s process is personal, and on top of that, not everyone who attends a stage combat workshop is a professional actor, so this post will outline a few different strategies that may help you prepare for your workshop. But first, what to expect. As...
by Siobhan Richardson | Jun 8, 2014 | Cross Training
As promised, here are some drills that you can do with a sword or “sword-like object”, as Steaphen Fick says in his longsword book. First, here’s a great handling exercise from Guy Windsor’s blog:...
by Siobhan Richardson | Jun 7, 2014 | Cross Training
For many years, I didn’t actually know what “Core” is. I knew it had something to do with torso and stability, and I knew it was was important — people were always telling me that I needed to use it — but I had no specifics. For years I...
by Siobhan Richardson | Jun 6, 2014 | Resources
Let’s take a quick break from workouts and technique, and talk equipment (just in case you need to order something before the start of the workshop). After gloves, one if the most important pieces of personal equipment is footwear. For training situations,...
by Siobhan Richardson | Jun 5, 2014 | Resources
Before I get to the videos, this must be said: (mounting upon Soapbox): The only way to learn martial arts is from an instructor. This way, you see the art in motion, you see movement as a response to an incoming stimulus. The instructor draws your attention to...
by Siobhan Richardson | Jun 4, 2014 | Resources
Along the lines of mental preparation, let’s chat about fight scenes. (Skip to the bottom if you’re in a situation where you don’t need text.) For FDC certifications (and many other societies) you may choose your own scenes for your test fight, but...
by Siobhan Richardson | Jun 3, 2014 | Best Practices
Your mental preparation is just as key as the physical. Be present. Come with “an empty cup”. Approach every day as if it is your first lesson: Knowing nothing and ready to receive all information. Try everything, “relentlessly and without...
by Siobhan Richardson | Jun 2, 2014 | Cross Training
“One of the best pieces of advice Siobhan gives when she teaches is ‘think about your breathing’.” There is a big difference between “Breathe! Breathe! Don’t forget to breathe!” and a gentle reminder of “think about your...
by Siobhan Richardson | Jun 1, 2014 | Cross Training
Performing a fight scene in a show is essentially sprinting at the end of a marathon. Every night you experience the intense build of an emotional story and then it explodes, both emotionally and physically, into fight scene. First previews an opening nights are an...
by Siobhan Richardson | May 31, 2014 | Cross Training
After yesterday’s longsword video, let’s add some lunges to our daily routine to prepare for that class. Of course, this footwork applies to numerous stage combat disciplines. Jared Kirby — fight director, martial artist, teacher and author —...
