Learning to Fight

Contributed by Taylor Reavely

The worst part about learning how to stage fight is the learning. John Armour has made stage fighting a beautiful, interesting, exciting art form, and I am thrilled to be able to fight Grant Barclay in several of the scenes of Estranged Identity. The learning isn’t hard because fighting isn’t enjoyable. The learning isn’t hard because the choreography is impossible. The learning isn’t hard because the actors and trainers are boring. In fact, the opposite is true! Fighting is enjoyable; the choreography is very doable; and working with John and Grant has been phenomenal. The worst part is the learning. Let me explain.

The worst part about learning how to fall is the learning.

There are several parts of the choreography where we get thrown to the ground. There are ways to make the fall painless and exaggerated, but those ways are not easy nor natural; thus, they must be practiced. I’m just going to be blunt, practicing falling is worse than just falling. I would rather fall one time, stand up with a bruise, and get on with the rehearsal. But, to be the best, the fall must be rehearsed, and that simply means that we must fall the wrong, painful way enough times to teach ourselves the right, painless way.

The worst part about learning how to fake punch someone in the gut is the learning. Simply put, actors don’t get things right the first time all the time. Grant has done well at not destroying me, but the first few hits were pretty hard, I’m not gonna lie. Now that things are coming together, the gut-punch isn’t hardly noticeable. But, like I said, learning it was the worst part.

I’d like to say the worst-part about sword-fighting is the learning, as well, but thankfully I can’t yet complain of anything more than a bump on the head.