Intro and Basic Classes: are friendly to students with no stage combat training or have taken only a few classes or workshops in the style offered
Intermediate Classes: designed for students who have taken a SAFD Skills Proficiency Class, or an equivalent long-format class in that class's weapon style.
Advanced Classes: designed for students with significant experience, and who may already be recognized as a SAFD Advanced Actor/Combatant. Should have previously passed the SAFD skills test or equivalent training, and also continued your study in the weapon.
Open Classes: designed to be accessible to students at any experience level. These classes are often more likely to explore theories and topics related to stage combat in performance and/or other relevant movement work.
(Thanks to our friends at the Brawl of America for this swell idea!):
⚔- Drills and Technique classes: Focus on acquiring new maneuvers and specific techniques
🎓 – Theory classes: Introduce an approach to the weapon that can be broadly applied
🎭 – Acting classes: Focus on character intentions and playing the action
🏃 - Physically Demanding classes: These might make you break a sweat, or be a little rougher on the frame
😕 - Mentally Demanding classes: These will explore some of the more psychologically sensitive areas of violence
🃅 – Choreography classes: These include elements beneficial to choreographers’ perspectives of the work
Unarmed: Unarmed fighting is the theatrical form of fighting that uses the “natural weapons” of the human body: fists, feet, elbows, knees, etc. rather than weapons.
Two-Handed Sword: A broadsword is the theatrical form of swordplay most commonly representing combat with a broad bladed sword roughly thirty to thirty-eight inches in length, with a two-handed grip and simple guard.
Rapier and Dagger: The rapier and dagger is the theatrical form of double fence that most commonly represents a European style of swordplay from the later half of the sixteenth century and the early portion of the seventeenth. The rapier is a single-handed stage weapon consisting of various hilt configurations and a blade of roughly thirty to thirty-eight inches in length that may be used for both cut and thrust. The parrying dagger is a single-handed stage weapon consisting of various hilt configurations with a blade of roughly ten to eighteen inches in length that may be used for both cut and thrust.
Sword and Shield: The sword and shield is the theatrical form of combat with a bladed weapon roughly twenty-four to thirty-four inches in length and a shield.
Knife: The fighting knife is the theatrical form of combat executed with a weapon consisting of a simple hilt or guard, a single-hand grip, and a blade of roughly seven to twelve inches in length that may be used for cut and thrust, offense and defense. The blade may be fixed in the handle, either rigidly or with a joint (such as a lock-blade or switchblade).
Staff: A staff is the style of theatrical combat executed with a straight wood, rattan, or other natural fiber pole of roughly five to eight feet in length that represents a wide variety of staff and/or pole arms.
Single Sword (sabre, single rapier, Hollywood swashbuckling): A single sword is the theatrical form of swordplay that most commonly represents the elevated style of combat most reminiscent of action films throughout the world. A single sword is a cut and thrust weapon with various hilt configurations and a blade of roughly thirty to thirty-eight inches in length that is light enough to be wielded in one hand and must be used alone to function both offensively and defensively.
Smallsword: a smallsword is the theatrical form of the light, thrusting weapon used in Europe through the later part of the seventeenth century and through much of the eighteenth. A smallsword is primarily a thrusting weapon generally consisting of a large sport epée blade (roughly thirty to thirty-four inches in length) with a simple hilt and smaller guard than found on the rapier or single sword.