Most big budget films hire fight scene choreographers who plan everything out meticulously, right down to the very last punch or kick, but sometimes, they just aren’t available. We’ve rounded up five videos that show what happens when that is the case. Continue reading to see more.

5. Legless German Enforcer

4. Strings Almost Visible

3. Just Slow

2. Kirk vs. Gorn

1. Slow and Painful

Bonus Video – Exaggeration

Stage Combat Facts:

  • However, stage combat can include any form of choreographed violence and the options are limited only by safety concerns, and the ability of the participants involved. As a note, most of these techniques are drawn from actual fighting techniques, but modified to be safer for actors.
  • For example, although there are a number of ways of creating the safe illusion of a slap to the face (which is obviously something that could really be done in combat), none of these involve making actual contact with the victim’s face. The over-riding concern is for the safety of the actors and audience. This requirement has led to the adaptation of many standard martial arts and fencing skills specifically for performance.
  • For example, many basic sword attacks and parries must be modified to ensure that the actors do not bring the points of their weapons past their partner’s face or otherwise inadvertently risk the other actor’s health and well-being. Attacking actions in stage combat are extended past the performance partner’s body, or aimed short of their apparent targets.
  • Likewise, whereas their characters may be trying to violently twist each other’s limbs, slap, or punch, or grapple, and engaging in vicious unarmed combat, the actors must operate at a high level of complicity and communication to ensure a safe, exciting fight scene. Considerable professional judgement is called upon to determine what technical level may be appropriate for a given performer, taking into account allotted rehearsal time, and the expectations of the director.

[Sources 1 | 2]

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