Stage Combat Basics | Sword Parries, Attacks and Footwork

[@LivingAnachronism]

Thanks to Skillshare for sponsoring this video. The 1st 1,000 viewers to use my link get 1 month free on Skillshare: skl.sh/livinganachronism09221

[@aragmarverilian8238]

By footwork ye mean ninjawork, right :3

[@naten408]

Fun side note: as a student of several martial arts I found the time you dedicated to full body control to be spot on and my personal favorite part of the video, it is vital to rewrite your instincts for combat lest you trip over yourself. I did, however, find it hilarious that with all of your bodily discipline that your clothes and hair were flying all over the place. You did address it near the end of the video as an aesthetic choice and I think that could be an interesting point to expand on. Does it require training to execute choreography in impractical costume? What have your experiences been like with such things?

[@markfergerson2145]

How clothing impacts "combat" movement first got my attention doing Aikido. The gi is a fair approximation of traditional Asian clothing, not so much modern Western garb. It makes for interesting adaptations in the real world not just in the way I move but in how to apply holds and locks to someone else. Kramer didn't so much as mention grappling, but I imagine he'll give it some coverage when a partner becomes available.

[@AnotherDuck]

Never forget that "simple" is not always synonymous with "easy". The basics of many things are simple. It's simple to ride a bike or skate on ice, but if you've not practiced it's not easy. Compared to a lot of things even the basics of flying an airplane is simple, but not exactly easy. There's also a huge difference between doing something, and doing it fast and accurately.

[@LivingAnachronism]

Very well said, good sir Duck

[@TheSwedishRanger]

I would love more videos like this! As I've said before, you make it look so easy, and you explain in a way that's easy to follow and grasp. Fun little tidbit: I'm left handed, but when I broke my left arm at age 14, I had to use my right hand for everything. That kinda stuck and eventually evolved into me becoming ambidextrous.

[@LivingAnachronism]

Being ambidextrous is top tier, I'm trying to train for that. Thanks for watching the vid Linus, glad you enjoyed!

[@thefoksiasty_]

I don't know why, but your videos are really relaxing to watch. Great video idea!

[@annamiau8116]

Mostly the voice but also the content. ASMR

[@LivingAnachronism]

Thanks! Sword ASMR lmao

[@andreajim1000]

And really cheery! A real mood uplift. I love to hear ‘good luck on your adventures.’

[@kellysouter4381]

I'll always remember the first Pirates of the Caribbean with Jack Sparrow giving an impromptu footwork lesson to young Turner during a wonderfully choreographed fight. A delight to watch.

[@murderyoutubeworkersandceos]

Remember when jack wasnt just a useless buffoon, but a competent pirate?

[@markfergerson2145]

I particularly liked you showing the moves from different angles. You didn't say so explicitly but as this is for stage work, everything should be choreographed with the audience's physical viewpoint in mind.

[@ATG3192]

I think the late, great Christopher Lee would be very proud of your work on this video, as you really broke down the basics of stage combat very well so that even someone like me, who has no experience with stage combat (only years of film observation), could feasibly follow along with little issue. Great video, man!

[@Unimportant]

This video is surprisingly good reference for art. The outfit you're wearing makes it very clear where limbs are positioned, and the angles you show to the camera makes it even clearer.

[@Downhaven]

Just clicked, ready to add stage combat to my resume! Thank you for sharing your experiences though, always enjoyable to learn a new perspective.

[@LivingAnachronism]

Haha! Thanks Downhaven!

[@Vopadevas]

As a teen my first sword training was with a friend and a couple sticks. Later we got wall hanger swords and covered them in duct tape! It wasn't until I got into college that I was within talking distance of a fencing instructor.

[@patrickbateman3146]

I took several stage combat classes taught by a certified choreographer in addition to some miming and Shakespearean classes way back in the day, but this was a great primer video back into that. Thanks!

[@juliabreckner2759]

That was a really good video! really liked watching it. It would be really neat to see you do a choreographed mini scene with a couple different characters. Like each different character doing the same choreography but it would be slightly different based on the character. Like a Witcher vs Ranger vs pirate all doing the same choreography would all be slightly different

[@ericnewman2727]

certified many years ago but haven't kept up the training - now I'm in R&J and am very grateful for these videos to get me back on track

[@cheersbro7347]

"By the dark gods of my own race!” he cried in anger. “Though I am not of the golden haired Æsir, none has been more forward in sword-play!" Idk why I did remember this quote or why I write it down now. I just love the term "swordplay" By the way the quote is from the frost giant's daughter by Robert E Howard.

[@aburninglandfillofbadmovie2930]

This is great, highly informative, easy to comprehend, and interesting to watch. One thing I did notice though is that you didn't discuss how to stage fight with sword against someone who is not using a sword, such as against someone who is using a mace, dagger, axe, glaive, or voulge.

[@GeospatialSurvivalist]

High value and highly engaging. Thank you for what you do!

[@LivingAnachronism]

Thanks Geospatial! Glad you enjoyed!

[@CreepyMF]

This is one of the few videos that i actually paid alot of attention to cause i believe anything you learn is never wasted I am sure i wont forget this even if i wont have a chance to utilize it.

[@TonicSonic1468]

Dude, I took a year of stage combat and it’s so cool to me that you did a video on this! I think a lot of people don’t know that stage combat is different from real combat. I love your videos, and this made me so happy. P.S. I was totally listing of parrying positions with you the entire vid.

[@Matsudai]

As someone who has practiced martial weapons since I was a kid, I have attempted to teach many of my friends and the biggest things I noticed is that people either skip the basics or don't devote enough time to them and always fail to learn anything useful, usually they learn just enough to hurt themselves more. The other big thing is to learn from where you want to know first, be it stage, LARP, HEMA, Japanese. Each has slight differences that create a learning curve to try to carry over to another one. I'm not saying you will be locked in to the first one you learn, learn them all if you want to, but starting with the one you want to do the most seems to be the most enjoyable way to start. As always a great video, and I'm glad to see someone focusing on showing the basics.

[@benjaminblack4345]

Thanks for the video! This'll be handy to get ready for making mini films. Sometime an introduction to the fundamentals of HEMA would be cool too...

[@mencheperra3916]

Lindybeige's "Great Movies Fighting Styles illustrated by Helen of Troy" comes in mind. 🤭🤭

[@chippyonline001]

Ahh, this made me miss practicing kendo so much, especially the kata... good times. Congratulations on the sponsorship, Kramer! Yet another interesting video! Glad to see you back. 🙏

[@greenflagracing7067]

I fenced foil, sabre and epee in college and afterwards in a fencing club that was about half olympic fencers and half stage fencing. The two groups did not mix well. Epee was kinda of a common ground (because it didn't have the right of way rules of sabre or foil), but the stage people just never learned. Every fancy spin move would end when a simple extension or a lunge pinked them. The last year I fenced there was a fatal accident. Practice foils are very flexible and have a blunt rubber tip, electric competition foils less flexible and have a flat tip. In one bout a straight lunge caught the opponent in the armpit, the electric foil bent almost into a U before breaking, the lunge continued with the thick end of the foil, which missed the electric jacket and penetrated the duck jacket and half jacket, entered the armpit and killed the fencer. My close call came during a foil bout when I missed a disengage-parry and counter attacked (riposte) into an opponent's lunge. I stopped just in time because the opponent's tip got underneath the bib of my mask and scored a three inch scar across my throat. Nothing more than a skin wound, but it had everyone worried. Best stage fencing was in Ridley Scott's adaptation of a Joseph Conrad novel in the movie The Duelists. ProTip: if you ever find yourself as a cavalryman pursuing fleeing infantry or civilians, you want to overtake and cut down and back, so that if your sword get caught in bone it will be more easily yanked free by your momentum.

[@imagine3533]

I relly like the approach you take on teaching. Not making any impossible promisses, not a clickbaity Title/Thumbnail and starting with the basics. There are way to few Guides like that here on KZbin. Great Video 👌

[@LogenKain]

I love that ad break, it is a great example of what you've been telling us this year. Clothing, environment... it all tells a story.... all while giving out the ad.

[@GinaLynnGuesby]

My husband just watched this and totally enjoyed it! He fights in the SCA with epee and hasn't fought with them for a few years (COVID) and this just took him back!

[@robertgross1655]

🎩Hi wish you had done this video 30 years ago. It would have saved me so much pain. Still have. But loved it. You do things with a sword I can only dream of.

[@ambrosedisley3436]

Please yes that was so amazing and interesting! It gave me the wish to learn stage combat too!

[@jonanderson3050]

great intro! I'm going to refer back to the fight director Mike Loades again, a quote of his that I think is very germaine to what you're discussing here; "Control is the essence of competence."

[@jamesedmison2768]

Very impressed with the editing for the two Kramers

[@wiskadjak]

Good lesson. I took one stage fencing workshop and found that habits built up from years of sport fencing and HEMA got in the way. One partner was freaked out by me parrying too late and too close to my body because in actual combat using small movements is critical. Scared the hell out of my instructor doing the duck and head slash when I timed the cut to pass over another partner's head before he had completed his duck. I missed him by a good two inches but the machete did cut through the space where the guy's head had been. Not good. A lot of training to unlearn before I could stage fence safely.

[@Origene_]

Thank so much, I’ve been taking my first stage combat class over the summer and the I don’t know why, but it’s been so tricky for me to remember the parries 😭

[@LivingAnachronism]

Definitely defer to your instructors for help, but I'll offer my two cents. If I had to guess, it's one of two confusions. If it's trouble remembering which parties belong to which number and what positions they are, it's just a drilling issue, easily solved with solo practice. I'd say the most common confusion I have seen, is knowing all the numbers and positions conceptually, but getting confused in the moment when an actual sword is coming towards you. In my experience this commonly results in attempting to use a high parry (1 and 2) with the sword blade upright, to defend an attack to the legs (parries 3 and 4) leading to an awkward bending over situation. Still solved with some simple drills, but rather than practicing the parry numbers, you just need to practice the muscle memory of supinating and pronating your hand. Get comfortable with the wrist mobility and movement of just holding your sword at 12:00 o'clock, and move it to 6:00 both clockwise and counter clockwise gowing through 3 and 9. This may help you get more comfortable in transitioning between parties 1-4 and 2-3. I'd be happy to hear if there's a different confusion, but definitely ask your instructors first, and follow their advice over mine.

[@Victor-dm4qv]

Glad to see that you got yourself a sponsor! And it's really nice to see you getting more subscribers. You deserve it!

[@MagnumOpus333]

“And if you’re left handed, seek professional help, there’s nothing I can do for you.” 😂😂😂 Indeed!!!

[@charlieplante986]

this is so slay, physically and literally

[@texasbeast239]

Very easy to follow along, while sitting still. Thanks, K!

[@LivingAnachronism]

Glad to here it Texas!

[@mansfieldtime]

While I did not find this too interesting, it was very informative and will made. a well made video is enough to keep me invested so again... well done.

[@annika93dk7]

This was amazing, I am going outside later today and play around with this ;) Have an awesome adventure friend Hugs from Denmark

[@michaelbauers8800]

The costume worn is good enough credentials for me ;) Walking with same arm-same leg looks so weird, lol

[@MarieCrossbow]

Such a beautiful sword.

[@DesignerBerg]

Yes! More! This is great!

[@IodoDwarvenRanger]

this is really cool, thank you for answering my request for more stage combat sword stuff, now I have more to learn :) also, I have filmed a "kind of" response video about my experiences trying to learn to flourish a sword from your video, do you mind if I use a few 5 second clips from your video in mine?

[@LivingAnachronism]

Not at all, but thanks for asking!

[@IodoDwarvenRanger]

@@LivingAnachronism cool, thanks so much :)

[@Philtopy]

Great video as always! I had a Larp con this weekend and was painfully reminded on how unskilled I am in single combat. This video will help me immensively!

[@VosperCDN]

Oh, this was a bit of a trip down memory lane - used to fence in SCA, and still have my swords (fibreglass blades, but period style hilts) and a few bits of gear. Always fun seeing this sort of tutorial, so please feel free to make some more videos as the topics come to mind. Thank you.

[@aragmarverilian8238]

Your video will teach many people how to do things safely. Thought about teaching pupils professionally?

[@August_Mannaz]

Dude yes 👍 this is what im talking about

[@brandonfigueroa7399]

I am going to cut some broom sticks and do this with my grade fours. I do a lot of stuff from this channel with them and they love it. very useful, enjoyable, and relaxing channel. keep it up.

[@LivingAnachronism]

Be very safe!

[@cheese6575]

Another great video with solid information!

[@infinitesimotel]

The walking part was very interesting. It comes down to brain hemi sync, these exercises could even help musicians as a warm up. EDIT if you are interested check out a guy called Nikolai Bernstein on biomechanical movement.

[@annamiau8116]

Its the cool guy again! Hello, cool guy!!! Fourth btw.

[@LivingAnachronism]

Hello!

[@Lillogicaallegria]

a lot of effort in this video, even fighting with yourself! very, very clear explanation, interesting and fun. as dyslexic with a little bit of problems in coordination maybe I will try it in the safest way: a lot more fun than normal exercises!

[@infinitesimotel]

0:01 CAREFUL!... You could have someone's eye out with that!

[@A.Elbereth.Gilthoniel]

Thank you for this tutorial.

[@BrenGamerYT]

Ooooh layering character / how it could be used for LARP would be neat

[@WARobertsonMMII]

Sorry I’m late, commenting for the algorithm.

[@Sawtooth44]

i just realised, the salute that you do minus the bow is the same thing count Duku dose in Attack of the Clones before he fights Yoda

[@shieldmaidensofarda]

Thank you for posting this video! I really enjoyed it! I would like to see more sword videos, maybe you could do some on how to fight like Aragorn or Faramir or some specific character from Lord of the Rings. That would be fun!

[@LivingAnachronism]

Especially when I have someone to fight, and someone to move the camera, I'd like to recreate some iconic duels from LOTR.

[@joaquinvelasquez6252]

Yeah man. These fighting move should be Saturday videos. Could make a nice catalog.

[@LivingAnachronism]

Hmmm Swordfight Saturday perhaps?

[@joaquinvelasquez6252]

@@LivingAnachronism 😄

[@kittentuson5892]

Is sword play not a sort of dance? It too requires choreography, so as not to hurt someone or, if this were still the days of the sword, to more effectively maime or kill one's opponent/enemy.

[@LivingAnachronism]

For stage combat, absolutely. In a real fight, I would say yes, but less so, since even though you learn moves, you never know what order they'll come in. But I don't think it a coincidence that people that are good at one are good at the other.

[@kittentuson5892]

@@LivingAnachronism true.

[@martialparty6021]

I like your videos however I would LIVE to see your reaction to Rings of Power now that it’s out. And your review it would be hilarious

[@LivingAnachronism]

I hadn't planned on watching RoP, don't want to contribute to their numbers or taint my own vision of Middle Earth, I'd rather create new content that will inform a new creative and passionate class of people so when the time comes, we have the skills to make our own books, games, movies and art. But if enough people are really interested in my take, I will consider watching for the sake of review. But again, I am not sold on that idea yet.

[@martialparty6021]

@@LivingAnachronism I understand your point of view however I saw your videos talking about the trailers and how they treated Tolkien and his legacy, however I also think it would be a way to give your opinion as both an actor and Tolkien fan since even from a dramatical standpoint they didn’t make a good job, you could also compare what they gave with what the actual lore of both the fist and second age told us. All that said it would also be a way to negate the justification a lot of the defenders of Amazon gave with the “you haven’t even watched the show” especially since I’ve seen some LOTR lore channels that have sold out and are playing defense for the show and giving overwhelmingly “good” reviews some of them even were invited to the premiere and given props from the show and don’t actually make that clear in their review videos so I would like to see an honest review from someone that knows the lore and loves Tolkien’s work. It would also be incredibly funny since I believe you would rightfully tear it apart.

[@seanpope1890]

i had fun watching this

[@LivingAnachronism]

I'm glad, thanks Sean!

[@seanpope1890]

@@LivingAnachronism yw

[@Sawtooth44]

im going to try this in VR im very used to the old Sword and Board but i want to be better with fighting without the ever reliable shield so i can use sword and pistol

[@nathanthesubzeromangold4615]

Yes I know

[@HenryGreenEngine3]

Sabre represent

[@LuxisAlukard]

Kramer: "And if you’re left handed, seek professional help, there’s nothing I can do for you." So, an exorcist?

[@ApprendreSansNecessite]

I would love to see the character elements and manerisms you speak of. Just for the entertainment.

[@larsmurdochkalsta8808]

My only pet peeve about the sword community as a whole is that almost no one uses the phrase full tang correctly. Pretty much the only sword that is by definition full tang is the Messer, literally a sword constructed specifically to be considered a knife because it is a type of construction only seen on knives. Full Tang is arguably kind of bad for sword's because it transmits shock very directly. But I do agree that you want a very robust hidden tang unless you happen to be using a sword where full tangs are the style

[@aragmarverilian8238]

I imagine they offered lessons on bayonet combat too, in that cool stage class :D

[@LivingAnachronism]

I didn't take bayonet, but I'll bet they do. They do all sorts of stuff, light sabers, Captain America shield and fist, etc

[@aragmarverilian8238]

@@LivingAnachronism In my book series, I write a lot about sword and bayonet fighting. It is science fantasy, and armies employ quite a lot of melee weaponry. Space age tech gave advantages like personal shield generators and armor plating of great quality, therefore vibro weaponry made a significant comeback. One of the best combinations is the long rifle, be it a mass driver, railgun, or a beam weapon, with a bayonet attached. There are also heavily armored, long weapon fighters, with smaller guns integrated in their exoskeleton assisted armor suits. Like the Terran star marines for example :D They train extensively with either a longsword, a zveihandler or a halberd. I do hope you got my email, left you a small present there.

[@legionofthedamned157]

very interesting

[@JonSchiedloJr]

Great video man! I have been watching your videos a lot recently and I love them. When will you have another video on the rings of power show! I loved your most recent one!

[@valkyrieseventeenseventysi7884]

"nobody walks like this" lmao 🤣 😂

[@Red80008]

4:34 talk about professional help ^^

[@harbl99]

Repost: Quietly pleased that LA is a based sabre enjoyer, and not a lowly "Imma gonna prod, again" foiloid. (YT mods really doesn't like certain words, do they? Even the word 'd*sg*st*ng' seems to trigger them now. Wonder why.)

[@LivingAnachronism]

Based sabre enjoyer lmao! Thanks for the love man!

[@spectacularpoopfly8464]

Oh yes the perfect video to make a barbecue chicken sandwich too stupendous😊

[@LivingAnachronism]

Yum

[@larsmurdochkalsta8808]

Yooo, sword fighting is so hard to map to dancing because it switches between tango and salsa depending on which side you're attacking from. Don't remember the word to describe that, I am not a dancer I just did a bit of bachata with a friend of mine and remember the instructor talking about crossbody movement or something

[@jamesedmison2768]

A comment for the algorithm

[@LivingAnachronism]

A reply for the algorithm

[@LivingAnachronism]

A reply for the algorithm

[@knightlon]

A supportive statement for the algorithm

[@TheGrinbery]

It looks very similar to dancing, just with swords

[@corbyrobinson3640]

What do you use for your background music? It is very relaxing, and I would love to be able to listen to it more regularly. Also learning how to add in character affectations to combative movements would be really cool and I would love to see it.

[@LivingAnachronism]

Songs and artists are always listed in the video description :)

[@nikolasprince1604]

I'm curious to know what sort of anachronistic clothing or accessories you wear daily.

[@tonystoops7802]

How are you not in major movie? Look forward to seeing you in a staring role.👍

[@kstarwalker4905]

#LivingAnachronism Thanks Kramer for making this video. I'm writing several stories in a series that, may or may not get published, has sword fighting in them a and now thanks to you, I have a reference or at least a better idea on what it might look like. Can you do a video on mideval combat? Thanks again.

[@Blondie42]

Ooo now don't you look fancy. D'Artagnan, I presume. 😉 🇫🇷 ⚜️ We need to get you a big hat with a huge 🪶 ploom feather. "The pointy end goes into the other guy."

[@sifuhotman1300]

Not only can he parry with words but with swords as well.

[@Apperceptive_Swordsman]

i suck with rapier. i actually wont upload my rapier fights because i cant seem to get the body mechanics and it looks terrible. my defense is great. offense is crap

[@boboltongleason6956]

D: there’s no doodoodoodoo at the end

[@johnclaybaugh9536]

If my father were to watch this video, at about the 7:30 mark he would likely make the comment that if you can't pat your head with one hand and rub your stomach with the other ar the same time this activity is gonna be to complex for you.

[@LivingAnachronism]

He'd be correct

[@murderyoutubeworkersandceos]

14:38 "your", actually.

[@LivingAnachronism]

Omg you're right, can't believe I missed that

[@murderyoutubeworkersandceos]

@@LivingAnachronism always vigilant

[@Taylor1989s]

lol 40 bucks my wall hanger was $198.99 lol and yes it was still terrible when just practicing.

[@LivingAnachronism]

My first sword ever was a wall hanger for 40$ that's why my brain went there haha

[@danthiel8623]

Have you heard of the parry zero?

[@LivingAnachronism]

That power is forbidden

[@danthiel8623]

@@LivingAnachronism oh really?

[@grbdevnull5611]

Algorithm engagement comment.

[@comingstorm275]

Do hema/sca not stage

[@LivingAnachronism]

Since I'm an actor, I definitely choose to do both

[@timjohnston9928]

I...am left handed...

[@mostevil1082]

They're just jealous. They have scissors that work, we get superior coordination and reaction time.

[@coop5329]

My left handed nephews always remind me that due to brain physiology, "only left handed people are in their right mind".

[@strydyrhellzrydyr1345]

No one walks like this.... Uh.. yeah... You right. No one... Lmao. Looks hilarious5

[@leannemedhurst9662]

As a leftie i gotta say... Hey thats mean! Ok its true but mean 😅