Sword swinging and lessons learned at stage combat class
As pool noodles bashed up against each other and friends became foes, professional Hollywood stunt actors put on a space sword swinging soiree.
The soiree was a class on stage combat using swords at the Wareham Free Library Saturday, Jan. 18. The class was taught by Jess Wilson and Garrett Olson of the Watermelon Alligator Theatre Company.
Wilson and Olson have decades of stage fighting experience, having worked on many tv shows and movies. In between choreographing fights for the silver screen, they travel throughout southern New England teaching people the basics of stage combat.
Around 20 people signed up for the class at the library where they learned a variety of breathing and stretching techniques before commencing battle with one another.
Armed with pool noodles, participants faced off against each other in safe one-on-one combat and learned a variety of basic sword fighting positions. Wilson and Olson also demonstrated how they can be sequenced to make fight scenes fit for the big screen.
The two explained during the class there are five basic positions every fight scene uses. They added that each position can be given some flare by adding jumps, spins, screams and more.
Wilson explained the five basic movements she and Olson teach can be applied to any action-packed fight scene from wizards and goblins to knights in shining armor.
On top of teaching participants the actual moves, Wilson and Owen taught the "science of fighting," explaining the importance of things like eye contact and body language.
"Eye contact and body language is important because it helps people not get hurt," said Wilson. "Unexpected things happen, you can roll an ankle or something and safety is one of our top concerns."
There were no injuries during the class and participants said they had fun learning the different moves.
"It was really cool getting to see how the moves are applied in movies and the science is interesting," said Abigail Miller of Boston. "I like seeing the behind the scenes and now I have the points of reference for a fight scene."
