I just landed back in Lexington after and exhausting but ultimately rewarding 3 weeks at the Society of American Fight Directors’ National Stage Combat Workshop hosted by the University of North Carolina School for the Arts. I had a great time teaching the introductory students unarmed combat and assistant with single sword. I also had a chance to develop some bastardly Broadsword choreography for the SAFD skills proficiency test. (There’s a sword joke in there for those of you who don’t know).
Despite teaching for the majority of the workshop, I was lucky enough to participate in a number of master classes with Fight Masters Mark “Rat” Guinn, k. Jenny Jones, Brian Byrnes, Geoff Alm, Dale Girard, and Ian Rose. I also took some time out to update my Theatrical Firearms Safety certification and to choreograph some trigger-happy gun violence.
I was most proud, however; to be in attendance at the closing ceremonies, during which good friend, colleague and fellow CT Nigel Poulton received the Paddy Crean Award and Founding FM Erik Fredricksen was granted Emeritus status. Hope to see you there next time or at a regional workshop sometime in the coming year. Stay tuned to the website for updates and I’ll let you know where I’ll be next!
Photo Credit: Craig Lawrence