Stage Combat

Front 1

action - reaction - action

Back 1

the process of giving and taking focus during a physical argument. The first "action" is the aggressor's cue and control point, for the attack. The "reaction" is that of the victim, who, upon reading the cue responds - letting their opponent know they are ready. The final "action" is where two combatants complete the offensive/defensive together. This may be attack and parry, attack and avoid, feint and reaction, etc.

Front 2

advance (also fencing step)

Back 2

footwork carrying the body forward by moving the lead foot first, followed with the lag foot (without crossing them). the opposite of retreat.

Front 3

attacker (also aggressor)

Back 3

the actor/combatant who sets upon, attacks, or assails another; the one executing the violent action

Front 4

avoidance

Back 4

a movement of the body and/or feet vertically, horizontally, or diagonally in order to dodge an attack

Front 5

block

Back 5

a defensive action made with the hand or the arm intended to stop a punch, kick, or similar attack. it can be made on either side of the body and in all lines

Front 6

cross block (also X block)

Back 6

a block where both hands/arms are used together and are crossed, the one ove the other, cathcing the attacking limb in the open "V" between the hands

Front 7

descending block

Back 7

a block delivered downward to dfend against an ascending diagonal or vertical attack

Front 8

inside block

Back 8

a block made on the inside line of the defending hand and/or arm

Front 9

parallel block (also double block)

Back 9

a block made with the defending arms placed one beside the other for greater defense. the arms are not crossed

Front 10

outside block

Back 10

a block made on the outside line of the defending hand and/or arm

Front 11

redirection block

Back 11

a defensive action where the hand or arm intercepts the attack and then immediately displaces or removes the opponent by mastering the energy of the initial attack

Front 12

rising block

Back 12

a block delivered upward to defend against a descending diagonal or vertical attack

Front 13

semicircular block

Back 13

a block that goes from above the belt to below the belt, or vice-versa, in a semi-circular path on the same side of the body

Front 14

transfer block (also replacement block)

Back 14

a block that uses both hands/arms, one after the other, to deflect and control the offending hand, arm, or leg. one hand begins the block, the other is then used to complete the block, "checking" the offending limb and freeing the first hand from a counter attack

Front 15

wing block

Back 15

a defensive action made with the muscle groupings of the upper arm. the arm is bent, like the wing of a bird, the hand near the shoulder, presenting a shield against strong blows; taking the attack on the back of the forearm and outside of the upper arm

Front 16

blocked punch

Back 16

a punch that, due to the defensive action of a block, is stopped prior to landing on its projected target. (see block)

Front 17

break fall

Back 17

any maneuver that dissipates the energy or force from a fall or roll and gives the illusion of impact

Front 18

center line

Back 18

referring to the imaginary vertical plane that bisects the body into two equal sections, delineating the inside and outside lines of attack and defense

Front 19

check

Back 19

the process of curbing, or restraining the offending hand, arm, or leg after a successful block. the defending hand or arm remains in contact with the opponent's (without gripping/ locking, or holding) in order to sense their movements, feel or control the placement of the offending limb, and use that to both offensive and defensive advantage. these actions command the opposing hando r arm and may retain it or remove it with the action of an expulsion

Front 20

bind

Back 20

a checking action made on the opponent's hand, arm or leg, executed by blocking the attack and then moving it diagonally to the opposite quadrant (i.e. from the inside high to the outside low, or outside high to inside low, etc.)

Front 21

envelopment

Back 21

a checking action made on the opponent's hand, arm. or leg, executed by blocking the attack and then by describing a circle with both arms in contact, bringing the opponent's arm back to the placement where the check began

Front 22

transport

Back 22

a checking action made on the opponenet's hand, arm, or leg, execute by blocking the same attack and then moving it vertically rom a high line to a low line, or vice versa, but the same side and the block took place. a similar action made with a sword is called a croise

Front 23

choke hold

Back 23

any grasp or hold on the area of the throat adie with any hand or limb that gives the impression of strangling the victim

Front 24

contact blow

Back 24

a punch, kick, strike, or blow that actually makes contact with the receiver, generally in view of the audience and/or camera, delivered to a large muscle group or muslce mass

Front 25

cross step

Back 25

a step forward that takes the body diagonally off-line to either the right of left, ending with the legs crossed

Front 26

distance

Back 26

the proper measure between two or more combatants to safely execute any particular technique in stage combat

Front 27

duck

Back 27

the vertical lowering of the head and torso to avoid an attack at the head

Front 28

elbow attack

Back 28

any contact or non-contact strike, or attempt thereof, which seems to be made with the point of the elbow

Front 29

en guarde

Back 29

the basic phsyical "Ready" position of a combatant

Front 30

eye contact

Back 30

a "cue" or "check point" in a fight that has the combatants frequently look in their partners' eyes to assure mutual awareness and readiness to perform the techniques

Front 31

fall

Back 31

any technique that allows a combatant to safely drop from a standing or elevated position to the floor, landing on some part of the body other than the feet

Front 32

flip/throw

Back 32

an offensive movement that controls or appears to control the victim's center, giving the illusion of lifting them off their feet and returning them to the ground on some part of the body other than the feet- usually into a break fall or roll

Front 33

forward roll

Back 33

a roll or tumble executed down the back, rolling the length of the spine along the floor

Front 34

hair pull

Back 34

a grasp with one or both hands in which the victim's hair appears to be clasped in the fist and aggressive force is applied

Front 35

hold (also grasp)

Back 35

to use one or both hands for clutching or grasping the opponent

Front 36

invitation

Back 36

any movement of the weapon or body designed to lure the other combatant into an attack

Front 37

kick

Back 37

the use of the leg and foot in contact and/or non-contact striking techniques. to strike with the foot

Front 38

ax kick

Back 38

a downward traveling kick that gives the impression of impact with the heel

Front 39

back kick

Back 39

a kick that travels directly backwards giving the impression of impact with the heel

Front 40

crescent kick

Back 40

a large, arcing kick traveling in a semicircular path that gies the impression of impacting with the edge of the foot. the kick may be made or to the outside

Front 41

front kick

Back 41

a kick delivered with the ball of the foot, in which the knee of the kicking leg rises vertically

Front 42

groin kick (crotch kick)

Back 42

any kick that gives the impression of contact to the groin

Front 43

reverse roundhouse kick (also heel hook)

Back 43

a kick in which the heel, or sole of the foot, that travels towards the target via a circular path

Front 44

roundhouse kick (also turning kick)

Back 44

a kick delivered from a chambered position of the knee that uses the gtop of the foot and is gnereally executed in a horizontal plane

Front 45

side kick

Back 45

a kick using the heel or edge of the foot, delivered out from the side of the body

Front 46

snap kick

Back 46

a fast kick, generally from a chambered position of the leg, which relies upon a whiplash like delivery

Front 47

knap

Back 47

a technique for creating the sound of impact of a non-contact blow, to help heighten the illusion that contact has been made

Front 48

body knap

Back 48

the sound made by striking a major muscle group on the body

Front 49

cage knap

Back 49

the sound made when the hand or foot of one combatants is slapped into their partners slightly cupped hands. the hands are crossed, forming a "cage"

Front 50

clap knap

Back 50

the sound made when both hands clap together, usually made by the victim

Front 51

partnered knap (also shared knap)

Back 51

a knap created by both combatants; by one hand striking another or by striking a specific muscle mass to create the sound of impact

Front 52

slip-hand knap

Back 52

a self knap on the attack where the aggressive hand slips past the non-aggressive hand to create the sound of impact

Front 53

knee attack

Back 53

any attack giving the illusion of contact with the knee

Front 54

lines of attack or defense

Back 54

referring to the imaginary planes that bisect the body into four equal sections, one vertical (delineating outside and inside) and one horizontal (delineating high and low). the line maybe open or closed, according to the relatinoship of the attacking blade, the target, and the defending blade

Front 55

high line

Back 55

the area of attack and dfense located above the waist level

Front 56

inside line

Back 56

the area of attack and defense on a combatant, delinated by their vertical center line, whichi s furthest from their weapon bearing side

Front 57

low line

Back 57

the area of attack and defense located below waist level

Front 58

outside line

Back 58

the area of attack and defense on a combatant, delineated by their vertical center line, which bears the identifying weapon. the weapon-bearing half of the body.

Front 59

lock (also joint lock)

Back 59

a grasp or hold executed with a weapon or one or both hands, applied to the joints in the wrist, arm, leg, etc. to immobilize one's opponent, or to be used as lever for further techniques such as a throw

Front 60

mid line

Back 60

referring to the imaginary horizontal plane that bisects the body into two equal section, delineating the high and low lines of attack and defense

Front 61

non-contact blow (or strike)

Back 61

a punch, kick, or strike that in actuality does not land on the recipient's body, is properly masked from the audience, with a welltimed knap

Front 62

off line

Back 62

a. any attack that is directed to a target away from the body
b. the relationship of combatants' bodies when the centerlines of the combatants are offset

Front 63

online

Back 63

a. a mode of theatrical swordplay where attacks are aimed at specific body targets on the combatant
b. the position of the two partners' bodies where the shoulders are precisely lined up, no matter where they are on stage

Front 64

partnering

Back 64

the process in which two or more combatants actively work together to safely and effectively make nonviolent actions appear dangerous and real

Front 65

pass backward

Back 65

a linear step backward made by passing the lead foot to the rear

Front 66

pass forward

Back 66

a linear step forward made by passing the lag foot to the front

Front 67

patinando (also advance lunge)

Back 67

a compound piece of footwork designed to swiftly close measure by executing an advance and lunge in quick succession

Front 68

punch

Back 68

offensive striking techniques with hands that are executed with the hand closed into a fist

Front 69

back fist

Back 69

a punch made with the back of the hand

Front 70

cross

Back 70

a punch that travels horizontally across the victims jaw line from either the right to the left or vice versa

Front 71

double-hand hammer punch (also rabbit punch)

Back 71

a large and violent punch made with the hands clasped one around the other, striking downward with the little finger side of the fists

Front 72

hammer punch

Back 72

a descending, vertical attack made wtih a closed hand that hits with the little finger down and thumb up, to strike like club or hammer

Front 73

hook

Back 73

a rising diagonal punch delivered from the side that crosses the plane of the face (or body) with the arm curving through the air in a tight hooking motion

Front 74

jab

Back 74

a straight, in-and-out punch delivered from the leading shoulder and foot.

Front 75

rabbit punch

Back 75

a sharp, chopping blow delivered downward in a diagonal plane, as if to the back of the neck, executed with a closed hand which is intended to hit with the little finger down and thumbup

Front 76

roundhouse punch (also hay maker, john wayne)

Back 76

a large, dynamic, hooking punch that travels in a wide arc across the victim's face, from either right to left, or vice versa

Front 77

stomach punch

Back 77

a hooking punch, delivered at close quarterse towards the abdomen of the victim. a stomach punch may be delivered from either the right or left and may either contact or non-contact

Front 78

straight punch

Back 78

a direct, linear punch delivered from the rear or back shoulder and foot.

Front 79

uppercut

Back 79

a left or right blow with the fist delivered with a bent arm in an upward motion

Front 80

pronation

Back 80

the position of the hand where the palm is turned down, nails of the sword-hand facing the floor

Front 81

double-hand hammer punch (also rabbit punch)

Back 81

a large and violent punch made with the hands clasped one around the other, striking downward with the little finger side of the fists

Front 82

hammer punch

Back 82

a descending, vertical attack made wtih a closed hand that hits with the little finger down and thumb up, to strike like club or hammer

Front 83

hook

Back 83

a rising diagonal punch delivered from the side that crosses the plane of the face (or body) with the arm curving through the air in a tight hooking motion

Front 84

jab

Back 84

a straight, in-and-out punch delivered from the leading shoulder and foot.

Front 85

rabbit punch

Back 85

a sharp, chopping blow delivered downward in a diagonal plane, as if to the back of the neck, executed with a closed hand which is intended to hit with the little finger down and thumbup

Front 86

roundhouse punch (also hay maker, john wayne)

Back 86

a large, dynamic, hooking punch that travels in a wide arc across the victim's face, from either right to left, or vice versa

Front 87

stomach punch

Back 87

a hooking punch, delivered at close quarterse towards the abdomen of the victim. a stomach punch may be delivered from either the right or left and may either contact or non-contact

Front 88

straight punch

Back 88

a direct, linear punch delivered from the rear or back shoulder and foot.

Front 89

uppercut

Back 89

a left or right blow with the fist delivered with a bent arm in an upward motion

Front 90

pronation

Back 90

the position of the hand where the palm is turned down, nails of the sword-hand facing the floor

Front 91

retreat

Back 91

an action in the footwork that carries the body backward by moving the rear foot first and then the lead foot (without c rossing them)

Front 92

roll

Back 92

any technique in which the body is safely turned on the floor, circling an axis parallel to the body's center line or midline - often into a break fall

Front 93

shoulder roll

Back 93

a roll or tumble executed by rolling on a diagonal from the large muscle groupings of one shoulder to the opposite buttock (forward shoulder roll) or vice versa (backward shoulder roll)

Front 94

slap

Back 94

a blow devliered wtih an open hand, usually (but not exclusively) made to the face

Front 95

slip

Back 95

a. a movement of the head or body, either to the right, left, forward or backward, used to avoid a punch or minimize its impact
b. a circular step backward that takes the body off-line to either the right or left and ending with the legs crossed

Front 96

supination

Back 96

the position of the hand when the palm is truned up, with the nails of the sword hand pointing up towards the ceiling

Front 97

thwart

Back 97

a step that takes the body diagonally off-line to either the right or left, ending with the legs open

Front 98

trap

Back 98

an act or action that immobilizes an opponent's limb and or weapon to effect an attack or disarm

Front 99

traverse

Back 99

any foot movement that takes the combatant off-line

Front 100

victim (also recipient)

Back 100

the actor/combatant on the receiving end of any given attack