Unarmed Weekly Course Apr 25 - Jun 20

The fundamental form of violence, most frequently found in the street, on the stage and screen, is that of unarmed, hand-to-hand combat. Having more in common with dance and magicianship, students learning unarmed combat will learn to see the show through the eyes of the audience, create convincing illusions of violence, and access visceral and emotional extremes of their acting in performance.  

On this course you will:

• Gain practical, hands-on experience putting performance into action with punches, kicks, locks, throws, and more.
• Learn how to perform the illusion of physical violence, in both attack and defence, through a wide range of techniques and applications.
• Understand how to play characters who love to fight, from; how movement, body language, voice and expression all affect the performance of a fight.
• Rehearse a choreographed fight sequence and set it to a piece of text, to perform as a scene with full intention.
• Industry Recognized Certification Opportunity: when undertaking the course, you will have the chance to take an externally moderated Fight Performance Exam with the British Academy of Stage & Screen Combat, the best and longest running stage combat certification body in the UK. If you pass, you will be able to add your certification immediately to your Spotlight upon qualification, valid for three years.

Is a weekly course right for me? Weekly courses are ideal for those who like to consolidate their learning in between the in-person sessions. While this format requires diligence and independent study to ensure knowledge is retained, it offers a great opportunity to take a more incremental approach to learning, which can particularly suit those who have a limited capacity or availability to train. The learning curve is more gradual, and there is more time between sessions to decide scenes, learn lines, and the so on.

Why is the course split in two?  In Intro to Unarmed Stage Combat, you will learn the techniques needed to safely and convincingly perform fights. This course runs on Thursdays from 25th April 2024, 6-9pm for 6 weeks. It's £225 and you can book in your spot here. This course is suitable for beginners - no prior experience required. Following on from the Intro course is the certification by the BASSC in Unarmed Combat. To prepare for the certification exam, this course will run on Wednesdays & Thursdays from 5th June 2024, 6-9pm for 3 weeks. It's £250, including exam fees, and you can book in your spot here. You must take the intro course in order to sign up for the certification course.

Taught by: BASSC Certified Teacher, director and action designer Rob Myles. Rob is the principal instructor for Stage Fight Scotland, taking on the mantle from Founder Janet Lawson. As a stage fighter, Rob has worked with the Royal Opera House and Shakespeare’s Globe in London, as well as designing action for both stage and screen, including Sherlock Holmes: The Sign Of Four for Blackeyed Theatre and Sus at The Park Theatre. A former martial artist and historical fencer, Rob began his journey in this artform 15 years ago, training in Japan with Kamui Samurai Dojo, who choreographed the final fight in Kill Bill Vol. 1. Outside Stage Combat, Rob is a globally recognised figure in both Shakespeare and Digital Theatre. For more information visit robmyles.co.uk.

Entry requirements: 18+, no previous experience required.