Sword fighting hero style

[amberzak]

Hi.

I was just wondering if anyone has any tips as to how to learn to sword fight hero style - as in Lord of the Rings, Pirates of the Carrabian style. I am an aspiring filmmaker, and as such I am making independant films at the moment.

I want to learn this so I can work on sword fighting scenes in my films and I can direct the actors better.

I don't think there is anywhere to learn it near me, and even if there is it will cost me a lot of money. I would rather teach myself, but where do I begin.

Any help would be apreciated.

Yours

Rebekah

[Zamfoo]

Well i'm really not sure why this was in the ninpo section or even on this board. Just about everyone on here will tell you there is no way to learn anything without a teacher. A lot I think is flash but I guess you kinda make up along the way.

EDIT: Welcome to the board anyway!:)

[Capt Ann]

Each style is different, and uses a different type of sword.

The swordfighting in "Braveheart", for instance, is far different from the rapier fighting in "Pirates", or the katana fighting in "The Last Samurai".

Here's one place to start for European styles:
http://www.thearma.org/about.htm

Also try any large University campus near you, to see if there is a chapter of the Society for Creative Anachronism. The Univ. of Maryland has a large chapter, and my sister has been very active in it for years. Each year she participates in several mideaval battle reenactments. This and similar groups hold competitions, provide education, and reenact major mideaval battles. A group like this can help with providing willing (cheap) extras, with their own weapons and period armor, and with experience in the proper technique.
http://www.sca.org/

If you are interested in something with a more "Eastern" flare, try Haidong Gumdo, a Korean sword art similar in style and flavor to what you saw in "The Last Samurai" (or some of the Jedi extras in the final battle scene in Star Wars II). I found this website with some background on Haidong Gumdo (also spelled Haedong Gumdo), along with some video clips:
http://www.stormpages.com/haidonggumdo/
Post messages here to see if anyone knows of a HG school near you:
http://www.stormpages.com/haidonggumdo/wwwboard/index.html
This is the English language homepage for the World Haidong Gumdo Federation--not particulkarly informative, but you might find someone willing to tell you if there are any schools near you.
http://eng.hdgd.org/main.html

In any case, if you find a school near you that teaches any basic sword style, they may be willing to provide extras for a movie, just for the exposure and the experience. (College/University campuses are expecially great for this, because not only are the students interested in exposure/experience, but they are also, generally, cash-starved.)

Hope this helps, and good luck to you. If you start making movies, remember me kindly (I am currently a green-belt in Haidong Gumdo, with a not-so-secret desire to be a Jedi extra in any Star Wars movie :) )

[Capt Ann]

Found this link to the European Haidong Gumdo Federation after I'd already sent the last message:

http://www.hdgumdo.com/

Might help you find some schools in your area.

[shonuff]

There are dedicated medieval martial arts clubs dedicated to recreating medieval swordsmanship and warrior traditions from snippets of information scattered all over europe. Not the stuff you see on TV. These guys are obsessed about the martial art.

here's one:
http://www.aemma.org/


There are tons of fencing school in europe as well but dedicated to the renaissance styles and foil,epee, saber fencing.

Most of the stuff you see on TV and old movies like Robin Hood come from some styles developed for the stage. There are acting schools and theatre programs that teach swordplay.

Here are some:
http://www.swordplaystudios.com/classes/stage.html
http://www.angelfire.com/ny3/swordplay/