Come train with us
PLEASE NOTE: All in-person group classes are subject to limited attendance during COVID-19 until further notice. If you’re interested please contact us.
We offer year-round face-to-face and online classes for students, performers, and fighters of all ages and experience levels. Combining our knowledge in historical fight manuals, martial arts, movement, and theatrical violence our classes help you achieve your stage combat goals. Our training is focused on safe and effective physical storytelling across a multitude of group sizes and skill levels.
Weekly - In Person (limited)
Monday & Thurs (7-9pm)
@ Riverside Arts Center, Ypsilanti
Free Intro Session - Flexible Rate Plans
STAGE COMBAT & Stunts
Weekly Open Practice
Our ongoing practice runs year-round with a focus on monthly-rotating weapon styles. This weekly practice is perfect for ongoing skills improvement with solo, partnered, and group exercises that follow that month’s theme as it progresses from the building blocks in the start of the month, to the choreographic explorations near the end of the month.
We’ll cover topics including:
Single Handed Weapon Styles: Basic 1h Sword, Saber, Swashbuckling, Smallsword, Messer, etc
Close Quarters Styles: Basic Hand to Hand, Falling/Rolling, Boxing, Grappling, Knife, Martial Arts (things like Wing Chun or Muay Thai).
Dual Wielding Styles: Rapier and Dagger, Sword and Shield, Sword and Buckler, Case of Rapier, Dual Wield Sword
Two Handed Weapon Styles: Basic 2h Sword, Longsword, Staff, Spear/Pole Weapons.
Because we search for a level of authenticity in our work, we use historical and martial fighting styles as a base for instruction and instruct students on how to alter them to make the techniques read for stage and screen. Open to students ages 14 and up, and all skill levels.
What you’ll need during COVID-19: Proof of vaccination, a mask you can keep on during practice indoors, and no COVID symptoms for the past 10 days.
Optional additional equipment: Indoor athletic shoes, water bottle, and a pair of thin full-fingered gloves (e.g. gardening, baseball, football, or mechanic’s gloves).
Instructors: Jen Pan, Joe Wright
Set Periods - In Person
@ Riverside Art Center, Ypsilanti
LONG-FORMAT, SYLLABUS-BASED CLASSES
Foundations Classes
Long-format classes that follow a syllabus in order to bring the complete beginner up to speed (or reinforce the fundamentals and continue the development of those with training).
The class covers stage single-handed swashbuckling, two-handed sword, brawling, falling/rolling, & basic staff.
Equipment Needed: Indoor athletic shoes, a water bottle, and a pair of thin full-fingered gloves (e.g. gardening, baseball, football, equestrian, or mechanic’s gloves).
Instructors: Jen Pan, Joe Wright
Monthly - In Person
1 Sunday per month @ Riverside Art Center, Ypsilanti
continued education from Diversified sources
Guest Instructor Workshops
Special guest instructor workshops offering a different perspective on the topics and themes we teach! Focuses will vary between martial, dramatic, or exploratory movement based upon the perspective of the instructor.
Past topics have included: Historical African Martial Arts, German Longsword, Silat, Filipino Sword and Dagger.
What You Need: An open mind and a willingness to learn.
Weekly - Online Video
Fridays (7-9pm)
Discord (please FB message us if you wish to join)
Free
Film & TV Analysis
Scene It: Movie Fight Club
What are some of the best or worst movie fights? Why do they work…or why don’t they? This casual, discussion-based class will analyze video clips from some of the most popular fight scenes in film and breakdown the choreography, narrative structure, effectiveness, and entertainment value. We will compare and contrast thematically similar fights to give students an opportunity to examine the myriad ways different choreographers tell a story. Open to students ages 14 and up, all skill levels, and accessible anywhere around the world.
What you will need: Discord, access to YouTube
Instructor: Jen Pan